Electronic signatures on PDF
EU law defines three levels of electronic signature. A signature drawn, scanned or typed onto a PDF is a simple electronic signature (SES): it has legal value and cannot be refused merely for being electronic, but if someone disputes it, you are the one who has to prove who signed. Only a qualified electronic signature (QES), made with a qualified device and certificate, has by law the same effect as a handwritten signature. The BestPDFInTheWorld tool produces a simple signature.
Verified 2026-07-31
- Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS), updated by Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, in force since 20 May 2024.
- Three levels: simple (SES), advanced (AdES) and qualified (QES). eIDAS 2 keeps all three.
- Article 25(1): no signature loses legal effect merely for being electronic.
- Article 25(2): only the qualified one carries the legal effect of a handwritten signature.
- Our tool does not produce a qualified signature. It produces a simple one, and says so.
The three levels, and what changes between them
The legal framework is Regulation (EU) No 910/2014, known as eIDAS, updated by Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, adopted on 26 March 2024 and in force since 20 May 2024. The update leaves the three levels intact and adds the European digital identity wallet plus three new qualified trust services.
| Level | What it requires | What it is worth | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple (SES) | Drawn, scanned or typed signature | Admissible, but the burden of proof falls on whoever relies on it | Internal approvals, receipts, low risk documents |
| Advanced (AdES) | Digital certificate bound to the signatory, tampering detectable | Stronger, still no legal presumption | Commercial contracts, business to business |
| Qualified (QES) | AdES plus a QSCD and a qualified certificate from a QTSP | Equivalent to a handwritten signature, Article 25(2) | Deeds, public acts, anything the law requires in writing |
Simple electronic signature (SES)
It is any electronic data attached to a document that the signatory uses to sign. Drawing your name with a mouse, typing your name into a box, pasting an image of your scanned signature: all of these are simple electronic signatures. Article 25(1) guarantees that legal effect and admissibility in court cannot be denied merely because it is electronic.
What it lacks is a presumption. If the other party says "that was not me", whoever relies on the signature has to prove that it was. That proof is built from the surroundings: the email it came from, access logs, negotiation history, witnesses.
Advanced electronic signature (AdES)
It requires four things at once: to be uniquely linked to the signatory, to be capable of identifying them, to be created using data under their sole control, and to be linked to the document such that any later change is detectable. In practice that means a digital certificate and a cryptographic signature embedded in the PDF.
It is considerably stronger than a simple signature, but it still lacks the legal presumption of the qualified level.
Qualified electronic signature (QES)
It is an AdES with two extra requirements: it must be created on a qualified signature creation device (QSCD) and rest on a qualified certificate issued by a qualified trust service provider (QTSP) listed on the European Union trusted list. Identity proofing must follow ETSI TS 119 461, a process equivalent to face to face against an official identity document.
Only this level carries, under Article 25(2), the same legal effect as a handwritten signature, and it must be recognised by courts and authorities in every Member State.
What our tool does, and what it does not
The BestPDFInTheWorld signing tool lets you draw your signature, type it or upload an image, and place it wherever you want on the page. The result is a PDF with the signature image drawn over the content.
That is a simple electronic signature. It is not advanced and it is not qualified. There is no certificate, no cryptography bound to your identity, and a later change to the document will not be made detectable by the signature. We say this out loud because the alternative is letting someone sign an important contract believing they had handwritten equivalence.
It works well for internal approvals, receipts, school forms, low risk declarations and everything that today would be solved by printing, signing and scanning. It does not work for acts that the law requires in qualified written form.
How to obtain a qualified signature
- Portugal, Chave Móvel Digital: once the mobile digital signature is activated, it signs with qualified value using your phone. It is free for citizens.
- Portugal, Citizen Card: with a card reader and the official authentication software, the card's signing certificate produces a qualified signature.
- Spain, FNMT certificate or DNIe: the electronic certificate from the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre and the one on the national identity document both produce qualified signatures.
- Commercial providers: any QTSP on the EU trusted list. The list is public and searchable.
In all these cases the signature is applied by the provider's software or by Adobe Acrobat, not by us.
Disclaimer
This guide describes the legal framework in force and is not legal advice. If the document has material financial consequences, or the law requires a specific form for the act, confirm with a lawyer which signature level you need before signing.
Electronic signatures on PDF
Is a signature drawn on a PDF legally valid?
Yes. Article 25(1) of eIDAS prevents legal effect from being denied merely because the signature is electronic. What it lacks is a presumption: if it is disputed, whoever relies on it must prove who signed.
What is the difference between an electronic signature and a digital signature?
Electronic signature is the legal concept and covers all three levels. Digital signature is the public key cryptography technique used to implement the advanced and qualified levels. Every digital signature is electronic; the reverse is not true.
How do I sign a PDF without printing it?
For a simple signature, use the signing tool: draw, type or upload the signature and place it on the page, all in your browser. For a qualified one, use a national eID scheme or a qualified trust service provider.
Is the BestPDFInTheWorld signature qualified?
No. It is a simple electronic signature: an image placed over the page, with no certificate and no cryptographic binding to your identity. For acts requiring handwritten equivalence, you need a qualified signature.
Did eIDAS 2 change the signature levels?
No. Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, in force since 20 May 2024, keeps the three levels unchanged. What it adds is the European digital identity wallet and new qualified services, among them electronic archiving and electronic ledgers.
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