How the EU eIDAS Regulation governs e-signatures across all 27 member states — and how DocFila maps to SES, AES and QES.
The EU eIDAS Regulation creates a single, harmonised legal framework for electronic identification and trust services across all 27 EU member states. An e-signature legally executed in one member state is recognised in every other member state.
eIDAS defines three signature levels (SES, AES, QES) and forbids any member state from refusing legal effect or admissibility solely because a signature is electronic.
Simple Electronic Signature (SES): any data attached to or logically associated with other data used for signing. Click-to-sign counts. Sufficient for most B2B contracts.
Advanced Electronic Signature (AES): uniquely linked to the signer, capable of identifying the signer, created using means under the signer's sole control, and linked to the data such that any later change is detectable. DocFila satisfies AES via per-signer cryptographic keys plus tamper-evident hashing.
Qualified Electronic Signature (QES): an AES backed by a qualified certificate issued by a Qualified Trust Service Provider listed on the EU Trusted List, plus a Qualified Signature Creation Device (QSCD). Required for some regulated transactions in finance, healthcare, and government.
Most commercial contracts can be SES or AES. QES is typically required for: certain notarial deeds (varies by member state), specific public-procurement procedures, court filings in some jurisdictions, and a small set of regulated banking and insurance documents.
DocFila Business offers QES via partner Qualified Trust Service Providers in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Poland. Contact sales for a list.
eIDAS 2.0 (in force from 2024) adds the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI), enabling citizens to authenticate and sign documents using a state-issued mobile wallet. DocFila is integrating EUDI Wallet support — see /platform/verify for status.