Advanced electronic signature

What is an Advanced Electronic Signature (AdES)?

An Advanced Electronic Signature (AdES) is a digital signature that provides a secure and reliable way to sign documents remotely, ensuring identity verification, data integrity, and legal standing. AdES offers a high level of trust without unnecessary friction in the signing process.

While it is not as strictly regulated or legally powerful as a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES), it still meets strong requirements and is widely accepted for most business use cases.

With AdES, you can be sure that the signer’s identity is verified before the signature is created, the signer has sole control over the signature process, and any changes to the document after signing are immediately detectable.

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“The partnership with eID Easy offers our clients a swift and easy solution to extend their services across the European continent. Everything needed is combined in one API, eliminating the need for multiple local integrations. This leads to lower costs and faster delivery.”

Profile picture of Tommy Flemström, CEO, Verified Global
Tommy Flemström
CEO, Verified Global
Who is it for?

Made for Fast-Moving, Compliance-Driven Teams

AdES is a strong fit for companies that need a legally valid signature with verified identity, look for a frictionless signing process for end users, and operate in regions where a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) is unavailable or impractical.

  • Financial services (e.g., credit approvals)
  • Property Management
  • Insurance agreements
  • Internal and external B2B agreements
  • International SaaS platforms
  • HR and employment document workflows

If your business needs a fast, secure, and legally binding way to sign documents, without the extra complexity of stricter solutions, Advanced Electronic Signatures are a perfect fit.

How does it work

Signing Securely in Three Simple Steps 

AdES relies on cryptographic signatures tied to a verified identity, with a smooth end-user experience:

Identity Verification: The signer is authenticated—typically through single-factor authentication (1FA) like a PIN, password, or biometrics.

Signature Creation: The user signs with a private key or signature credential issued by a trusted provider.

Document Locking: The signed document is cryptographically sealed. Any post-signing changes invalidate the signature.

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Key Features

Secure Signatures Without the Complexity 

Legally Valid & Secure

AdES meets strong legal requirements for identity assurance, data integrity, and non-repudiation.

Lower Friction with 1FA

AdES can be signed using PINs or biometrics—no need for multi-device, multi-step 2FA setups required in QES.

Global Compatibility

Supports signing in countries where QES is unavailable or unnecessary—making it ideal for international operations.

Easy to Implement

Ideal for businesses with large user bases or varied technical environments.

Compliance Across Jurisdictions

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Europe — eIDAS-Compliant

AdES is recognized under the EU eIDAS Regulation as a valid electronic signature, binding identities to documents and protecting against tampering. It’s easier to use than QES while still accepted for contracts, approvals, and official records.

Latin America — Trusted and Flexible

In many LATAM countries, AdES is widely accepted, often through accredited Certificate Authorities (CAs). It’s commonly used in finance, government, and insurance.

Asia-Pacific — Practical and Widely Adopted

In APAC, AdES is widely accepted under local eSignature laws. It’s well-suited for cross-border business, onboarding, and eGovernment, balancing legal validity with user convenience.

Easy Authentication, Strong Assurance

AdES uses simple one-factor authentication, like a PIN or biometric, for fast, low-friction signing. It skips hardware tokens while still ensuring identity, integrity, and auditability.

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Why choose eID Easy for Advanced Electronic Signatures?

eID Easy makes collecting Advanced Electronic Signatures fast, scalable, and globally compliant. We take care of certificate management, local laws, and signature validation so you don’t have to.With one API integration, you can access trusted identity and signature providers across Europe, LATAM, and APAC.

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