The eIDAS Regulation regulates topics related to electronic signing, among other things, and the role of the qualified electronic signature is of great importance. This type of electronic signature is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.

In this article, we’ll cover what the eIDAS regulation regulates, how digital signature solutions meet the requirements of the eIDAS regulation, and how recipients of electronically signed documents can recognize a valid signature.

What does the eIDAS Regulation regulate?

The eIDAS Regulation contains guidelines for electronic signatures, trust services and electronic transactions in the European Single Market. With the eIDAS certification, electronic identification is now also possible and a physical presence before receiving a certificate at a registration office is no longer necessary. This change plays a key role in the implementation of qualified electronic signatures and is an important step in terms of digitization in the EU.

In the next two sections, we want to take a closer look at the eIDAS regulations for digital signatures.

Fulfillment of eIDAS compliance for eSignatures

The eIDAS Regulation provides for different types of digital signatures. These differ in their shape and suitability. In particular, the qualified electronic signature offers a particularly high standard. Digital signature solutions used in Europe should definitely support this standard. This is the only way to guarantee the written requirement required by law for some contracts or documents. For a qualified electronic signature, the person signing must identify themselves with a valid passport or identity card and confirm the signature via a second factor, usually a mobile phone. Identification is usually only required once and is then valid for a few years. The identification and signature are carried out or created by trust service providers. These are certain organizations (state or private) that have to meet high legal and regulatory requirements.

It is important to note that these organisations are listed on the EU Trusted List – an EU-wide list of registered trust service providers. These providers are also eligible to use the EU Trust Seal.

Detect valid eSignatures

The visual representation of electronic signatures on the document can take different forms. Visually, it is not possible to tell whether a document has been validly electronically signed and whether it is a qualified electronic signature. However, this check is essential in business transactions, as it is the only way to ensure that a document received has been validly signed. The examination basically includes the following essential points:

• Checking the integrity of the document, i.e. ensuring that the document has not been altered after signing;
  
• Checking the certificate, i.e. ensuring that the document with a valid certificate has been signed by a specific person; and
  
• Checking the type of signature and the validity of the certificate, i.e. ensuring that it is a qualified electronic signature and that the provider is registered on the EU trust list.

The verification of an electronic signature therefore always requires the document to be available in digital and unaltered form. The verification is integrated into many signature tools, such as sproof, or can be done on the websites of the state audit services, e.g. RTR in Austria.

sproof sign offers you eIDAS-compliant, digital signatures, an integrated verification service and an eIDAS-compliant identification procedure with our partner Swisscom.