Electronic Signature Legality in Brazil
Brazil has a comprehensive legal framework for electronic signatures under Lei 14.063/2020. SigPDF creates simple electronic signatures valid for private commercial contracts — processed entirely in your browser with no uploads.
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Legal Framework for Electronic Signatures in Brazil
Brazil has one of Latin America's most developed electronic signature legal frameworks. Lei 14.063/2020 established a three-tier system, and MP 2.200-2/2001 created ICP-Brasil. The Civil Code's freedom of form principle (Art. 107) allows most contracts to be concluded electronically.
Key Legislation
- Lei 14.063/2020 — three-tier e-signature system (simple, advanced, qualified)
- MP 2.200-2/2001 — established ICP-Brasil public key infrastructure
- Código Civil (Art. 107) — freedom of form: contracts valid unless law requires specific form
- LGPD (Lei 13.709/2018) — personal data protection
Documents signable with simple electronic signature
- Commercial service agreements
- Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)
- Employment contracts (CLT and services contracts)
- Purchase orders and commercial invoices (NFs)
- Freelance and consulting agreements
- Partnership and collaboration agreements
Documents requiring qualified signature (ICP-Brasil)
- Court filings and legal proceedings (petições digitais)
- Government submissions and regulatory filings
- Notarized documents (atos notariais)
- Documents requiring registration in public registries
Frequently Asked Questions
Are electronic signatures legal in Brazil?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally recognized in Brazil under Medida Provisória 2.200-2/2001 and more recently under Lei 14.063/2020, which created a comprehensive three-tier system for electronic signatures. The Brazilian Civil Code (Art. 107) also establishes the principle of freedom of form for contracts.
What are the three types of electronic signatures under Lei 14.063/2020?
Lei 14.063/2020 defines: (1) Assinatura Eletrônica Simples — simple electronic signature that links data to the signatory; (2) Assinatura Eletrônica Avançada — advanced signature with biometric or cryptographic identification; (3) Assinatura Eletrônica Qualificada — qualified signature using a certificate from ICP-Brasil, the Brazilian public key infrastructure. SigPDF creates simple electronic signatures.
Is a SigPDF signature valid for Brazilian private contracts?
Yes. For most private commercial contracts — service agreements, NDAs, employment contracts, purchase orders — a simple electronic signature created with SigPDF is legally valid under Lei 14.063/2020 and the Civil Code, provided both parties consent to electronic contracting.
What is ICP-Brasil and when is it required?
ICP-Brasil (Infraestrutura de Chaves Públicas Brasileira) is the Brazilian public key infrastructure managed by ITI (Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia da Informação). An ICP-Brasil certificate is required for Assinatura Eletrônica Qualificada (qualified electronic signature), which is mandatory for government transactions, court filings, and certain regulated documents.
Which documents require a qualified signature (ICP-Brasil) in Brazil?
ICP-Brasil qualified signatures are required for: court filings and legal proceedings; federal government transactions; documents submitted to notary offices (cartórios); regulated financial documents. For standard private commercial contracts, simple or advanced electronic signatures are sufficient.
Does SigPDF upload my documents to any server?
No. SigPDF processes your documents entirely in your browser — your files never leave your device. This supports compliance with the LGPD (Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados), Brazil's data protection law, for documents containing personal data.
How does Brazil's LGPD affect electronic document signing?
The LGPD (Lei 13.709/2018) regulates the processing of personal data. When signing contracts containing personal information, using a tool that processes documents locally — like SigPDF — avoids transmitting personal data to third-party servers, simplifying LGPD compliance.