eIDAS
eIDAS is the EU regulation on electronic identification and trust services, and it sorts electronic signatures into three levels: simple, advanced and qualified.
In plain words
eIDAS is Regulation (EU) No 910/2014, since updated by what people call eIDAS 2. It applies across the EU. Its signature rules come in three steps.
| Level | What it needs | Legal effect |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | Any electronic data a person uses to sign | Can't be refused just for being electronic |
| Advanced | Uniquely linked to and able to identify the signer, made with data under the signer's sole control, and any later change is detectable | Same base rule, with stronger evidence |
| Qualified | Advanced, plus a qualified signature device and a qualified certificate | Equal to a handwritten signature |
Qualified signatures come only from qualified trust service providers. They are audited at least every 24 months and listed on a national trusted list.
An example
A small company in the EU signs a supplier contract with a simple electronic signature. That is normal and common. A different company needs a qualified signature for a filing, so it uses a provider on an EU trusted list, which checks the signer's identity and issues a certificate for them.
How it shows up in docuinked
docuinked offers simple electronic signatures only. It doesn't offer advanced or qualified signatures, and it isn't a qualified trust service provider. Our PAdES seal and RFC 3161 timestamp protect the file, but a platform seal doesn't make a signature advanced. The advanced level turns on the signer being uniquely linked to the signature, usually through their own certificate after an identity check.
docuinked is built for the US first. If you need qualified signatures in the EU, use a provider that offers them.
Common confusions
PAdES is not eIDAS. PAdES is a technical format for signatures in PDFs. eIDAS is the law. A qualified signature is often stored as PAdES, but the format alone doesn't make a signature qualified.
SMS codes don't settle the level. Some vendors say an SMS check makes a signature advanced. The test in the regulation is about identity and sole control, not the channel, so that view is disputed.
Outside the EU. The UK kept its own version of eIDAS after Brexit. A non-EU provider can only be treated as equivalent by an agreement or implementing act.
Related terms
- Electronic signature
- Digital signature
- ESIGN Act, the US counterpart
Sources
Checked 2026-11-07.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
Common questions
Is a simple electronic signature valid in the EU?
Article 25 says it can't be refused just for being electronic. How much weight it carries in a dispute is up to the court, and depends on the evidence behind it.
Does docuinked plan to offer qualified signatures?
Not as its own service. Becoming a qualified provider needs an EU audit cycle and supervisory approval. We have not announced any plan for it.
What is the EU digital identity wallet?
It is a wallet each member state must offer under eIDAS 2. It must let people make qualified signatures free for personal use. Rollout dates vary by country.
Related
Try it in test mode
Free during the beta. Test keys send no email, so you can build the whole flow first.