eIDAS and electronic signatures

Electronic signatures, refer to all methods applicable for signing non-printed documents. There are many approaches to electronic signatures, and not all of them are legally binding in the same way as a hand signature.

In general, the eIDAS regulations distinguish between three types of electronic signatures:

• Simple electronic signatures (SES)
• Advanced electronic signatures (AdES)
• Qualified electronic signatures (QES)

Within the EU, Qualified electronic signatures are the only ones that are given the same legal value as hand-written signatures. Within Norway, Advanced electronic signatures are also given this legal value.

As such, Advanced electronic signatures can be used to digitize processes that traditionally have relied upon hand-written signatures. The applications here are endless, including

• Forming a customer relationship
• B2C, C2C and B2B contracts and transactions
• Signing loan papers
• Submitting declarations (for use in e.g. insurance, public services)

BankID electronic signature products

We offer several products related to electronic signing, all of which adherent to the AdES-standard, making them legally binding under Norwegian legislation.

PAdES

PAdES is our most recent e-signature product, and is well suited for signing PDF documents. It's the only solution that

• Supports multiple end user signatures through serial signing where the output from one signing session is used as input for the next
• Allows you to configure the visible seal applied to the PDF document after signing.
• Supports end-user signature stand-alone (as well as end-user and merchant signatures)

SEID-SDO

SEID-SDO allows signing of PDF documents, as well as XML-files and plain text.

Simple text signing

Our most basic solution allows signing of text only.

Next steps

• Properties and features of our different e-signature products
• Our quick-starting guide for signing electronically
• API documentation