{"id":15904,"date":"2025-12-14T11:57:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T10:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/3-types-of-eidas-signature-simple-advanced-and-qualified\/"},"modified":"2025-12-14T11:57:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T10:57:17","slug":"3-types-of-eidas-signature-simple-advanced-and-qualified","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/3-types-of-eidas-signature-simple-advanced-and-qualified\/","title":{"rendered":"3 types of eIDAS signature | Simple, Advanced and Qualified"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"15904\" class=\"elementor elementor-15904 elementor-15834\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2b0c74 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b2b0c74\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f474d2 elementor-headline--style-highlight elementor-widget elementor-widget-animated-headline\" data-id=\"3f474d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;marker&quot;:&quot;underline&quot;,&quot;highlighted_text&quot;:&quot;Qualified Electronic Signature&quot;,&quot;headline_style&quot;:&quot;highlight&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;highlight_animation_duration&quot;:1200,&quot;highlight_iteration_delay&quot;:8000}\" data-widget_type=\"animated-headline.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">The <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-wrapper elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-text elementor-headline-text-active\">Qualified Electronic Signature<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\"> eIDAS<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b5b063 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5b5b063\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:400}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A guarantee of security and legal compliance<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad86f4d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ad86f4d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Everything you need to know about qualified electronic signatures (QES) in compliance with the eIDAS regulation. Legal value, available solutions, use cases and comparison of signature levels. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abd4c97 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"abd4c97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79f4f79 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"79f4f79\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb8501c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bb8501c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-section\"><h2>What is the eIDAS qualified electronic signature?<\/h2><p>The <strong>Qualified Electronic Signature (QES)<\/strong> is the highest level of signature defined by the <strong>European eIDAS regulation<\/strong>. It is the only electronic signature with the same legal value as a handwritten signature throughout the European Union. <\/p><div class=\"highlight-box\"><h4>\u2713 Official definition according to eIDAS<\/h4><p>A qualified electronic signature is an <strong>advanced electronic signature<\/strong> that is created using a <strong>qualified electronic signature creation device<\/strong> and is based on a <strong>qualified electronic signature certificate<\/strong> issued by a <strong>qualified trust service provider (QTSP<\/strong>).<\/p><\/div><h3>The 3 fundamental principles of QES<\/h3><table><thead><tr><th>Principle<\/th><th>Meaning<\/th><th>Guarantee provided<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Legal equivalence<\/strong><\/td><td>Same value as a handwritten signature<\/td><td>\u2705 Accepted by all EU administrations and courts<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Non-repudiation<\/strong><\/td><td>The signatory cannot deny having signed<\/td><td>\u2705 Irrefutable legal proof in the event of litigation<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Interoperability<\/strong><\/td><td>Mutual recognition throughout the EU<\/td><td>\u2705 QES issued in Belgium = valid in France, Germany, etc.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><h3>The eIDAS regulation at a glance<\/h3><p>The <strong>eIDAS (electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services) regulation<\/strong> came into force on July 1, 2016 in all EU member states. It establishes a unified legal framework for: <\/p><ul><li>Electronic identification (eID)<\/li><li>Trust services (signatures, stamps, time stamping, electronic registered mail)<\/li><li>Mutual recognition of solutions between member countries<\/li><li>Technical and safety requirements for service providers<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Legal reference:<\/strong> Regulation (EU) No. 910\/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of July 23, 2014<\/p><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>The 3 levels of electronic signature under eIDAS<\/h2><p>The eIDAS regulation defines a <strong>3-level hierarchy of<\/strong> electronic signatures, each with different technical requirements and legal value.<\/p><div class=\"solution-grid\"><div class=\"solution-card\"><h4>\ud83e\udd47 Qualified Signature (QES)<\/h4><p><strong>Maximum safety<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>\u2705 Legal equivalent handwritten signature<\/li><li>\u2705 Qualified certificate (QTSP)<\/li><li>\u2705 Secure creation device<\/li><li>\u2705 Legal non-repudiation<\/li><li>\u2705 Mandatory for certain administrations<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Use cases:<\/strong> INPI formalities, notarial deeds, high-stake contracts, public procurement contracts<\/p><\/div><div class=\"solution-card\"><h4>\ud83e\udd48 Advanced Signature (AES)<\/h4><p><strong>Intermediate safety level<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>\u2713 Reliable identification of the signatory<\/li><li>\u2713 Exclusive control of the signatory<\/li><li>\u2713 Change detection<\/li><li>\u26a0\ufe0f No automatic handwritten equivalence<\/li><li>\u26a0\ufe0f Probative value to be demonstrated in court<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Use cases:<\/strong> commercial contracts, HR documents, internal approvals, international transactions<\/p><\/div><div class=\"solution-card\"><h4>\ud83e\udd49 Signature Simple (SES)<\/h4><p><strong>Basic safety level<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>\u2713 Proof of signatory agreement<\/li><li>\u2713 Signature time stamp<\/li><li>\u26a0\ufe0f Light authentication (email, SMS)<\/li><li>\u26a0\ufe0f Easily challenged in court<\/li><li>\u26a0\ufe0f Not accepted by administrations<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Use cases:<\/strong> Acknowledgements of receipt, simple consents, documents with no major legal implications<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"info-box\"><h4>Which signature is right for you?<\/h4><p><strong>The golden rule:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>Administration requires QES?<\/strong>  \u2192 Qualified signature required (itsme\u00ae, Evrotrust)<\/li><li><strong>Major contract \/ high financial stakes?<\/strong>  \u2192 Recommended Qualified Signature<\/li><li><strong>International transaction outside the EU?<\/strong>  \u2192 Advanced Signature (Veriff &#8211; 198 countries)<\/li><li><strong>Internal document \/ low stakes?<\/strong>  \u2192 Simple signature (OTP email) is enough<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>Legal value: what the law says<\/h2><h3>Article 25 of the eIDAS regulation: legal equivalence<\/h3><div class=\"highlight-box\"><h4>Official text &#8211; Article 25 eIDAS<\/h4><p>&#8220;A qualified electronic signature has a legal effect equivalent to that of a handwritten signature. A qualified electronic signature based on a qualified certificate issued in one Member State shall be recognized as a qualified electronic signature in all other Member States.&#8221;<\/p><\/div><p><strong>Practical consequences :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>A QES signed in Belgium with itsme\u00ae = valid in France, Germany, Italy, etc.<\/li><li>No EU administration or court can refuse a compliant QES<\/li><li>The burden of proof is reversed: it is up to the person contesting the signature to prove that it is invalid.<\/li><li>QES are presumed compliant and authentic<\/li><\/ul><h3>Comparison of probationary value<\/h3><table><thead><tr><th>Type of signature<\/th><th>Legal value<\/th><th>Burden of proof<\/th><th>Administrative acceptance<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Qualified (QES)<\/strong><\/td><td>= handwritten signature<\/td><td>On the contestant<\/td><td>\u2705 Mandatory<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Advanced (AES)<\/strong><\/td><td>Presumed reliable (but refutable)<\/td><td>On the signatory if contested<\/td><td>\u26a0\ufe0f Varies according to context<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Simple (SES)<\/strong><\/td><td>Acceptable but weak<\/td><td>On signatory<\/td><td>\u274c Generally refused<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Handwritten<\/strong><\/td><td>Legal reference<\/td><td>About the contestant<\/td><td>\u2705 Always accepted<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><h3>Mandatory QES use cases<\/h3><p>Some administrative and legal procedures <strong>require<\/strong> a qualified electronic signature:<\/p><table><thead><tr><th>Organization<\/th><th>Procedures concerned<\/th><th>Since<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>INPI (France)<\/strong><\/td><td>Guichet Unique formalities (modification, cessation of business)<\/td><td>January 2023<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Notaries<\/strong><\/td><td>Electronic authentic acts<\/td><td>2020<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Public procurement<\/strong><\/td><td>Responses to calls for tender (PLACE)<\/td><td>2018<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Court registries<\/strong><\/td><td>Company filings<\/td><td>Variable<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>EU administrations<\/strong><\/td><td>Dematerialization of critical procedures<\/td><td>Progressive<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>Qualified signature solutions with e-Signature.eu<\/h2><p>e-Signature.eu offers <strong>two<\/strong> eIDAS-compliant <strong>Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) methods<\/strong>, together covering more than 60 countries worldwide.<\/p><div class=\"highlight-box\"><h4>\u2713 e-Signature.eu advantage: No subscription required<\/h4><p>Unlike competing solutions (DocuSign, Adobe Sign, etc.), e-Signature.eu works on a <strong>pay-as-you-go<\/strong> basis: you buy credits and pay only for the signatures you use. No monthly or annual commitment. <\/p><\/div><h3>1. itsme\u00ae &#8211; Qualified mobile signature (30 European countries)<\/h3><p><strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong> is the Belgian qualified electronic signature application used by over 7 million people in Europe.<\/p><table><thead><tr><th>Features<\/th><th>Detail<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Signature type<\/strong><\/td><td>Qualified (QES) eIDAS compliant<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Geographic coverage<\/strong><\/td><td>30 European countries (<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itsme-id.com\/coverage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">see full list<\/a><\/span>)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Device<\/strong><\/td><td>Mobile application (iOS\/Android)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Authentication<\/strong><\/td><td>PIN code + smartphone validation<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Speed<\/strong><\/td><td>30 seconds per signature<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>e-Signature.eu price list<\/strong><\/td><td>1 credit per signatory<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Signatory installation<\/strong><\/td><td>Free (itsme\u00ae app)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p><strong>Ideal for :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>INPI formalities (France)<\/li><li>Europe-based companies and freelancers<\/li><li>Fast signing without special equipment<\/li><li>European multi-signatories<\/li><\/ul><h3>2. Evrotrust &#8211; International qualified signature (58 countries)<\/h3><p><strong>Evrotrust<\/strong> is the qualified signature solution with the widest geographical coverage in the world.<\/p><table><thead><tr><th>Features<\/th><th>Detail<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Signature type<\/strong><\/td><td>Qualified (QES) eIDAS compliant<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Geographic coverage<\/strong><\/td><td>58 countries (Europe, North America, Oceania, Middle East)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Countries covered<\/strong><\/td><td>AL, AD, AM, AU, AT, AZ, BY, BE, BA, BG, CA, HR, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, GE, DE, GR, HU, IS, IE, IT, IL, KZ, KE, XK, LV, LI, LT, LU, MT, MD, MC, ME, NL, NZ, NO, MK, PL, PT, RU, SM, RS, SK, SI, ES, SE, CH, TW, TR, UA, GB, US, VA, AX<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Authentication<\/strong><\/td><td>Secure identity verification<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>e-Signature.eu price list<\/strong><\/td><td>1 credit per signatory<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p><strong>Ideal for :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Coverage of Eastern Europe and the Balkans<\/li><li>Transactions with North America<\/li><li>Modern alternative to old methods (eID card)<\/li><li>Exporting companies requiring QES outside the EU<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"info-box\"><h4>itsme\u00ae or Evrotrust: how to choose?<\/h4><p><strong>Choose itsme\u00ae if :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Your signatories are in Europe<\/li><li>You prefer mobile simplicity<\/li><li>Your signatories already have the itsme\u00ae app (banks, tax authorities)<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Choose Evrotrust if :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Working with Eastern Europe, the Balkans, North America<\/li><li>You need maximum coverage (58 countries)<\/li><li>You want a universal QES solution<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Both solutions are compatible:<\/strong> you can use itsme\u00ae AND Evrotrust, depending on the signatory.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>Difference between advanced (AES) and simple (SES) signatures<\/h2><h3>Full comparison table<\/h3><table><thead><tr><th>Criteria<\/th><th>Simple (SES)<\/th><th>Advanced (AES)<\/th><th>Qualified (QES)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Legal value<\/strong><\/td><td>Low<\/td><td>Medium (to be proven)<\/td><td><strong>= Handwritten<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Authentication<\/strong><\/td><td>Email\/SMS<\/td><td>Identity verification<\/td><td>Qualified certificate<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Non-repudiation<\/strong><\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><td>\u26a0\ufe0f Limited<\/td><td>\u2705 Total<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Acceptance administration<\/strong><\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><td>Variable<\/td><td>\u2705 Mandatory<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>e-Signature.eu rate<\/strong><\/td><td>0.4 credit<\/td><td>0.7 credit<\/td><td>1 credit<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Fast<\/strong><\/td><td>Immediate<\/td><td>1-2 minutes<\/td><td>30 sec &#8211; 2 min<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Use cases<\/strong><\/td><td>Internal documents<\/td><td>Commercial contracts<\/td><td>Legal formalities<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><h3>When is a simple signature (SES) enough?<\/h3><p>The <strong>simple email OTP signature<\/strong> (0.4 credit with e-Signature.eu) is more than sufficient for :<\/p><ul><li>Acknowledgement of receipt<\/li><li>RGPD Consents<\/li><li>Internal approvals with no legal implications<\/li><li>Collaborative work documents<\/li><li>Validations of quotations without firm commitment<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Advantage:<\/strong> Reduced price (60% less than QES) for everyday use<\/p><h3>When is advanced signature (AES) recommended?<\/h3><p><strong>Advanced signing via Veriff<\/strong> (0.7 credit, 198 countries) is ideal for :<\/p><ul><li>International transactions outside Europe<\/li><li>Standard B2B commercial contracts<\/li><li>HR documents (employment contracts, riders)<\/li><li>Situations where QES is disproportionate but SES insufficient<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Advantage:<\/strong> Optimum balance between security, global coverage (198 countries) and cost (30% less expensive than QES).<\/p><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>eIDAS compliance: technical requirements<\/h2><h3>What is a Qualified Trusted Service Provider (QTSP)?<\/h3><p>A <strong>QTSP (Qualified Trust Service Provider)<\/strong> is an organization certified by national authorities to issue qualified electronic signature certificates.<\/p><div class=\"highlight-box\"><h4>The 3 cumulative conditions for being QTSP<\/h4><ul><li><strong>1. National approval<\/strong>: obtained from the supervisory authority (ANSSI in France, BIPT in Belgium)<\/li><li><strong>2. Technical compliance<\/strong>: Compliance with ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) standards<\/li><li><strong>3. Regular audits<\/strong>: Periodic safety and process checks<\/li><\/ul><\/div><p><strong>QTSP providers used by e-Signature.eu :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong>: QTSP certified in Belgium<\/li><li><strong>Evrotrust<\/strong>: QTSP certified in Bulgaria (EU recognition)<\/li><\/ul><h3>The qualified certificate: an essential component<\/h3><p>A <strong>qualified electronic signature certificate<\/strong> contains :<\/p><table><thead><tr><th>Element<\/th><th>Contents<\/th><th>Function<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Identity of signatory<\/strong><\/td><td>Last name, first name, date of birth<\/td><td>Uniquely identify the signatory<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Public key<\/strong><\/td><td>Cryptographic data<\/td><td>Verify signature authenticity<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Issuer (QTSP)<\/strong><\/td><td>Name and approval number<\/td><td>Ensuring eIDAS compliance<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Period of validity<\/strong><\/td><td>Start\/end date<\/td><td>Time limit<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>QTSP signature<\/strong><\/td><td>Electronic seal<\/td><td>Proving certificate authenticity<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p><strong>Important :<\/strong> The qualified certificate is automatically generated for each signature with itsme\u00ae or Evrotrust. The signatory does not need to manage the certificate manually. <\/p><h3>Qualified signature creation device (QSCD)<\/h3><p>A <strong>QSCD (Qualified Signature Creation Device)<\/strong> is a secure hardware or software product that guarantees that :<\/p><ul><li>The signatory&#8217;s private key cannot be extracted or copied<\/li><li>The signature cannot be generated without the signatory&#8217;s voluntary action<\/li><li>Signed data cannot be modified after signing<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Examples of QSCD :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong>: Smartphone with secure enclave (Secure Element)<\/li><li><strong>Evrotrust<\/strong>: HSM (Hardware Security Module) infrastructure<\/li><li>Smart cards (Belgian eID &#8211; will no longer be offered after 2025)<\/li><li>Cryptographic USB tokens<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>Practical use cases for qualified signatures<\/h2><h3>1. INPI formalities (France)<\/h3><div class=\"solution-card\"><h4>Context<\/h4><p>The INPI (Institut National de la Propri\u00e9t\u00e9 Industrielle) has required a qualified signature for all company modification or cessation formalities via the Guichet Unique since January 2023.<\/p><p><strong>e-Signature.eu solutions :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong>: Officially accepted since 2025 (ideal for Europeans)<\/li><li><strong>Evrotrust<\/strong>: Alternative QES recognized by eIDAS<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Fee:<\/strong> 1 credit per signature (vs. \u20ac73-200 for traditional French certificates)<\/p><\/div><h3>2. Public procurement and calls for tender<\/h3><div class=\"solution-card\"><h4>Context<\/h4><p>The PLACE platform (Plateforme des Achats de l&#8217;\u00c9tat) and territorial platforms require a qualified signature to bid on public procurement contracts.<\/p><p><strong>e-Signature.eu solutions :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong>: For companies based in Europe<\/li><li><strong>Evrotrust<\/strong>: For maximum international coverage<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Advantage:<\/strong> Signature without subscription (vs. dedicated public procurement solutions at \u20ac100-300\/year)<\/p><\/div><h3>3. Electronic notarial deeds<\/h3><div class=\"solution-card\"><h4>Context<\/h4><p>Electronic authentic deeds (real estate sales, donations, etc.) require a qualified signature from all parties.<\/p><p><strong>e-Signature.eu solutions :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong>: Simple mobile solution for individual signatories<\/li><li><strong>Evrotrust<\/strong>: If signatories outside itsme\u00ae coverage<\/li><\/ul><\/div><h3>4. High-stakes international contracts<\/h3><div class=\"solution-card\"><h4>Context<\/h4><p>Commercial contracts over \u20ac100k, strategic partnerships, critical confidentiality agreements.<\/p><p><strong>e-Signature.eu solutions :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>Evrotrust<\/strong>: 58-country coverage with QES<\/li><li><strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong>: If all signatories in Europe<\/li><li><strong>Veriff (AES)<\/strong>: Alternative if QES not required but high security desired (198 countries, 0.7 credits)<\/li><\/ul><\/div><h3>5. Filing of legal documents with the clerk&#8217;s office<\/h3><div class=\"solution-card\"><h4>Context<\/h4><p>Company bylaws, meeting minutes, annual accounts requiring official filing.<\/p><p><strong>e-Signature.eu solutions :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong>: Quick signature for managers\/administrators<\/li><li><strong>Evrotrust<\/strong>: An international shareholder base<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>e-Signature.eu pricing: no subscription, pay-as-you-go<\/h2><div class=\"highlight-box\"><h4>\u2713 Unique business model: Pay only for what you use<\/h4><p>Unlike DocuSign (45-65\u20ac\/month), Adobe Sign (30-60\u20ac\/month) or other subscription-based solutions, e-Signature.eu works with <strong>prepaid credits<\/strong>:<\/p><ul><li>Buy credits according to your needs<\/li><li>1 credit = 1 signatory (regardless of the number of documents)<\/li><li>No monthly or annual commitment<\/li><\/ul><\/div><h3>Price list 2026<\/h3><table><thead><tr><th>Signature type<\/th><th>Method<\/th><th>Rate (credit\/signer)<\/th><th>Price per unit* (credit\/signatory)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Qualified (QES)<\/strong><\/td><td>itsme\u00ae or Evrotrust<\/td><td>1 credit<\/td><td>4,95\u20ac<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Advanced (AES)<\/strong><\/td><td>Veriff<\/td><td>0.7 credit<\/td><td>3,47\u20ac<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Simple (SES)<\/strong><\/td><td>OTP email<\/td><td>0.4 credit<\/td><td>1,98\u20ac<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p><em>*Indicative price based on formula 1 signature (\u20ac4.95). Volume discounts available. <\/em><\/p><h3>Sample calculation: INPI formality<\/h3><p><strong>Scenario:<\/strong> Modification of INPI company requiring qualified signature of manager<\/p><p><strong>With e-Signature.eu + itsme\u00ae :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>1 signatory = 1 credit = <strong>\u20ac4.95<\/strong><\/li><li>itsme\u00ae application free of charge for the signatory<\/li><li>Signature in 30 seconds<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>With traditional French certificate :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>CertEurope: \u20ac200 (3-year certificate)<\/li><li>Certigna: \u20ac96 excl. tax\/year<\/li><li>ChamberSign: \u20ac73 excl. tax\/year<\/li><li>+ Travel may be required<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Savings: 15 to 40 times less with e-Signature.eu<\/strong><\/p><h3>Competitive comparison<\/h3><table><thead><tr><th>Solution<\/th><th>Model<\/th><th>Price list<\/th><th>Qualified signature<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>e-Signature.eu<\/strong><\/td><td>Pay-as-you-go<\/td><td>4.95\u20ac\/QES signature<\/td><td>\u2705 itsme\u00ae + Evrotrust<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>DocuSign<\/strong><\/td><td>Monthly subscription<\/td><td>45-65\u20ac\/month<\/td><td>\u26a0\ufe0f Separate premium module<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Adobe Sign<\/strong><\/td><td>Monthly subscription<\/td><td>30-60\u20ac\/month<\/td><td>\u26a0\ufe0f Not included (surcharge)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Universign<\/strong><\/td><td>One-off<\/td><td>49\u20ac + travel<\/td><td>\u2705 French certificate only<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Lex Community<\/strong><\/td><td>Free<\/td><td>0\u20ac<\/td><td>\u26a0\ufe0f AES only (not QES)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>eIDAS 2.0 and future developments (2026+)<\/h2><h3>The European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet)<\/h3><div class=\"info-box\"><h4>Revolution expected in 2026<\/h4><p>The <strong>eIDAS 2.0<\/strong> regulation (adopted in 2024) introduces the<strong>EU Digital Identity Wallet<\/strong>, a single digital wallet for every European citizen enabling:<\/p><ul><li>Strong authentication for public and private services<\/li><li>Integrated qualified electronic signature<\/li><li>Secure storage of certificates (diplomas, licenses, etc.)<\/li><li>Full interoperability between the 27 member states<\/li><\/ul><\/div><p><strong>Deployment schedule :<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>2025<\/strong>: Pilot projects in 4 countries (Germany, Spain, Latvia, Italy)<\/li><li><strong>2026<\/strong>: Progressive deployment in all member states<\/li><li><strong>2027<\/strong>: General availability to all EU citizens<\/li><li><strong>2028<\/strong>: Obligation for certain public and private services to accept EUDI Wallet<\/li><\/ul><h3>Impact on signature solutions<\/h3><table><thead><tr><th>Current solution<\/th><th>Impact EUDI Wallet<\/th><th>Probable evolution<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong><\/td><td>Compatible from launch<\/td><td>Native integration in Belgian wallet<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Evrotrust<\/strong><\/td><td>Necessary adaptation<\/td><td>Move towards EUDI interoperability<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>FranceConnect+<\/strong><\/td><td>Expected convergence<\/td><td>Merger with French EUDI Wallet<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>National certificates<\/strong><\/td><td>Gradual obsolescence<\/td><td>Replacement by integrated EUDI<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p><strong>e-Signature.eu&#8217;s position:<\/strong> Proactive monitoring of eIDAS 2.0 to integrate the EUDI Wallet as soon as it becomes available, as a complement to current solutions.<\/p><h3>New eIDAS 2.0 requirements<\/h3><p>The eIDAS 2.0 regulation strengthens the obligations for :<\/p><ul><li><strong>Large online platforms<\/strong>: Obligation to accept EUDI Wallet for authentication<\/li><li><strong>Banking services<\/strong>: mandatory integration of European digital identity<\/li><li><strong>Public administrations<\/strong>: Mandatory acceptance of EUDI certificates<\/li><li><strong>Private service providers<\/strong>: Enhanced certification to become QTSP<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>Frequently asked questions (FAQ)<\/h2><h3>What&#8217;s the difference between qualified and advanced signatures?<\/h3><p>The <strong>qualified signature (QES)<\/strong> is the only signature level with the same legal value as a handwritten signature. It is based on a qualified certificate issued by a certified service provider (QTSP). The <strong>advanced signature (AES)<\/strong> reliably identifies the signatory, but is not automatically equivalent to a handwritten signature &#8211; its probative value must be demonstrated in the event of a dispute.  <\/p><h3>Are itsme\u00ae signatures accepted throughout Europe?<\/h3><p>Yes, in accordance with<strong>Article 25 of the eIDAS regulation<\/strong>, a qualified signature issued in one member state (in this case Belgium for itsme\u00ae) must be recognized in all other EU member states. An itsme\u00ae signature therefore has the same legal value in France, Germany, Italy, etc. <\/p><h3>How much does a qualified signature with e-Signature.eu cost?<\/h3><p>A qualified signature (QES) costs <strong>1 credit per signatory<\/strong>, or \u20ac4.95 for the 1 signature package. This is 15 to 40 times less expensive than traditional French qualified certificates (\u20ac73-200). The signatory uses the itsme\u00ae or Evrotrust application free of charge.  <\/p><h3>Do I need a qualified signature for all my documents?<\/h3><p>No, a qualified signature is only required for :<\/p><ul><li>Administrative formalities that explicitly require it (INPI, public contracts, registries)<\/li><li>Contracts with high legal or financial stakes<\/li><li>Situations where you want total non-repudiation<\/li><\/ul><p>For standard commercial contracts, the <strong>advanced signature<\/strong> (Veriff, 0.7 credit) is often sufficient. For unimportant internal documents, a <strong>simple signature<\/strong> (OTP email, 0.4 credit) is more than sufficient. <\/p><h3>Can I use itsme\u00ae if I&#8217;m not Belgian?<\/h3><p>Yes! itsme\u00ae is accessible to nationals of <strong>30 European countries<\/strong>. All you need to create an itsme\u00ae account is a compatible identity document (European passport, national identity card, etc.). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itsme-id.com\/coverage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">See the full list of countries covered<\/a>. <\/p><h3>Are documents signed with itsme\u00ae accepted by INPI?<\/h3><p>Yes, since <strong>2025<\/strong>, INPI has officially accepted itsme\u00ae signatures for all Guichet Unique formalities (modification, cessation of business). itsme\u00ae has become the benchmark solution for non-French European nationals who cannot access FranceConnect+. <\/p><h3>How long is a qualified signature valid?<\/h3><p>A qualified signature remains valid <strong>indefinitely<\/strong>, even after the certificate used to create it has expired, thanks to qualified time-stamping and evidence preservation mechanisms. The signed document retains its legal value for as long as necessary. <\/p><h3>How to check that a signature is qualified?<\/h3><p>A document signed with a qualified signature contains verifiable metadata:<\/p><ul><li>Qualified signatory certificate (with name of issuing QTSP)<\/li><li>Qualified time-stamping<\/li><li>Provider&#8217;s electronic seal<\/li><li>Compliance with ETSI standards (PAdES, XAdES)<\/li><\/ul><p>PDF readers (Adobe Reader, Foxit) display this information in the &#8220;Signatures&#8221; panel. e-Signature.eu also provides a signature certificate with each document. <\/p><h3>Can I sign large documents with e-Signature.eu?<\/h3><p>Yes, e-Signature.eu supports documents up to <strong>100 MB<\/strong> per file. The new 2026 features further enhance compatibility with large documents (presentations, CAD drawings, ZIP archives). <\/p><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>Key points to remember<\/h2><ul class=\"key-points\"><li><strong>\u2713 Legal equivalence:<\/strong> The Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) is the only one with the same value as a handwritten signature throughout the European Union, in accordance with the eIDAS regulation.<\/li><li>\u2713 <strong>Signature hierarchy:<\/strong> QES &gt; AES &gt; SES in terms of legal value. Choose the level suited to your needs (QES for administration, AES for commercial, SES for internal). <\/li><li><strong>\u2713 e-Signature.eu solutions:<\/strong> itsme\u00ae (30 European countries) and Evrotrust (58 countries) offer an eIDAS-compliant qualified signature at 1 credit\/signer, i.e. 15 to 40 times cheaper than traditional French certificates.<\/li><li>\u2713 <strong>Subscription-free:<\/strong> Unique pay-as-you-go model &#8211; pay only for the signatures you use, no monthly commitment unlike DocuSign, Adobe Sign, etc.<\/li><li><strong>\u2713 Mutual recognition:<\/strong> A qualified signature issued in one EU country is automatically valid in all other member states (eIDAS interoperability).<\/li><li><strong>\u2713 Evolution 2026:<\/strong> The deployment of the EU Digital Identity Wallet (eIDAS 2.0) will further strengthen interoperability and simplify access to qualified signatures for all European citizens.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"cta-section\"><h3>Sign your documents with an eIDAS-compliant qualified signature<\/h3><p>Benefit from a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) with the same legal value as a handwritten signature. Choose itsme\u00ae (30 countries) or Evrotrust (58 countries) to suit your needs. No subscription required, from \u20ac4.95 per signature.  <\/p><p><a class=\"cta-button\" href=\"https:\/\/e-signature.eu\/en\/#order\">Getting started with a Qualified Electronic Signature<\/a><\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Qualified Electronic Signature eIDAS A guarantee of security and legal compliance Everything you need to know about qualified electronic&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15904","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15904","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15904"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15904\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15904"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}