{"id":15185,"date":"2025-01-17T13:30:35","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T12:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/how-does-an-itsme-signature-work-and-which-documents-require-a-qualified-electronic-signature-2\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T21:15:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T20:15:40","slug":"how-does-an-itsme-signature-work-and-which-documents-require-a-qualified-electronic-signature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/how-does-an-itsme-signature-work-and-which-documents-require-a-qualified-electronic-signature\/","title":{"rendered":"How does an itsme signature work, and which documents require a qualified electronic signature?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"15185\" class=\"elementor elementor-15185 elementor-15030\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8895cd3 elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8895cd3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e0955c2\" data-id=\"e0955c2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5bb81c2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5bb81c2c\" 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=\"container\"><header id=\"ai-header\"><h1><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">How to create an itsme\u00ae signature Complete guide <\/span><\/h1><p class=\"lead-paragraph\">Detailed process for qualified electronic signatures with itsme\u00ae and legally binding documents in Belgium<\/p><\/header><div class=\"content-section\"><p><strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong> stands out as a key player in the field of qualified electronic signatures in Belgium and growing European countries, appreciated for its reliability, ease of use and user-friendly interface. With nearly <strong>7 million daily users<\/strong> and rapid expansion in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and other European countries, itsme\u00ae occupies a key strategic position in the digital transformation of business documents and transactions.<\/p><p>This solution offers full compliance with the most demanding standards in terms of legal security and legality, notably <a href=\"https:\/\/digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu\/en\/policies\/discover-eidas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the European eIDAS regulation<\/a>, which harmonizes electronic signature rules throughout the European Union.<\/p><div class=\"stats-box\"><h4>\ud83d\udcf1 7 million users<\/h4><p>itsme\u00ae is used daily by nearly 7 million people in Belgium and neighboring countries, confirming its position as market leader in digital identity.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>What is itsme\u00ae?<\/h2><p><strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong> is a complete digital identity and qualified electronic signature solution developed specifically to meet the needs of individuals, businesses and public administrations. It offers <strong>four essential services<\/strong> covering the entire lifecycle of secure digital interactions:<\/p><h3>The 4 itsme\u00ae services for businesses<\/h3><div class=\"step-box\"><h4>1. Identification (itsme\u00ae Identify)<\/h4><p>Enables <strong>fast, efficient customer onboarding<\/strong> with instant identity verification. Companies can verify the identity of their customers in a matter of seconds by connecting to official Belgian and European registers. Ideal for opening bank accounts, taking out insurance policies, or any procedure requiring certain identification (KYC &#8211; Know Your Customer).<\/p><\/div><div class=\"step-box\"><h4>2. Authentication (itsme\u00ae Login)<\/h4><p>Provides <strong>simplified, secure access<\/strong> to online services without the need for complex passwords. Users can connect to their business applications, customer portals or banking services with integrated two-factor authentication. This solution replaces the need for physical tokens and SMS confirmations.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"step-box\"><h4>3. Confirmation (itsme\u00ae Confirm)<\/h4><p>Provides <strong>clear approval processes<\/strong> for sensitive transactions. Companies can request explicit confirmation before executing payments, large bank transfers, or contract modifications. This adds an extra layer of security for high-risk operations.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"step-box\"><h4>4. Signature (itsme\u00ae Sign)<\/h4><p>offers a <strong>reliable, legally binding and practical method<\/strong> of signing documents online, with the maximum legal value of a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) in compliance with the eIDAS regulation. This is the service we&#8217;re going to describe in detail in this article.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"info-box\"><h4>\ud83d\udd10 Maximum safety<\/h4><p>itsme\u00ae uses a multi-layered security infrastructure with strong authentication, end-to-end encryption and compliance with international standards (ISO 27001, eIDAS). Every transaction is protected by your personal PIN code and your mobile device.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>How does a signature work with itsme\u00ae? Step-by-step guide<\/h2><p>The itsme\u00ae signature process has been designed to combine <strong>maximum security with ease of use<\/strong>. Here is the complete procedure for a qualified electronic signature with itsme\u00ae :<\/p><h3>Step 1: Receipt of invitation to sign<\/h3><p>You receive <strong>an email inviting you to sign<\/strong> important documents. This email contains a secure, personalized link to initiate the signature procedure. The email usually specifies :<\/p><ul><li>Name of organization requesting signature<\/li><li>Type of document to be signed (contract, agreement, form, etc.)<\/li><li>Possible deadline for signing<\/li><li>A single, secure link to the signature platform<\/li><\/ul><h3>Step 2: Document access<\/h3><p>Clicking on the link in the e-mail takes you to a <strong>secure web page<\/strong> displaying the documents to be signed. This page allows you to :<\/p><ul><li>View all documents in your browser<\/li><li>Read all terms and conditions carefully<\/li><li>Download documents for offline consultation if required<\/li><\/ul><h3>Step 3: Mandatory reading and acceptance of conditions<\/h3><p>Before you can click on the <strong>&#8216;Sign&#8217;<\/strong> button, you must :<\/p><ol><li><strong>Scroll to the very last page<\/strong> to make sure you&#8217;ve viewed all the content<\/li><li><strong>Check the required box<\/strong>: &#8220;I certify that I have read all the documents and agree to the Terms of Use&#8221;.<\/li><\/ol><p>This step ensures that you have read the entire document before committing yourself legally.<\/p><h3>Step 4: Send the signature request to itsme\u00ae.<\/h3><p>After clicking on <strong>&#8216;Continue&#8217;<\/strong>, you must :<\/p><ol><li>Enter <strong>your cell phone number<\/strong> (the one associated with your itsme\u00ae account)<\/li><li>Click on <strong>&#8216;Continue&#8217;<\/strong> to send a signature request to your itsme\u00ae mobile application.<\/li><\/ol><p>At this point, a notification is instantly sent to your smartphone.<\/p><div class=\"warning-box\"><h4>\u23f1\ufe0f 3-minute delay<\/h4><p><strong>Please note:<\/strong> After opening the itsme\u00ae mobile application, you have <strong>just three minutes<\/strong> to complete all the steps required for signing. This security delay prevents fraudulent signature attempts. If the time limit expires, you will have to restart the process from the beginning.<\/p><\/div><h3>Step 5: Opening the itsme\u00ae application<\/h3><p>Open the<strong>itsme\u00ae mobile application<\/strong> on your smartphone. You will immediately see a pending signature request with :<\/p><ul><li>Name of issuing organization<\/li><li>The type of document to be signed<\/li><li>Action required (qualified electronic signature)<\/li><\/ul><h3>Step 6: Confirmation and verification of security icons<\/h3><p>To guarantee transaction security and avoid man-in-the-middle attacks:<\/p><ol><li>Take a close look at the action displayed on the itsme\u00ae mobile application<\/li><li>Select <strong>&#8216;Confirm&#8217;<\/strong> to start the signing process<\/li><li>A <strong>set of colored icons<\/strong> appears simultaneously:<ul><li>In your web browser (on computer or tablet)<\/li><li>In your itsme\u00ae mobile application<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Check that the icons displayed in the itsme\u00ae mobile application correspond exactly to those visible in your browser.<\/strong><\/li><li>If the icons match, <strong>select the orange icon in your browser on your itsme\u00ae application.<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><div class=\"callout-box\"><h4>\ud83d\udd12 Enhanced security through icon verification<\/h4><p>The icon verification system guarantees that you are actually signing the document in front of you, and that no malicious intermediaries have intercepted the request. If the icons don&#8217;t match, contact the issuing organization immediately.<\/p><\/div><h3>Step 7: Finalize with your PIN code<\/h3><p>To finalize the qualified electronic signature :<\/p><ol><li>Enter your <strong>5-digit itsme\u00ae code<\/strong> in the mobile application<\/li><li>Confirm to create the cryptographic signature<\/li><\/ol><p>This personal PIN ensures that only you can create signatures with your itsme\u00ae digital identity.<\/p><h3>Step 8: Signature confirmation<\/h3><p>Once these steps have been successfully completed :<\/p><ul><li>Your browser automatically returns to the document page<\/li><li>A <strong>confirmation message<\/strong> appears, indicating that the signature is complete.<\/li><li>The document is now legally binding.<\/li><\/ul><h3>Step 9: Receipt of signed documents<\/h3><p>Once <strong>all<\/strong> required <strong>parties<\/strong> have signed the document (if multi-party signature) :<\/p><ul><li>You will receive an automatic <strong>confirmation email<\/strong><\/li><li>This email contains a <strong>secure download link<\/strong> to the duly signed documents.<\/li><li>Documents include qualified electronic signatures of all parties with certified time stamps<\/li><li>You can archive these documents, which have the same legal value as a hand-signed document<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>e-Signature.eu : Qualified itsme\u00ae signatures without subscription<\/h2><p><strong>e-Signature.eu<\/strong> natively integrates <strong>itsme\u00ae Sign<\/strong>, the Qualified Electronic Signature solution that combines practicality, speed, maximum security and 100% compliance with the qualified signature standards defined by the European eIDAS regulation.<\/p><h3>e-Signature.eu with itsme\u00ae benefits<\/h3><ul><li><strong>No subscription :<\/strong> Pay-as-you-go, according to your real needs<\/li><li><strong>No installation:<\/strong> fully online solution, accessible from any browser<\/li><li><strong>Flexible credits:<\/strong> buy your signature credits when you need them, use them when you want<\/li><li><strong>Guaranteed eIDAS compliance:<\/strong> all signatures created via e-Signature.eu are legally binding throughout the EU<\/li><li><strong>Multi-signature support:<\/strong> Send a document to several people for sequential or parallel signature<\/li><li><strong>Intuitive interface:<\/strong> Easy-to-use platform, even for non-technical users<\/li><\/ul><p>This solution is particularly well suited to the <strong>Belgian and European<\/strong> context, where regulations require the use of qualified electronic signatures in certain specific cases defined by law.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>Which documents require a qualified electronic signature?<\/h2><p>Under the <strong>eIDAS regulation<\/strong>, electronic signatures are legally valid for the vast majority of commercial and civil documents. However, Belgian and European legislation specifically requires the use of a <strong>Qualified Electronic Signature (QES<\/strong> ) for certain types of document where maximum legal security is essential.<\/p><h3>Documents subject to QES in Belgium<\/h3><table><thead><tr><th>Type of document<\/th><th>Legal basis<\/th><th>Application context<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Consumer credit contracts<\/strong><\/td><td>Article VII.78 of the Code of Economic Law<\/td><td>Personal loans, consumer credit, car financing<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Employment contracts<\/strong><\/td><td>Article 3bis of the Employment Contracts Act<\/td><td>Hiring of employees, amendments, contractual modifications<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Authentic instruments<\/strong><\/td><td>Article 8.15 of the Civil Code<\/td><td>Notarial documents, real estate deeds, wills<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Official forms<\/strong><\/td><td>Tax and administrative regulations<\/td><td>Tax returns, applications to public authorities<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Company bylaws<\/strong><\/td><td>Code of Companies and Associations<\/td><td>Formation and modification of SRL, SC, SA, European companies, cooperatives<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Electronic government services<\/strong><\/td><td>Digital government legislation<\/td><td>Connection to My eBox, MyMinFin, Tax-on-web<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Merger minutes<\/strong><\/td><td>Article 12:50 of the Companies and Associations Code<\/td><td>Approval meetings, mergers and acquisitions<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Insolvency documents<\/strong><\/td><td>Book XX of the Code of Economic Law<\/td><td>Bankruptcy proceedings, compositions, judicial reorganizations<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><h3>Why do these documents require an ESQ?<\/h3><p>These document categories share several common characteristics that justify the requirement for a qualified electronic signature:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Significant financial stakes:<\/strong> Significant financial commitments (loans, salaries, real estate transactions)<\/li><li><strong>Protecting weaker parties:<\/strong> stronger consumer and employee protection<\/li><li><strong>Maximum legal certainty:<\/strong> Need for irrefutable proof in the event of litigation<\/li><li><strong>Strict regulatory compliance:<\/strong> Supervision by public authorities (central banks, labor inspectorate, notary&#8217;s office)<\/li><li><strong>Long-term archiving:<\/strong> mandatory retention for many years (10, 30 or more)<\/li><li><strong>Undeniable probative value:<\/strong> Non-repudiation guaranteed by QES<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"warning-box\"><h4>\u26a0\ufe0f Penalties for non-compliance<\/h4><p>The use of a simple electronic signature or an advanced signature (instead of a QES) for the documents listed above may result in: nullity of the contract or deed, administrative sanctions, fines for the organization, and non-recognition of the document by the competent authorities.<\/p><\/div><h3>Documents for which QES is recommended (but not mandatory)<\/h3><p>Although not formally required by law, it is strongly recommended to use a qualified electronic signature for :<\/p><ul><li>High-value commercial contracts (&gt;\u20ac50,000)<\/li><li>Sensitive confidentiality agreements (NDA)<\/li><li>Strategic partnership agreements<\/li><li>Sales of shares<\/li><li>Commercial leases<\/li><li>Representative mandates<\/li><li>International documents requiring cross-border recognition<\/li><\/ul><p>In these situations, QES offers <strong>maximum legal certainty<\/strong> and virtually eliminates any risk of subsequent challenge.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>Are itsme\u00ae signatures legally binding?<\/h2><h3>Legal value guaranteed by eIDAS<\/h3><p><strong>Absolutely!<\/strong> itsme\u00ae signatures are <strong>fully legally binding<\/strong> and enjoy maximum protection under European law. Here&#8217;s why:<\/p><h4>1. Full compliance with eIDAS regulation<\/h4><p>itsme\u00ae Sign complies with the <strong>eIDAS regulation (EU Regulation No. 910\/2014)<\/strong>, which is directly applicable in all EU member states. This guarantees a legal value equivalent to that of a traditional handwritten signature.<\/p><h4>2. Qualified Trusted Service Provider (QTSP)<\/h4><p>itsme\u00ae works with <strong>Qualified Trusted Service Providers<\/strong> supervised by the Belgian and European national authorities. These providers are regularly audited to ensure compliance with the strictest technical and legal standards.<\/p><h4>3. Guaranteed non-repudiation<\/h4><p>A qualified electronic signature created via itsme\u00ae is <strong>non-repudiable<\/strong>. This means that :<\/p><ul><li>The signatory cannot deny having signed the document<\/li><li>In the event of a dispute, it is up to the party contesting the signature to prove that it is invalid (reversal of the burden of proof).<\/li><li>Cryptographic mechanisms guarantee signature authenticity and integrity<\/li><li>Any change to the document after signing is immediately detectable<\/li><\/ul><h4>4. Mandatory cross-border recognition<\/h4><p>itsme\u00ae signatures are <strong>automatically recognized in all 27 EU member states<\/strong>. A document signed in Belgium with itsme\u00ae is legally valid in France, Germany, Italy and all other European countries without any additional formalities.<\/p><h4>5. Legal equivalence with handwritten signature<\/h4><p>According to article 25.2 of the eIDAS regulation: <em>&#8220;A qualified electronic signature has a legal effect equivalent to that of a handwritten signature.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><p>In practical terms, this means that a contract signed with itsme\u00ae has <strong>exactly the same legal force<\/strong> as a contract signed by hand before a notary.<\/p><div class=\"callout-box\"><h4>\u2696\ufe0f European case law<\/h4><p>Belgian and European courts systematically recognize the validity of eIDAS-compliant qualified electronic signatures. Several court rulings have confirmed that QES signatures have a probative value equal to, or even superior to, a handwritten signature, due to the technical guarantees they offer.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>Key points to remember<\/h2><ul class=\"key-points\"><li><strong>Simple 9-step process:<\/strong> Signing with itsme\u00ae combines maximum security with ease of use, thanks to an intuitive guided process accessible via mobile.<\/li><li><strong>7 million daily users:<\/strong> itsme\u00ae is Belgium&#8217;s benchmark solution for digital identity and qualified electronic signatures.<\/li><li><strong>Legally binding documents:<\/strong> Belgian law requires QES for 8 categories of documents, including employment contracts, credit agreements and authentic instruments.<\/li><li><strong>Maximum legal value:<\/strong> itsme\u00ae signatures are legally binding, non-repudiable and equivalent to a handwritten signature throughout the EU.<\/li><li><strong>e-Signature.eu without subscription:<\/strong> Access to itsme\u00ae qualified signatures with pay-per-use and guaranteed eIDAS compliance.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"cta-section\"><h3>Create qualified electronic signatures with itsme\u00ae.<\/h3><p>e-Signature.eu lets you use itsme\u00ae Sign for your qualified eIDAS-compliant electronic signatures. Subscription-free, pay-as-you-go, flexible credits. Ideal for individuals, SMEs and large corporations.<\/p><p><a class=\"cta-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/#start\">Start signing with itsme\u00ae.<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d687d6a elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d687d6a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-39e035f\" data-id=\"39e035f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a22a0a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a22a0a9\" 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<header id=\"ai-header\"><h1><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">How to create an itsme\u00ae signature Complete guide <\/span><\/h1><p class=\"lead\">Complete guide to itsme\u00ae qualified electronic signatures: step-by-step process and documents requiring QES<\/p><\/header><div class=\"content\"><div class=\"section\"><h2>What is itsme\u00ae?<\/h2><p><strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong> is a complete digital identity and qualified electronic signature solution developed for individuals, businesses and public authorities. It offers <strong>four essential services<\/strong>: <\/p><div class=\"service-card\"><h4>1. Identification (itsme\u00ae Identify)<\/h4><p><strong>Fast customer onboarding<\/strong> with instant identity verification. Connection to official Belgian and European registers. Ideal for opening bank accounts, insurance subscriptions, KYC.  <\/p><\/div><div class=\"service-card\"><h4>2. Authentication (itsme\u00ae Login)<\/h4><p><strong>Simplified, secure access<\/strong> to online services without complex passwords. Integrated two-factor authentication. Replaces physical tokens and SMS confirmation.  <\/p><\/div><div class=\"service-card\"><h4>3. Confirmation (itsme\u00ae Confirm)<\/h4><p><strong>Clear approval processes<\/strong> for sensitive transactions. Explicit confirmation before payments, large transfers or contract modifications. <\/p><\/div><div class=\"service-card\"><h4>4. Signature (itsme\u00ae Sign)<\/h4><p><strong>Reliable, legally binding method<\/strong> for signing documents online with the maximum legal value of an eIDAS-compliant Qualified Electronic Signature (QES).<\/p><\/div><div class=\"info-box\"><h4>\ud83d\udd10 Maximum safety<\/h4><p>itsme\u00ae uses a multi-layer infrastructure with strong authentication, end-to-end encryption and compliance with international standards (ISO 27001, eIDAS). Every transaction is protected by your personal PIN code. <\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"section\"><h2>How to sign with itsme\u00ae: a 9-step guide <\/h2><p>The itsme\u00ae signature process combines <strong>maximum security with simplicity<\/strong>:<\/p><div class=\"step-card\"><h3>Step 1: Receiving the invitation<\/h3><p>You receive <strong>an invitation by email<\/strong>, containing a secure link. The email specifies: name of organization, type of document, possible deadline, unique link to the platform. <\/p><\/div><div class=\"step-card\"><h3>Step 2: Document access<\/h3><p>Clicking on the link takes you to a <strong>secure web page<\/strong> displaying the documents. You can view the entire document, read all the clauses, or download them for offline consultation. <\/p><\/div><div class=\"step-card\"><h3>Step 3: Reading and acceptance<\/h3><p>Before clicking on &#8216;Sign&#8217; :<\/p><ol><li>Scroll to last page<\/li><li>Tick the &#8220;I have read all the documents&#8221; box<\/li><\/ol><p>This step ensures that you have read the entire document.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"step-card\"><h3>Step 4: Send to mobile<\/h3><p>After &#8216;Continue&#8217; :<\/p><ol><li>Enter your cell phone number (associated with itsme\u00ae)<\/li><li>Click on &#8216;Continue<\/li><\/ol><p>A notification is sent instantly to your smartphone.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"warning-box\"><h4>\u23f1\ufe0f 3-minute delay<\/h4><p><strong>Please note<\/strong> After opening the itsme\u00ae mobile app, you have <strong>just 3 minutes<\/strong> to complete all the steps. This prevents fraudulent signature attempts. <\/p><\/div><div class=\"step-card\"><h3>Step 5: Open the itsme\u00ae app<\/h3><p>Open the<strong>itsme\u00ae mobile application<\/strong>. You&#8217;ll immediately see a signature request with: organization name, document type, action required. <\/p><\/div><div class=\"step-card\"><h3>Step 6: Checking icons<\/h3><p>To guarantee safety :<\/p><ol><li>Examine the displayed action<\/li><li>Select &#8216;Confirm<\/li><li><strong>Colored icons<\/strong> appear simultaneously in your browser and app<\/li><li><strong>Check that the icons match exactly<\/strong><\/li><li>In the app, select the orange icon displayed in your browser<\/li><\/ol><\/div><div class=\"callout-box\"><h4>\ud83d\udd12 Enhanced safety<\/h4><p>The icon verification system guarantees that you are signing the document in front of your eyes, and that no malicious intermediaries have intercepted the request. If the icons don&#8217;t match, go no further. <\/p><\/div><div class=\"step-card\"><h3>Step 7: PIN code<\/h3><p>To finalize :<\/p><ol><li>Enter your <strong>5-digit itsme\u00ae code<\/strong><\/li><li>Confirm to create the cryptographic signature<\/li><\/ol><\/div><div class=\"step-card\"><h3>Step 8: Confirmation<\/h3><p>Once completed :<\/p><ul><li>Your browser returns to the document page<\/li><li>Confirmation message displayed<\/li><li>Document now signed and legally binding<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"step-card\"><h3>Step 9: Receipt of signed documents<\/h3><p>Once all parties have signed :<\/p><ul><li>Automatic confirmation e-mail<\/li><li>Secure download link<\/li><li>Documents with QES signatures + certified time stamping<\/li><li>Same legal value as a hand-signed document<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"section\"><h2>e-Signature.eu : itsme\u00ae without subscription<\/h2><p><strong>e-Signature.eu<\/strong> natively integrates <strong>itsme\u00ae Sign<\/strong>, the 100% eIDAS-compliant Qualified Electronic Signature solution.<\/p><h3>Benefits<\/h3><ul><li><strong>No subscription :<\/strong> Pay-per-use only<\/li><li><strong>No installation required:<\/strong> fully online solution<\/li><li><strong>Credits that never expire:<\/strong> Buy when you need it<\/li><li><strong>Guaranteed eIDAS compliance:<\/strong> legally binding signatures throughout the EU<\/li><li><strong>Multi-signatory support:<\/strong> sequential or parallel signature<\/li><li><strong>Intuitive interface:<\/strong> Simple even for non-technical users<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"section\"><h2>Documents requiring QES<\/h2><p>Belgian and European legislation specifically requires the use of a <strong>Qualified Electronic Signature (QES<\/strong> ) for certain documents where maximum legal security is essential.<\/p><h3>Documents subject to QES in Belgium<\/h3><div class=\"doc-card\"><div class=\"doc-type\">Consumer credit contracts<\/div><div class=\"legal-base\">Article VII.78 of the Code of Economic Law<\/div><div class=\"context\">Personal loans, consumer credit, car financing<\/div><\/div><div class=\"doc-card\"><div class=\"doc-type\">Employment contracts<\/div><div class=\"legal-base\">Article 3bis of the Employment Contracts Act<\/div><div class=\"context\">Employee hiring, endorsements, contract amendments<\/div><\/div><div class=\"doc-card\"><div class=\"doc-type\">Authentic deeds<\/div><div class=\"legal-base\">Article 8.15 of the Civil Code<\/div><div class=\"context\">Notarial documents, real estate deeds, wills<\/div><\/div><div class=\"doc-card\"><div class=\"doc-type\">Official forms<\/div><div class=\"legal-base\">Tax and administrative regulations<\/div><div class=\"context\">Tax returns, applications to public authorities<\/div><\/div><div class=\"doc-card\"><div class=\"doc-type\">Company by-laws<\/div><div class=\"legal-base\">Companies and Associations Code<\/div><div class=\"context\">Formation and modification of SRL, SC, SA, European companies, cooperatives<\/div><\/div><div class=\"doc-card\"><div class=\"doc-type\">Electronic government services<\/div><div class=\"legal-base\">Legislation on digital administration<\/div><div class=\"context\">Connection to My eBox, MyMinFin, Tax-on-web<\/div><\/div><div class=\"doc-card\"><div class=\"doc-type\">Merger minutes<\/div><div class=\"legal-base\">Article 12:50 of the Companies and Associations Code<\/div><div class=\"context\">Approval meetings, mergers and acquisitions<\/div><\/div><div class=\"doc-card\"><div class=\"doc-type\">Insolvency documents<\/div><div class=\"legal-base\">Book XX of the Code of Economic Law<\/div><div class=\"context\">Bankruptcy proceedings, compositions, judicial reorganizations<\/div><\/div><h3>Why do these documents require an ESQ?<\/h3><p>These documents share several characteristics:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Significant financial stakes :<\/strong> Significant commitments<\/li><li><strong>Weak party protection:<\/strong> Consumers and employees<\/li><li><strong>Maximum legal certainty:<\/strong> Irrefutable proof in the event of a dispute<\/li><li><strong>Strict regulatory compliance:<\/strong> Supervision by public authorities<\/li><li><strong>Long-term archiving:<\/strong> Retention for 10, 30 or more years<\/li><li><strong>Undeniable evidential value:<\/strong> Non-repudiation guaranteed<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"warning-box\"><h4>\u26a0\ufe0f Penalties for non-compliance<\/h4><p>The use of a simple electronic signature (instead of a QES) for the listed documents may result in: nullity of the contract, administrative sanctions, fines for the organization, non-recognition by the authorities.<\/p><\/div><h3>Documents where QES is recommended<\/h3><p>Although not required by law, the use of an ESQ is strongly recommended for :<\/p><ul><li>High-value commercial contracts (&gt;\u20ac50,000)<\/li><li>Sensitive confidentiality agreements (NDA)<\/li><li>Strategic partnership agreements<\/li><li>Sales of shares<\/li><li>Commercial leases<\/li><li>Representative mandates<\/li><li>International documents requiring cross-border recognition<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"section\"><h2>Are itsme\u00ae signatures legally binding?<\/h2><p><strong>Absolutely!<\/strong> itsme\u00ae signatures are <strong>fully legally binding<\/strong> and enjoy maximum protection under European law.<\/p><h3>1. Full eIDAS compliance<\/h3><p>itsme\u00ae Sign complies with the <strong>eIDAS regulation (EU Regulation No. 910\/2014)<\/strong>, directly applicable in all EU member states. Guarantees legal value equivalent to a handwritten signature. <\/p><h3>2. Qualified Service Provider (QTSP)<\/h3><p>itsme\u00ae works with <strong>QTSPs<\/strong> supervised by Belgian and European national authorities. Audited regularly to guarantee compliance with standards. <\/p><h3>3. Guaranteed non-repudiation<\/h3><p>A QES signature via itsme\u00ae is <strong>non-repudiable<\/strong>:<\/p><ul><li>The signatory cannot deny having signed<\/li><li>In the event of a dispute, it is up to the challenger to prove invalidity.<\/li><li>Cryptographic mechanisms guarantee authenticity and integrity<\/li><li>Any change after signature is immediately detectable<\/li><\/ul><h3>4. Cross-border recognition<\/h3><p>itsme\u00ae signatures are <strong>automatically recognized in all 27 EU member states<\/strong>. A document signed in Belgium is legally valid in France, Germany, Italy, etc. <\/p><h3>5. Equivalence with handwritten signature<\/h3><p>Article 25.2 of the eIDAS regulation: <em>&#8220;A qualified electronic signature has a legal effect equivalent to that of a handwritten signature.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><p>A contract signed with itsme\u00ae has <strong>exactly the same legal force<\/strong> as a contract signed by hand before a notary.<\/p><div class=\"callout-box\"><h4>\u2696\ufe0f European case law<\/h4><p>Belgian and European courts have consistently recognized the validity of eIDAS-compliant QES signatures. Several rulings have confirmed that QES signatures have a probative value equal to, or even greater than, a handwritten signature. <\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"section\"><h2>Key points to remember<\/h2><div class=\"key-point\"><strong>Simple 9-step process<\/strong><br>Signing with itsme\u00ae combines maximum security with ease of use, thanks to an intuitive, guided process accessible via cell phone.<\/div><div class=\"key-point\"><strong>7 million daily users<\/strong><br>itsme\u00ae is Belgium&#8217;s benchmark solution for digital identity and qualified electronic signatures.<\/div><div class=\"key-point\"><strong>Legally binding documents<\/strong><br>Belgian law requires QES for 8 categories of documents, including employment contracts, credit agreements and authentic instruments.<\/div><div class=\"key-point\"><strong>Maximum legal value<\/strong><br>itsme\u00ae signatures are legally binding, non-repudiable and equivalent to a handwritten signature throughout the EU.<\/div><div class=\"key-point\"><strong>e-Signature.eu without subscription<\/strong><br>Access to itsme\u00ae qualified signatures with pay-as-you-go, credits that never expire, and guaranteed eIDAS compliance.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"cta\"><h3>Create qualified signatures with itsme\u00ae.<\/h3><p>e-Signature.eu lets you use itsme\u00ae Sign for your qualified eIDAS-compliant electronic signatures. Subscription-free, pay-as-you-go solution, credits never expire. <\/p><p><a class=\"cta-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\">Start signing with itsme\u00ae.<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to create an itsme\u00ae signature Complete guide Detailed process for qualified electronic signatures with itsme\u00ae and legally binding documents&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11552,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[108],"tags":[165],"class_list":["post-15185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-itsme-en","tag-guide"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15185"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19057,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15185\/revisions\/19057"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}