The Edusign electronic signature (simple eIDAS) is legally valid and sufficient for the vast majority of your everyday documents. Advanced or qualified signatures are required only in very specific cases, often mandated by regulations.

The eIDAS Regulation defines three levels of electronic signatures, each tailored to different needs.

This is the default level offered by Edusign.

The signer receives an email containing a secure link to the document. After reviewing the document, the user clicks to sign and can receive a verification code via email or text message. The timestamp certifies the exact date and time of the signature, and the document is sealed to ensure its integrity.

The Edusign simple signature guarantees the signer's identity (via their email address and, if applicable, their phone number), their explicit consent, the integrity of the document (no modifications are possible after signing), full traceability of the process, and the certified date and time of the signature.

Ultra-fast: Signing takes just a few clicks, with no paperwork required. The experience is seamless, with a very high completion rate. The solution is cost-effective (included in your Edusign subscription) and has strong legal standing, recognized under French and European law.
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A simple signature covers most everyday documents: sign-in sheets and attendance records, quotes and purchase orders, service agreements, employment contracts and amendments, HR documents, internship and work-study agreements, parental consent forms, charters and internal regulations, and meeting minutes.

In addition to the safeguards provided by a simple signature, an advanced signature requires enhanced identity verification (identification document, video call, etc.), an electronic certificate linked to the signatory, and means of signing under the signatory’s exclusive control.

An advanced electronic signature provides maximum legal certainty for legally binding documents and is automatically accepted throughout the European Union.

On the other hand, the identity verification process takes longer, costs more, and the additional steps create user friction that can hinder adoption.

Commercial contracts involving very significant financial commitments, certain banking or insurance documents, and documents that explicitly require a signature mandated by law.

The highest level of security, which is the legal equivalent of a handwritten signature.

A qualified signature requires identity verification—either in person or through a certified service provider—a qualified certificate issued by a certified authority (ANSSI in France), and a secure signature creation device.

This level confers a presumption of absolute validity in court and is automatically recognized throughout the EU without any possibility of dispute.

However, the process is very time-consuming (several days or even weeks), very costly, complex (sometimes requiring specialized equipment), and involves a significant amount of red tape.

Digitized notarial deeds, certain public procurement contracts (when explicitly required), notarial and mortgage documents, and specific tax returns.

Yes, absolutely. The simple electronic signature is recognized by the eIDAS Regulation (No. 910/2014) at the European level, the French Civil Code (Article 1367), and the established case law of French and European courts.

Important: The law does not give preference to any one level of signature over another. A simple signature has the same legal validity as an advanced or qualified signature, unless a regulatory provision explicitly requires a higher level.

Only in three situations: a law or regulation explicitly requires it for your type of document; your contracting party requires it under the terms of the contract (rare in practice); or you operate in a highly regulated sector (notary services, certain public procurement contracts).

In 95% of cases, an Edusign signature is more than enough.

Yes. No law requires a specific level of electronic signature for employment contracts. The Edusign simple signature is therefore fully valid and widely used by thousands of companies.

With Edusign, you get time-stamped, tamper-proof digital signatures, comprehensive audit trails (who did what and when), a cryptographic seal that guarantees the document’s integrity, and proof of sent emails and text messages.

These items constitute solid digital evidence recognized by the courts. In 15 years of case law on electronic signatures, simple signatures have consistently been recognized by the courts when they comply with security standards (which Edusign does).

No. Both solutions offer signatures that comply with the eIDAS Regulation. Other solutions also offer simple signatures by default. Their offering of advanced/qualified signatures meets niche needs, but is no more "legal" than a simple signature for everyday use.

Ask yourself these three questions in order:

Golden rule: Don't overcomplicate things. Simplicity promotes adoption and ensures your processes run smoothly.

Use the Edusign simple electronic signature for all your everyday needs. It is legally sound, simple, and fast; it is appreciated by your signatories and cost-effective.

Use advanced or qualified signatures only if a regulatory provision explicitly requires it, which is extremely rare in practice.

Edusign: Simple, Reliable, and Effective Electronic Signatures.

More than 30 million valid signatures collected in 2025.

Please contact our support team directly via chat if you have any specific questions.

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