E-Signature Laws by Country — 2026 Global Guide

Are Electronic Signatures Legal?

The short answer is yes — electronic signatures are legally valid in nearly every developed country in the world. However, the specific rules, exceptions, and levels of recognition vary by jurisdiction.

This guide covers the electronic signature laws in major regions and countries as of 2026, so you can confidently sign documents knowing your signature will hold up.

United States

Key Legislation

• ESIGN Act (2000) — The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act establishes that electronic signatures cannot be denied legal effect solely because they are in electronic form.
• UETA (1999) — The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act provides a framework for electronic signatures at the state level. It has been adopted by 49 states (all except New York, which has its own legislation).

What This Means in Practice

In the United States, simple electronic signatures — such as those created by drawing your name with a mouse or tapping a checkbox — are valid for the vast majority of documents. This includes contracts, employment agreements, NDAs, purchase orders, and most business documents.

Exceptions

Some documents still require wet ink signatures or notarization in certain states:

• Wills and testamentary trusts
• Court orders and official court documents
• Notices of foreclosure or eviction (in some states)
• Documents governed by the Uniform Commercial Code (certain provisions)

For standard contracts and business documents, a tool like SigPDF produces signatures that are fully valid under US law.

European Union

Key Legislation

• eIDAS Regulation (EU 910/2014) — The Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services regulation creates a unified framework across all EU member states.

Three Levels of Signatures

The EU recognizes three tiers of electronic signatures:

1. Simple Electronic Signatures (SES) — Any electronic data attached to or associated with other data, used to sign. This includes drawn signatures, typed names, and checkbox confirmations. Valid for most contracts and agreements.

2. Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES) — Must be uniquely linked to the signatory, capable of identifying the signatory, created using data under the signatory's sole control, and linked to the signed data so that any subsequent change is detectable. Often implemented through software-based certificates.

3. Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) — An advanced electronic signature created by a qualified signature creation device, based on a qualified certificate. This is the highest level and carries the same legal weight as a handwritten signature in all EU member states. Requires a certificate from a qualified trust service provider.

What This Means in Practice

For everyday business documents, a simple electronic signature is sufficient and legally recognized across all 27 EU member states. Qualified electronic signatures are only required for specific government filings and regulated transactions.

United Kingdom

Key Legislation

• Electronic Communications Act 2000
• Law Commission Report on Electronic Execution of Documents (2019) — Confirmed that electronic signatures are valid for most documents under English law.

Post-Brexit Status

After Brexit, the UK no longer falls under eIDAS directly, but domestic legislation provides equivalent recognition. Simple electronic signatures remain valid for contracts, deeds (with witnessing requirements), and most commercial documents.

Exceptions

• Certain land registry documents may require specific forms of electronic signature
• Wills currently require wet ink signatures under the Wills Act 1837 (though reform has been discussed)

Canada

Key Legislation

• PIPEDA — The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act provides federal-level recognition.
• Provincial legislation — Each province has its own electronic commerce act. All provinces recognize electronic signatures.

What This Means in Practice

Electronic signatures are broadly accepted across Canada for commercial and personal documents. Some specific document types, such as powers of attorney and certain real estate documents, may have additional provincial requirements.

Australia

Key Legislation

• Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth) — Establishes that transactions are not invalid simply because they were conducted electronically.
• State and territory legislation mirrors the federal act.

What This Means in Practice

Most documents can be signed electronically in Australia. The law was further clarified during 2020-2021 when temporary provisions for remote witnessing and electronic execution were introduced, and many of these provisions have since been made permanent.

Exceptions

• Wills and powers of attorney have varying requirements by state
• Real property transactions may require specific procedures

India

Key Legislation

• Information Technology Act (2000) — Recognizes electronic signatures and digital signatures.
• 2008 Amendment — Expanded the scope to include electronic signatures beyond just digital (certificate-based) signatures.

What This Means in Practice

India recognizes both simple electronic signatures and Aadhaar-based e-signatures. For most commercial contracts, a simple electronic signature is valid. Government tenders and certain regulatory filings may require digital signatures from licensed certifying authorities.

China

Key Legislation

• Electronic Signature Law (2005, amended 2019) — Recognizes the legal validity of electronic signatures, provided certain conditions are met.

What This Means in Practice

Electronic signatures are valid when both parties agree to use them. The law requires that the signature is reliably linked to the signatory, is under the signatory's sole control, and any changes after signing are detectable. In practice, many businesses use certificate-based digital signatures for important documents, while simpler forms are used for routine transactions.

Japan

Key Legislation

• Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business (2001)

What This Means in Practice

Japan recognizes electronic signatures for most commercial purposes. The law distinguishes between electronic signatures generally and certified digital signatures. A 2020 government interpretation confirmed that even simple electronic methods like email-based confirmations can constitute valid electronic signatures in appropriate contexts.

Brazil

Key Legislation

• Medida Provisoria 2,200-2/2001 — Established the ICP-Brasil framework for digital signatures.
• Law No. 14,063/2020 — Expanded recognition of electronic signatures beyond ICP-Brasil certificates.

What This Means in Practice

Brazil recognizes three levels of electronic signatures: simple, advanced, and qualified. For most private contracts, simple electronic signatures are valid. Government interactions often require qualified signatures through the ICP-Brasil system.

South Korea

Key Legislation

• Digital Signature Act (revised 2020) — Previously only recognized government-certified digital signatures, but the 2020 revision extended legal recognition to all forms of electronic signatures.

This was a significant change, as South Korea previously had one of the more restrictive e-signature regimes.

Quick Reference Table

| Country/Region | Simple E-Sig Valid? | Key Law | Notes | |----------------|-------------------|---------|-------| | United States | Yes | ESIGN Act, UETA | Valid for most documents | | European Union | Yes | eIDAS | Three tiers: SES, AES, QES | | United Kingdom | Yes | Electronic Communications Act | Post-Brexit domestic law | | Canada | Yes | PIPEDA + provincial laws | Province-specific exceptions | | Australia | Yes | Electronic Transactions Act | Expanded during 2020-2021 | | India | Yes | IT Act 2000 | Aadhaar e-sign available | | China | Yes | Electronic Signature Law | Both parties must agree | | Japan | Yes | Act on Electronic Signatures | Broadly interpreted since 2020 | | Brazil | Yes | Law 14,063/2020 | Three tiers like EU | | South Korea | Yes | Digital Signature Act | Liberalized in 2020 |

What This Means for You

For the vast majority of documents you encounter in daily personal and business life — contracts, agreements, invoices, forms, HR paperwork, and similar — a simple electronic signature is legally valid in virtually every jurisdiction worldwide.

When you sign a document using a browser-based tool like SigPDF, you are creating a simple electronic signature. This is legally sufficient for standard contracts, business agreements, and personal documents in all of the countries listed above.

If you are dealing with highly regulated transactions (government procurement, certain financial instruments, or real estate in specific jurisdictions), check whether your jurisdiction requires an advanced or qualified signature for that particular document type.

Sign Documents With Confidence

Now that you know the law is on your side, signing PDFs electronically is straightforward. SigPDF lets you sign any PDF in your browser in under a minute. Your files stay on your device, and the resulting signatures are valid under the electronic signature laws of every major jurisdiction.

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