Certified electronic signature: the 3 eIDAS levels explained
There is no single definition of a certified electronic signature: the European eIDAS Regulation distinguishes three levels (simple, advanced and qualified), each with its own legal weight and its own identity proof requirement. This guide helps you choose the right level depending on your use case, and then shows you how Certyneo delivers the three of the free EIS to the qualified EQS.
Level 1
The following information shall be provided:
Suitable for everyday transactions: quotes, commercial agreements, NDAs. Suitable for legal action with a full audit trail.
Level 2
The following information shall be provided in the electronic system:
Signature verified by SMS or email OTP Recommended for HR contracts, real estate contracts, invoices > €1000.
Level 3
Qualified Signature (QS)
Strict legal equivalent of handwritten signature Identity verified by a qualified service provider Mandatory for notarial acts, public procurement > thresholds
What solutions do eIDAS offer at what level?
| The solution | SES | AES | The ESF | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certyneo | Included, free | Included from € 9 | On request (EU qualified partner) | EU (Germany) |
| Yousign | Basic plan | Pro plan | The Pro+ plan | The Commission has also been consulted on the draft decision. |
| DocuSign | All plans | Standard plan | The EU standard plan | Global / EU option |
| Universign | Pay-per-use | Pay-per-use | Pay-per-use (FR leader) | France |
| Adobe Acrobat Sign | All plans | The Enterprise Plan | Add-on for a fee | US (Adobe Cloud) is a software company. |
Certyneo: eIDAS certified signature from the free plan
Certyneo is designed around the three eIDAS tiers: the single signature (SES) is included free of charge, the advanced signature (AES) with OTP verification from the Personal plan at €9/month, and the qualified signature (QES) is available on request through our qualified partner within the meaning of Article 28 of the eIDAS Regulation.
- Native eIDAS compliance (including SES + AES)
- OTP SMS or email for AES
- Certificate of signature X.509
- Qualified time-stamped audit
- QES on request via qualified partner
- 10 years of evidence storage
- Verification of public integrity
How to get a certified signature in 5 minutes
- 1
Select the eIDAS level
Certyneo offers an assistant to guide you.
- 2
Import the document
PDF, Word, image, all formats are preserved without loss.
- 3
The identity verification
SES = email only. AES = email + SMS OTP. QES = identity card + videoconference (5-10 min).
- 4
Electronic signature
The signer signs in his browser, the signature certificate is generated on the fly.
- 5
Downloading of evidence
Signed document + certificate of signature + audit trail in PDF/A appealable in court.
What eIDAS level should I choose for my document?
For most B2B contracts (foreign exchange, NDA, commercial agreements), the SES is sufficient. For HR contracts, real estate contracts and large invoices, the SES is recommended (enhanced proof of identity). The SES is mandatory for notarial deeds, certain real estate transactions and public procurement above thresholds defined by public procurement.
Frequently asked questions on certified electronic signature
- What is the difference between a signature certified and a signature qualified ?
- Certified is a vague marketing term: it can refer to SES, AES or QES. Qualified (QES) has a strict definition in the eIDAS Regulation and refers to the highest level, legal equivalent of the handwritten signature.
- Is a certified electronic signature free of charge?
- The simple signature (SES) can be free Certyneo includes it in its permanent plan (5 envelopes/month). The AES requires an OTP, so there is an operating fee (from €9/month at Certyneo). The QES requires identity verification by a qualified provider and is charged on use (€9-30 per signature depending on the provider).
- What documents require a qualified signature (QES)?
- In France, mainly notarial deeds (real estate sale at the notary), some public contracts above thresholds, deeds of lawyers at the request of the parties, and some bank documents.
- How can I check that an electronic signature is eIDAS compliant?
- The signed document must be accompanied by an audit trail containing: the identity of the signatory (email + IP + time stamp), a valid X.509 signature certificate, and a cryptographic hash of the signed document.
- What is the legal value of a certified electronic signature?
- According to Article 25 of the eIDAS Regulation: an SES is admissible as evidence but its weight depends on the audit trail. An SES has a stronger presumption of reliability. A SES has the same strict legal value as a handwritten signature and cannot be challenged by the mere fact that it is electronic.