E-signature: what it is, what types exist and when it is enough

A guide to electronic signatures: the three types under eIDAS, how an e-signature, a qualified and a handwritten signature differ, and how SignSafe, a tool for document workflow and collecting signatures, complements the qualified signature.

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An e-signature is the general name for a signature in electronic form; eIDAS distinguishes simple, advanced and qualified. SignSafe is a tool for electronic document workflow and for collecting signatures from people who cannot easily get a qualified signature. The signature is drawn with a finger on a phone and, according to a legal opinion, meets the written form.

What usually gets in the way

The terms “e-signature”, “electronic signature” and “qualified signature” sound alike

When they are mixed up it is easy to buy a tool that will not meet the requirements of an act, or overpay for a certificate you do not need.

You do not know whether an electronic signature will be valid

Uncertainty delays the move to paperless documents, and in a dispute over a signature, not knowing works against you.

Sales material often glosses over limitations

It then becomes hard to judge what a given signature is suitable for and what it is not.

What you get

3 types

of electronic signature under eIDAS, explained simply

1 rule

match the type of signature to the form the act requires

0 promises

beyond what SignSafe really rests on

How it works

Establish what form the act requires

Start with the document: does it need written form, the electronic form under Art. 78¹ of the Civil Code, a notarial deed, or is documentary form enough?

Choose the type of signature

Simple, advanced or qualified electronic signature, or a handwritten signature, depending on the form required.

Check what the tool rests on

SignSafe is a tool for document workflow and collecting signatures; the signature drawn with a finger on screen is, according to a legal opinion, handwritten and meets the written form.

If in doubt, ask a lawyer

For contracts of particular importance or disputes over form, a specific case needs an assessment.

What you can do

Telling simple, advanced and qualified e-signatures apart
Judging whether a handwritten signature on a screen is enough for a given document
Preparing a company to sign documents without paper
Choosing between an electronic and a handwritten signature

Who it is for

People who want to understand how the types of electronic signature differ
Business owners choosing how to sign contracts and consents at a distance
HR, legal and administration teams who must judge when an e-signature is enough
Anyone wondering whether a signature on a phone is valid

What an e-signature is

An e-signature, or electronic signature, is data in electronic form attached to a document or logically associated with it, by which the signer confirms their declaration. The name covers very different solutions: from a typed name and ticking a consent box, through a handwritten signature on a screen, to a qualified signature with a certificate issued by a trusted provider.

That is why “I have an e-signature” alone does not say how strong the signature is. You need to know which type is meant.

Types of electronic signature under eIDAS in plain words

The eIDAS Regulation is the EU act on electronic identification and trust services. It distinguishes three types of electronic signature.

A simple electronic signature is any data in electronic form used to sign, with no additional technical requirements.
An advanced electronic signature must be uniquely linked to the signer, make it possible to identify them, be created by means under their sole control, and be linked to the document so that any later change can be detected.
A qualified electronic signature is an advanced signature created with a qualified device and based on a qualified certificate.

A qualified electronic signature has, by law, an effect equivalent to a handwritten signature. Under eIDAS no electronic signature may be rejected as evidence solely because it is in electronic form; how the other types are assessed depends on the circumstances of the case. This is a summary, not legal advice.

E-signature and qualified signature: how they differ and complement each other

A qualified signature requires a certificate issued by a qualified trust service provider, usually a reader or a cloud service, and verification of the signer’s identity. It gives the highest certainty about identity and an effect equal to a handwritten signature. It does require preparation on the signer’s side, so it works best where every participant already has one.

Other types of e-signature are simpler to use but do not give automatic equivalence with a handwritten signature. That is why acts for which the rules require the electronic form (Art. 78¹ of the Polish Civil Code) need a qualified electronic signature. SignSafe’s own handwritten signature is not one, but when a qualified signature is required, we can connect it in SignSafe. Other forms of electronic signature also exist; they are separate solutions that SignSafe does not compete with.

Where a SignSafe handwritten signature sits against eIDAS and the written form

The legal opinion of the law firm Gałecki and Associates of 21 August 2023 classes a signature drawn in SignSafe with a finger on the screen as a handwritten signature (a handwritten biometric signature), not as one of the three types of electronic signature under eIDAS. The eIDAS Regulation and its standards therefore do not apply to it. A declaration of intent signed in the app meets the requirements of the written form (Art. 78 of the Polish Civil Code), and in effect the signature is equivalent to a qualified electronic signature, because both preserve the written form.

An honest way to tell them apart: simple and advanced electronic signatures are eIDAS categories assessed according to circumstances; a qualified electronic signature is the highest eIDAS type; a handwritten SignSafe signature is a separate category whose effect is equivalent to a qualified one as regards the written form, but it is not a qualified electronic signature and does not replace the electronic form under Art. 78¹ of the Civil Code; there we can connect a qualified signature. Handwriting verification is also possible (opinion of 2024, with the limits described on the legal security page). This is a summary of an opinion, not legal advice. See also handwritten e-signature.

Is an e-signature valid

It depends on the type of act and the form required. For many ordinary contracts in business no special form is required, and a declaration of intent can be made in documentary form, meaning in the form of a document that allows the person making the declaration to be identified. For acts requiring written form, a handwritten signature (such as the one in SignSafe, according to the legal opinion) or a qualified electronic signature is needed. The electronic form under Art. 78¹ of the Civil Code requires a qualified signature, and for some acts, for example before a notary, a notarial deed is required.

There is no single “always yes” or “always no” answer. If in doubt, check the form requirement for your document with a lawyer. We describe SignSafe’s legal basis on the legal security page.

What SignSafe is for

SignSafe is not “a signature”. It is a tool for electronic document workflow and for collecting signatures from other people, including those who cannot easily sign: foreigners, older people, people without a qualified signature. You send a document to anyone, and the recipient needs only a phone, internet and a finger. It takes about a minute, and there is no excuse of “I cannot print and sign”. We do not compete with the qualified signature; it is a different form of signature that we can connect in SignSafe.

When you need a qualified signature, and how we connect it

A qualified electronic signature is needed when a rule requires the electronic form under Art. 78¹ of the Civil Code, or when the other side or an authority demands a qualified signature. SignSafe’s own handwritten signature is not one, but in such cases we can connect a qualified signature in SignSafe, without changing how you work with documents. We settle the details at adoption (contact). SignSafe does not support notarial deeds. Where the written form, the documentary form or no special form is enough, for example for consents, declarations, confirmations or many contracts, a handwritten SignSafe signature may be enough. Examples: sign contracts online.

Security and legal basis

According to the legal opinion of Gałecki and Associates of 21 August 2023, a SignSafe signature is a handwritten signature and meets the written form (Art. 78 of the Civil Code); at the very least the declaration is valid in the documentary form (Art. 77² of the Civil Code).

A SignSafe signature is not an electronic signature within the meaning of eIDAS, but in effect it is equivalent to a qualified electronic signature. It is not a qualified electronic signature.

SignSafe signatures allow forensic comparative verification of handwriting (handwriting opinion of 2024).

When a qualified electronic signature is required (the electronic form under Art. 78¹ of the Civil Code), we can connect it in SignSafe. SignSafe does not support notarial deeds.

Data is stored on servers in the European Union (OVH hosting), and business customers sign a data processing agreement with us.

Legal and handwriting-expert opinions

Legal and handwriting-expert opinions to download

Gałecki and Associates, legal adviser Tomasz Gałecki · 21 August 2023

Legal nature of a signature placed by hand on the touch screen of an electronic device

A signature placed in SignSafe is a handwritten signature, and a declaration of intent signed in the app meets the requirements of written form. If the signature did not qualify as handwritten, the declaration is still valid in documentary form. In legal effect it is equivalent to a qualified electronic signature: both preserve written form.

Download the opinion (PDF)

Pracownia Grafologiczna, forensic document and handwriting examiner · 29 August 2024

Feasibility of comparative examination of handwriting produced with SignSafe

Signatures placed in SignSafe allow forensic comparative handwriting examination, ending in non-categorical (typifying) conclusions and in both non-categorical and categorical elimination conclusions. As with any evidence, these are subject to free evaluation. Limitation: certain motor features (such as pressure and tempo) cannot be verified. The expert recommends full-form, legible signatures with first name and surname.

Download the opinion (PDF)

The opinions are in Polish. Summaries are a translation of their conclusions, not a legal opinion.

They trust us

Companies from many industries use SignSafe: from staffing agencies and real estate to catering, transport and medical services.

Customer reviews

“SignSafe has significantly improved how we sign contracts with employees and clients. Because documents can be signed remotely, with no need to come to the office in person, recruitment and hiring have become more efficient and less time-consuming. The tool is fully compliant with legal regulations, which gives us confidence that all contracts are fully binding. It is an ideal solution for the temporary-work industry, where operational efficiency is crucial.”

Michel T.R2T — temporary employment agency

“With SignSafe we can sign real-estate brokerage agreements and reservation agreements with clients remotely, which speeds the process up considerably. Confirming terms with prospective buyers is quick and convenient, even with people abroad. It is one of the few tools that lets you sign a reservation agreement online, removing the need for in-person meetings.”

Dorota R.Property Gold — real-estate sales agent

“SignSafe has revolutionised how we manage documents in our restaurant. Suppliers can sign contracts and orders remotely, which greatly speeds up procurement. Employees easily accept schedules and regulations, and clients sign reservation and event agreements online, saving time and making things more convenient for everyone.”

Kamila F.Restauracja Mimosa — catering and restaurant business

Reviews are translated from Polish.

Frequently asked questions

What is an e-signature?

An e-signature is a signature in electronic form, that is data attached to a document by which a person confirms their declaration. It covers solutions from a simple click to a qualified signature, so the type matters.

What are the types of electronic signature?

Under eIDAS there are three: simple, advanced and qualified electronic signature. The higher the type, the more technical requirements and the greater the certainty about the signer’s identity.

How does an e-signature differ from a qualified signature?

A qualified signature is the highest type of e-signature, based on a qualified certificate and, by law, equivalent to a handwritten signature. Other types of e-signature do not have that automatic equivalence.

Is the handwritten signature in SignSafe a qualified signature?

No. It is a handwritten signature drawn with a finger on a screen, which according to a legal opinion meets the written form and is equivalent in effect to a qualified electronic signature. For the electronic form under Art. 78¹ of the Civil Code a qualified signature is needed, and when it is required, we can connect it in SignSafe.

Does SignSafe support a qualified signature?

Yes, we can connect one. When a document requires a qualified electronic signature, we offer to connect it alongside the handwritten signature. We settle the details in a conversation about adoption.

Is an e-signature valid?

It depends on the type of document and the form required. A qualified signature is by law equivalent to a handwritten one, a SignSafe handwritten signature meets the written form according to a legal opinion, and for many ordinary contracts documentary form is enough. If in doubt, ask a lawyer.

How does an electronic signature differ from a handwritten one?

Electronic signature is a broad eIDAS category, while a handwritten signature carries the features of your handwriting. According to a legal opinion, a SignSafe signature drawn with a finger is a handwritten signature, not an electronic one within the meaning of eIDAS, and it meets the written form.

What is eIDAS?

eIDAS is the EU regulation on electronic identification and trust services. It sets out three types of electronic signature and the rule that a signature cannot be rejected solely because it is in electronic form.

Do I always need a qualified signature?

No. A qualified signature is needed only when a rule or the other side requires it. For many everyday documents, such as consents and declarations, a simpler method is enough.

Updated: 2026-10-05

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