eIDAS: Integrate the European digital trust framework
KYC, KYB, onboarding, contracting – strengthen the security of your digital transactions with our eIDAS-compliant solutions. Ensure data integrity and authenticity while providing your users with a seamless and legally reliable experience throughout the European Union.
The eIDAS regulation: A European standard for digital trust
European Regulation No. 910/2014, eIDAS – for electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services – establishes a common legal framework for trust services and electronic identification in digital transactions. Applicable in all EU Member States, the regulation:
- Secures cross-border electronic exchanges,
- Ensures their legal recognition,
- Facilitates pan-European interoperability and compliance.
Trust services under eIDAS
For a trustworthy, auditable and secure digital environment, eIDAS defines an ecosystem of Trust Service Providers (TSPs), the only entities authorised to deliver several types of services:
- Electronic signature – to sign a document with legal effect.
- Electronic seal – to provide proof of origin for a document.
- Electronic timestamp – to certify the date and time of an action.
- Electronic registered delivery – to guarantee the sending and receipt of a document.
- Electronic archiving – to preserve and protect documents permanently and with integrity.
The 3 levels of electronic signature defined by eIDAS
The regulation distinguishes three types of electronic signatures, each suited to a specific legal requirement:
Simple electronic signature (SES)
For low-risk contexts (internal approval, purchase orders, quotations, etc.).
- Identifies a signatory.
- Ensures document integrity.
Advanced electronic signature (AES)
For documents of moderate importance or where stronger proof of the signatory’s identity is required.
- Uniquely linked to the signatory, created using means under their sole control.
- Digital certificate associated with a two-factor authentication process.
Qualified electronic signature (QES)
The highest level for high-value or regulated documents.
- Qualified certificate issued by a TSP, with prior verification of the signatory’s identity, either face-to-face or via videoconference.
- Carries the same legal value as a handwritten signature throughout Europe.
The 5 tangible benefits of eIDAS for businesses
Uncontestable legal value
All eIDAS-compliant signatures are admissible as evidence in court.
When “qualified” (QES), they enjoy a presumption of reliability and recognition across the EU.
Pan-European recognition
Compliance of your solutions with eIDAS facilitates their deployment and use across EU Member States, subject to additional requirements in some countries, such as QES certificates in Germany, Spain or Italy.
A QES in the cloud
eIDAS now allows qualified signatures to be created remotely via secure signature creation devices (SSCD) hosted by a TSP. Your phone becomes your access key.
Frictionless processes
For smooth identity verification, compliant with ANSSI requirements and European regulations, even remotely, eIDAS aligns with French frameworks such as PVID for KYC processes.
Simplified user experience
eIDAS-compliant solutions enable electronic signatures in just a few clicks and deliver a unified experience for your clients or employees, regardless of country.
Compliance made accessible
By adopting eIDAS-compliant payment and account management solutions:
- You ensure compatibility with French frameworks (ANSSI, PVID) and the most demanding European standards.
- You provide interoperable compliance with the ecosystem of European companies and institutions.
- Your users gain access to secure and seamless services.
- You are recognised as a trusted player at European level.
FAQ: Understanding the eIDAS regulation
What is the difference between simple, advanced and qualified signatures?
• Simple: a scan or click, without genuine identity verification.
• Advanced: identifies the signatory and guarantees document integrity.
• Qualified: formally identifies the signatory via a certificate issued by a qualified provider. Only the QES benefits from a presumption of equivalence with a handwritten signature throughout the EU.
What is a qualified trust service provider?
It is a provider that meets eIDAS’s strict requirements for security, transparency and auditability. Once certified, it is authorised to deliver trust services such as QES, timestamping, seals or electronic archiving.
In France, the supervisory authority in charge of qualifying trust service providers (TSPs) and keeping their list up to date is ANSSI.
Is eIDAS compatible with the GDPR?
The two regulations are complementary:
• The first governs the security and legal value of exchanges.
• The second protects users’ personal data.
Our solutions ensure compliance with both frameworks.
Which sectors use eIDAS?
Banking, insurance, notaries, HR, e-commerce, healthcare, public administration… All sectors where digital security and trust are essential.
Why is eIDAS a game-changer for European digital services?
Before eIDAS, the legal framework for electronic signatures varied from country to country, leading to slow adoption, legal uncertainty and barriers to cross-border trade.
In force since 1 July 2016, the eIDAS regulation resolved these issues by providing:
• A single framework directly applicable in all EU countries.
• Mutual recognition of electronic identities (eID) and qualified signatures.
• A clear legal status for each type of electronic signature.
• A trust infrastructure managed by the European Commission via trusted lists and Qualified Trust Service Providers (TSPs).
What is the European Digital Identity Wallet?
Since 20 May 2024, a new version of the eIDAS regulation has been under deployment. It includes the creation of a European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet), usable across the EU.
This wallet allows every citizen:
• To prove their identity online.
• To access services securely.
• To store official documents (driving licence, diploma, IBAN, etc.).