Sign an employment contract (Permanent, Fixed-term) online
Employment contract between an employer and an employee, signed electronically with the same legal value as a paper contract. Compliant with article L1221-1 of the Labor Code (contract formation), article L1242-12 (written fixed-term contract mandatory and transmitted within 2 days), eIDAS regulation — advanced signature recommended, 50-year archiving (contract duration + prescription periods).
- Legal framework
- L1221-1 + L1242-12 Labor Code
- Signature level
- AES eIDAS recommended
- Legal archiving
- 10 years included
What is a dematerialized employment contract?
An employment contract is the deed by which an employer and an employee formalize their employment relationship. For a permanent contract, no written document is mandatory under French law (art. L1221-1 Labor Code), but practice imposes one for evidentiary and conventional reasons. For a fixed-term contract (art. L1242-12), a written document is mandatory on pain of requalification as a permanent contract; it must be transmitted to the employee no later than 2 business days after hiring (art. L1242-13). Advanced electronic signature + qualified timestamp make it possible to strictly comply with this deadline and avoid the risk of requalification — a major risk in case of labor dispute.
Why sign electronically?
2-day fixed-term contract deadline met to the second
Article L1242-13 requires transmission of the fixed-term contract to the employee within 2 business days on pain of requalification as a permanent contract. Certyneo precisely timestamps the sending (and signature) with a qualified timestamp — enforceable before the labor court.
Accelerated onboarding — start the same day
No need to wait for the paper contract signed by mail. The employee signs from their phone and can start immediately, with direct access to their digital safe for all their HR documents (contract, amendments, pay slips).
Archiving
The employment contract must be kept for the entire duration of employment + 5 years after termination (art. L1471-1 Labor Code). In practice 50 years to cover retirement career reconstruction. Certyneo automatically archives the contract + eIDAS audit trail for this duration.
Audit trail enforceable before labor court
Each contract comes with a proof PDF: employee identity verified by OTP SMS, qualified timestamp, SHA-256 hash, IP. Enforceable before the labor court in case of dispute over the hiring date, nature of contract or clauses.
4-step process
From preparation to legal archiving, in less than 5 minutes.
1. Prepare the contract
Upload your permanent or fixed-term contract template (mandatory information: identity of parties, hire date, job title, workplace, hours of work, remuneration, collective agreement, trial period, reason and term of fixed-term contract).
2. Add the signatories
Employer + employee. If guarantor (apprentice, minor), add the legal representative. Each receives a personalized secure link by email with OTP SMS.
3. Choose the eIDAS level
Advanced signature (AES) recommended: identity verification by OTP SMS, unique certificate per signatory, qualified timestamp. Compliant with article 26 of the eIDAS regulation and enforceable before the labor court.
4. Immediate onboarding
The finalized contract + audit trail are automatically archived for 50 years in the employee''s and employer''s digital safe. Onboarding can start immediately.
Frequently asked questions
- Can an employment contract be signed electronically?
- Yes, without restriction. No text of the Labor Code requires handwritten signature. Article 1366 of the Civil Code recognizes electronic writing the same probative force as paper writing. Certyneo''s advanced signature (AES) meets the evidentiary requirements in case of labor dispute.
- Is the 2-day fixed-term contract deadline really met with electronic signature?
- Yes, and with greater precision than paper. Certyneo timestamps the contract dispatch to the employee precisely (qualified timestamp under eIDAS). The 2-day period runs from the effective date of hiring; electronic signature allows the contract to be sent the same day, or even before starting work.
- What happens in case of dispute over the hiring date?
- Certyneo''s audit trail proves the exact signature date with qualified timestamp — enforceable before the labor court. No more debate over "backdated contract" or "never received": the technical proof is irrefutable.
- What level of signature for an employment contract?
- Advanced signature (AES) recommended. It provides a presumption of reliability (Art. 1367 Civil Code) and meets evidentiary requirements. SES is undersized given employment law stakes; QES is oversized.
- How long must an employment contract be kept?
- Five-year limitation period under Labor Code (Art. L1471-1), extended to 5 years after termination for most claims. In practice, keep for 50 years to cover career reconstruction (retirement). Certyneo automatically archives the contract + audit trail for this duration.
- Can an amendment be signed electronically?
- Yes — amendments to the employment contract (change of function, location, remuneration, duration) are signed like the initial contract: advanced signature + qualified timestamp. The amendment is archived with the contract in the same employee file.
- Must the contract be in two copies?
- Article L1242-12 requires one written copy sent to the employee for fixed-term contracts. With electronic signature, this requirement is satisfied by making the signed PDF available in the employee''s digital safe + sending the PDF by email. No need for two paper copies.
- Is an electronically signed contract enforceable before labor courts?
- Yes — labor court case law unanimously recognizes eIDAS-compliant electronic signature. The presumption of reliability in Art. 1367 Civil Code makes advanced signature (AES) enforceable without further proof, provided the audit trail is produced.
Also read
Sign your first employment contract online
Permanent free plan (5 envelopes / month), no credit card. Compliant with Labor Code and eIDAS. Audit trail and 50-year archiving included.