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HR Guide 2026
Electronic signature for HR: employment contracts and documents
In France, the Labour Code leaves the parties free to choose the form of the employment contract (Article L1221-1), and Articles 1366 and 1367 of the Civil Code give electronically signed writing the same probative force as paper. This guide explains how to use it correctly for employment contracts, amendments, end-of-contract documents and other HR documents.
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Legal framework: electronic signature in employment law
Article L1221-1 of the French Labour Code subjects the employment contract to general contract law and lets the parties choose its form: combined with Articles 1366 and 1367 of the Civil Code, it allows the contract to be concluded by electronic signature. The required signature level depends on the contract type: SES or AES for the majority of permanent and fixed-term contracts, with reinforced evidential value (AES) recommended for powers of representation. The rupture conventionnelle form (TéléRC), however, is signed by hand.
- Permanent/Fixed-term contract: AES signature recommended (OTP SMS/email)
- Amendment: same level as the initial contract
- Rupture conventionnelle: TéléRC form signed by hand
- Temporary contract: check applicable collective agreements
HR documents that can be electronically signed
Employment contract (permanent, fixed-term, part-time)
Amendment to employment contract
Letter of engagement
Confidentiality agreement (NDA)
IT policy
Onboarding documents
Remote work agreement
Delegation form
Typical HR workflow with Certyneo
- 1
Create your contract template
Import your Word or PDF model. Define fields to fill in (name, position, salary) and signature zones.
- 2
Enter candidate information
Name, email and telephone of the future employee. Certyneo automatically sends the authentication OTP.
- 3
Send the contract
The employee receives an email with a secure link. They can view and sign from any device.
- 4
Archive automatically
The signed PDF with audit trail is archived for 10 years. Exportable at any time from your dashboard.
Frequently asked questions — Electronic signature and HR
- Is an electronically signed employment contract valid?
- Yes. Article L.1221-1 of the French Labour Code expressly authorises the conclusion of an employment contract by electronic means. Advanced electronic signature (AES) via OTP is recommended for its probative value.
- What level of eIDAS signature for a permanent employment contract?
- The law does not specify a minimum level, but practitioners and legal experts recommend AES (eIDAS Advanced Signature) with SMS OTP for employment contracts. Certyneo includes AES from the Personal plan (€9/month).
- Does the employee need to create an account to sign?
- No. The employee receives an email link, reviews the contract and signs in a few clicks, without creating an account. Authentication is done via OTP sent to their email or telephone.
- How do I archive signed contracts?
- Certyneo automatically archives each signed contract for 10 years with its timestamped audit trail. PDFs are downloadable at any time from your dashboard, individually or in bulk.