Electronic signature for insurance companies
Insurance contracts, claims declarations, membership forms: electronic signature in insurance.
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Writer — Certyneo · About Certyneo
A sector with high contract volume
The insurance sector processes millions of contracts per year: policy subscription, renewal, riders, claims declarations. Digitizing these workflows is a strategic issue — reducing subscription times, improving customer experience, cutting administrative costs.
Commonly signed documents
- Insurance contract (subscription)
- Membership form (mutual insurance, provident schemes)
- Rider (change of coverage, beneficiary)
- SEPA mandate (premium direct debit)
- Claim declaration
- Settlement receipt (compensation)
- Pre-contractual information sheet (IDD)
Recommended signature level
For an insurance contract, the advanced electronic signature (AES) is the standard. It provides the two-factor identification needed to trace the policyholder's consent.
For certain high-stakes contracts (life insurance with beneficiary designation), QES or video KYC may be required depending on the compliance.
ACPR and IDD compliance
The Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) and the ACPR expect insurers to provide:
- strong identification of the policyholder
- traceability of consent (audit trail)
- long-term retention of documents (10 years minimum)
- prior delivery of pre-contractual documents
The electronic signature compliant with eIDAS natively meets these requirements.
Operational benefits
- Fast online subscription: contract signed in a few minutes instead of days
- Centralized claim file: declaration + attachments + signature
- Improved conversion rate: fewer drop-offs during subscription
- IT system integration: direct feeding of the policy core system (Guidewire, Duck Creek, Sapiens)
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the IDD information sheet in the envelope
- Using SES for a high-value life insurance policy
- Not activating video KYC for contracts at risk of money laundering
- Storing identity documents beyond the necessary retention period
Real-world case: home insurance subscription
A digital insurance company underwrites 200 home insurance contracts per day. Workflow:
- Online entry by the prospect (2 min)
- Pre-calculation of premium
- Automatic generation of the contract + IDD sheet + SEPA mandate
- Sent via AES (SMS OTP)
- Signature in under 5 minutes by the policyholder
- Automatic feeding of the policy core system and collection of the 1st premium
Subscription conversion rate: +35% versus the historical paper process.
How Certyneo helps you
Certyneo offers a dedicated solution for insurers and brokers: advanced electronic signature by default, optional video KYC integration, GDPR and eIDAS compliance, 100% EU hosting (Germany), 10-year archiving, bulk export for ACPR audits.
Discover the Certyneo electronic signature solution
FAQ
Does the electronic signature replace the IDD advisory video call?
No, these are two distinct steps. The signature records consent after the information phase.
Can a rider be signed with SES?
It depends on the stakes involved. For a substantial change in coverage, AES is preferable.
Is video KYC mandatory?
Not systematically, but it is required for contracts with a high AML/CFT risk.
Retention period?
10 years minimum for contracts, often 30 years for life insurance.
Does the beneficiary need to sign?
No, only the policyholder does. The beneficiary is designated in the contract.
Conclusion
Electronic signature is a major transformation lever for insurers: faster subscription, simplified ACPR compliance, a modernized customer experience.
Try Certyneo to send, sign and track your documents online simply, quickly and securely.
Try Certyneo for free
Send your first signature envelope in under 5 minutes. 5 envelopes/mo for 14 days, then 2/mo, no credit card required.
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