QUALIFIED electronic signature

What is a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES)?

A Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) is the strictest and most trusted form of digital signature in the EU and beyond. Legally equal to a handwritten signature, it verifies the signer’s identity with high assurance and is backed by a Qualified Certificate from a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP). Any tampering after signing makes the signature invalid.

Because of its strict requirements, QES is often mandated for high-value contracts, public sector transactions, and regulated industries where maximum legal certainty is essential. It’s automatically recognized across all EU member states under eIDAS.

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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?

Built for High-Trust, Regulated Transactions

QES is ideal for organizations that operate in high-compliance environments, need maximum legal protection, or work across jurisdictions where QES is the only acceptable signature level.

  • Cross-border agreements under eIDAS
  • Healthcare and insurance documentation
  • Legal contracts with statutory signature requirements
  • Government applications and permits
  • Banking, loans, and wealth management
  • Real estate and notarial acts

If your business needs the highest level of legal certainty and compliance, Qualified Electronic Signatures are the gold standard. They’re legally equal to handwritten signatures, trusted across borders, and essential for industries and transactions where nothing less than maximum assurance will do.

How does it work

Signing Securely in Four Simple Steps 

QES relies on multi-factor authentication (2FA) and Qualified Trust Service Providers (QTSPs) to ensure the signer’s identity and the security of the document.

Identity Verification: The signer completes a strict verification process, typically through video identification, eID, or another qualified method.

Certificate Issuance:
A Qualified Certificate is issued and linked exclusively to the signer, stored in a secure QSCD (cloud or hardware).

Signature Creation: The signer uses a 2FA process (e.g., smart card + PIN, mobile app + OTP) to sign the document.

Evidence & Locking:
The document is cryptographically sealed and timestamped. Any changes invalidate the signature.

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Key Features

The Gold Standard for Digital Signing 

Highest Legal Validity

QES is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature under eIDAS, perfect for transactions where enforceability and statutory recognition are required.

Strongest Identity Assurance

Using multi-factor authentication (2FA) and a secure certificate stored in a QSCD, QES ensures that only the verified signer can complete the action.

Compliant Across Borders

Accepted across the EU, and recognized or increasingly supported in many global legal systems making it ideal for cross-border transactions.

Confidence for Regulated Sectors

Used by banks, governments, insurers, and legal professionals, QES provides confidence in high-risk digital workflows, audits, and compliance reviews.

Compliance Across Jurisdictions

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Europe — eIDAS Gold Standard

In Europe, QES is fully defined and enforced under the eIDAS Regulation. It is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature and is required for many types of public sector forms, high-value contracts, and notarized documents.

Latin America — Emerging QES Adoption

In Latin America, QES adoption is growing, often under local frameworks. Some markets require high-assurance identity verification or government-accredited certificates, while in other areas AdES or similar signature levels remain more common.

Asia-Pacific — Legal Equivalence in Progress

In APAC, many countries recognize high-assurance signatures often treated as QES. They are widely accepted for government filings, procurement, and regulated industries, and also hold weight in international arbitration.

Trusted Identity, Strongest Protection

QES uses multi-factor authentication and a Qualified Certificate. This guarantees non-repudiation, long-term validity, and compliance with strict regulations.

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Why choose eID Easy for Qualified Electronic Signatures?

eID Easy removes the complexity from Qualified Electronic Signatures by integrating with over 80 Qualified Trust Service Providers (QTSPs) worldwide, giving you flexibility, reliability, and full compliance through a single API. With eID Easy, you gain access to a broad range of QES methods, seamless user flows across Europe, LATAM, and APAC, and fully managed identity verification, certificate issuance, and compliance.

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