INPI and Qualified Electronic Signature: itsme® as the Ideal Solution
itsme® officially accepted by INPI. The alternative solution for Europeans. eIDAS compliance, prices, practical steps.
The problem of European nationals (and its 2025 solution)
Since January 2023, theINPI (Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle) has required a qualified electronic signature for all company modification or cessation formalities via its Guichet Unique. This requirement, although aligned with the eIDAS regulation, has long posed a major problem for European nationals residing in France.
✓ Good news: itsme® accepted since 2025
Since 2025, INPI has officially accepted itsme® signatures, the Belgian qualified electronic signature solution. With 7+ million users in Belgium, itsme® is the ideal solution for Europeans: mobile, free for signatories, subscription-free and fully eIDAS-compliant.
History of the problem (2023-2024)
Between January 2023 and the end of 2024, non-French European citizens were confronted with systematic blockages:
- A Belgian entrepreneur living in Ardèche for 45 years could not stop his auto-entreprise
- Italian woman working in France for 12 years blocked for company modification
- A Spaniard established since 2009 unable to add an activity to his micro-business
- Hundreds of similar testimonials on Services Publics+ since March 2024
The acceptance of itsme® in 2025 finally solves this problem for all those who can access this service, i.e. citizens of 24 European countries.
Why this problem exists
FranceConnect+ and Digital Identity barriers
The free solution proposed by INPI is based on FranceConnect+ orLa Poste’s Identité Numérique. However, these systems require :
| Service | Conditions of access | Problem for Europeans |
|---|---|---|
| FranceConnect+ | French identity card OR French passport OR residence permit valid ≥5 years | ❌ EU citizens do not need a residence permit |
| La Poste Digital Identity | Same requirements as FranceConnect+ | ❌ Impossible without French document |
| France Identity | French nationality required | ❌ Reserved for French nationals only |
Recognition status of European certificates (2025)
Since 2025, the situation has improved, but remains uneven across European solutions:
| Solution | Country | INPI 2025 status |
|---|---|---|
| itsme® | 24 European countries | ✅ O fficially accepted |
| Belgian eID | 🇧🇪 Belgium | ⚠️ Variable acceptance (reader required) |
| DNI electrónico | 🇪🇸 Spain | ❌ Often technically rejected |
| SPID | 🇮🇹 Italy | ❌ Not recognized |
| German eID | 🇩🇪 Germany | ❌ Not recognized |
itsme® is currently a European mobile solution that works reliably with INPI.
The itsme® solution: simple, free for signatories, INPI-approved
Why itsme® is the ideal solution for INPI
itsme® is a Belgian Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) mobile application used by over 7 million people. Since 2025, INPI has officially accepted itsme® signatures, solving the problem for European nationals.
Advantages of itsme® for INPI formalities
| Advantage | Detail |
|---|---|
| ✓ 100% free of charge | Free application, no subscription (if e-Signature.eu) |
| ✓ Qualified signature (QES) | eIDAS compliant, recognized throughout the EU |
| ✓ Mobile only | No card reader or computer required |
| ✓ Fast | Signature in 30 seconds (PIN code + confirmation) |
| ✓ Accepted by INPI | Officially recognized since 2025 |
| ✓ Widely used | 7+ million users, already installed for banking/taxes |
How to use itsme® for your INPI formalities
- Install the itsme® application on your smartphone (iOS/Android)
- To create your itsme® account with one of the strong recognition methods (passport / eID / residence permit), please please visit the itsme® page page for more details.
- Preparing your INPI formality on Guichet Unique
- Download the PDF summary to sign
- Launch a request on e-Signature.eu (or another itsme®-compatible platform)
- Sign via itsme® from your smartphone
- Upload the signed document to Guichet Unique INPI
Who can use itsme®?
Conditions of access :
- Have a compatible means of identification, see list of countries covered
- Have a smartphone (iOS or Android)
- Have a Belgian or European cell phone number
Note: European citizens can use itsme® for their INPI formalities, which is exactly the intended use case.
itsme® integration with e-Signature.eu
e-Signature.eu offers native itsme® integration to facilitate your INPI signatures:
- Upload your INPI summary PDF
- Choose “Sign with itsme®”.
- Receive a notification on your smartphone
- Sign with your itsme® PIN code
- Download the signed and INPI-compliant PDF
e-Signature.eu price for 1 qualified signature (INPI): €4.95 per signature (1 signature package) – much cheaper than traditional French certificates at €73-200.
Other solutions (if you don’t have access to itsme®)
If you don’t have access to itsme®, here are the available alternatives:
Priority solution: itsme® via e-Signature.eu
For European citizens:
- ✅ Free : itsme® application
- ✅ Simple: mobile signature in 30 seconds
- ✅ INPI-approved since 2025
- ✅ e-Signature.eu: €4.95/signature
Advantage: Simplest, most economical solution for Europeans
Solution 1: Paid French certificates
Accepted service providers :
- CertEurope: €200+ (1-3 year certificate)
- Certigna: €96 excl. tax/year
- Certinomis : 110€ HT
- ChamberSign France: €73 excl. tax/year
- Universign: €49 + compulsory travel
Limitation: Prohibitive cost for a single formality + travel sometimes required
Solution 2: Simple FranceConnect
Lex Community platform :
- Free for VSEs/individuals
- Authentication via FranceConnect (not +)
- Generates INPI-approved advanced signature
Condition: Requires impots.gouv.fr account or other accessible French public services
Solution 3: Power of attorney to a third party
Unofficial alternative:
- Have a French friend/colleague sign for you
- With letter of proxy
- INPI mentions this option
Problem: Legally questionable, legal liability unclear
Solution 4: Mailing via Infogreffe
Back to paper :
- Signed handwritten form
- Mail to the commercial court clerk’s office
- Longer treatment (2-4 weeks)
Advantage: Complete bypass of the numerical problem
Your priority solution: itsme® via e-Signature.eu
The winning combination for Europeans
itsme® (free) + e-Signature.eu (€4.95/signature) = ideal INPI solution
✓ eIDAS-compliant qualified electronic signature
✓ Officially accepted by INPI since 2025
✓ Mobile only, no card reader required
✓ 10 to 40 times less expensive than traditional French certificates
✓ Can be used for all your administrative procedures
Summary of solutions by situation
| Your situation | Recommended solution | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| European citizen | itsme® via e-Signature.eu | 4,95€ |
| Urgent formalities | French certificate (CertEurope, Certigna) or Lex Community | 73-200€ or free of charge |
| Recurring formalities | Annual French certificate (ChamberSign, Certigna) | 73-96€/year |
| No budget | Lex Community (free) or Infogreffe paper procedure | 0€ + delay |
For other nationalities
If you’re not European, the situation will remain complex in 2025. However, progress is expected with eIDAS 2.0 and the EU Digital Identity Wallet in 2026.
Outlook and evolution of the problem
eIDAS 2.0 and EU Digital Identity Wallet (2026)
The new eIDAS 2.0 regulation and the rollout of the European digital identity portfolio should theoretically solve these problems by 2026, by imposing strict technical interoperability between all national systems.
Until then, European nationals are still faced with :
- Unjustified additional costs (€100-200)
- More complex procedures than for French citizens
- A contradiction between European law and French practice
- A risk of complete blockage for certain urgent formalities
Key points to remember
- ✓ itsme® accepted since 2025: European citizens can now use itsme® (free of charge) for their INPI formalities, finally resolving the problem that has been blocking hundreds of people since 2023.
- The ideal solution for Europeans: itsme® via e-Signature.eu (€4.95/signature) is 15 to 40 times cheaper than traditional French certificates (€73-200), yet simpler (mobile only).
- eIDAS legal framework: Article 25 of the eIDAS regulation requires mutual recognition of qualified signatures, but technical implementation remains uneven across countries of origin in 2025.
- Improvement expected in 2026: The eIDAS 2.0 regulation and the EU Digital Identity Wallet should impose genuine technical interoperability for all European countries.
Sign your INPI formalities with itsme® and e-Signature.eu
European citizens: use itsme® via e-Signature.eu to sign your INPI formalities at €4.95 per signature. Simple, fast, subscription-free and officially accepted since 2025.