Electronic Signature Legality in France
France recognizes electronic signatures under eIDAS (EU 910/2014) and the French Civil Code since 2000. SigPDF creates simple electronic signatures valid for most French commercial contracts — processed entirely in your browser with no uploads.
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Legal Framework for Electronic Signatures in France
France has recognized electronic signatures since Law No. 2000-230 of March 13, 2000. Today, the primary framework is eIDAS (EU Regulation 910/2014), directly applicable, supplemented by the French Civil Code (Articles 1366–1368)and Decree No. 2001-272.
Key Legislation
- eIDAS (EU 910/2014) — directly applicable since July 2016, three-tier e-signature system
- French Civil Code (Art. 1366–1368) — establishes legal validity and admissibility of e-signatures
- Decree No. 2001-272 — reliable electronic signatures; supplemented by eIDAS
- RGPD (GDPR) — data protection for personal information in documents
Documents signable with simple e-signatures in France
- Commercial service agreements (contrats de prestation de services)
- Non-disclosure agreements (accords de confidentialité)
- Employment contracts (with employee consent)
- Purchase orders and commercial invoices
- Consulting and freelance agreements
- Lease agreements (with landlord/tenant consent)
Documents requiring notarization or qualified signatures
- Notarial deeds (actes authentiques) — real estate, company formation
- Donations requiring notarization
- Court filings requiring certified identity
- Certain regulated financial instruments
Frequently Asked Questions
Are electronic signatures legal in France?
Yes. Electronic signatures are fully legal in France under EU Regulation No. 910/2014 (eIDAS), which applies directly in all EU member states, and the French Civil Code (Articles 1366–1368), which establishes the admissibility of electronic evidence and signatures. France has recognized electronic signatures since 2000.
What is the legal framework for electronic signatures in France?
The primary framework is eIDAS (EU 910/2014), supplemented by the French Civil Code (Articles 1366–1368, formerly Articles 1316 et seq.) and Decree No. 2001-272 on electronic signatures. French law transposes eIDAS and establishes that electronic signatures carry the same legal weight as handwritten signatures when they meet the required reliability conditions.
What types of electronic signatures are recognized in France?
France recognizes the three eIDAS tiers: Signature Électronique Simple (SES) — a basic electronic signature; Signature Électronique Avancée (SEA) — uniquely linked to the signatory with identity verification; and Signature Électronique Qualifiée (SEQ) — the highest level, backed by a qualified certificate from an accredited trust service provider (PSCo). SigPDF creates simple electronic signatures (SES).
Is a SigPDF signature valid for French commercial contracts?
Yes. For most commercial agreements — service contracts, NDAs, employment contracts, purchase orders, consulting agreements — a simple electronic signature created with SigPDF is valid under eIDAS Article 25(1) and the French Civil Code. French courts cannot reject an electronic signature solely because it is in electronic form.
Which documents require a qualified electronic signature in France?
Qualified electronic signatures (SEQ) are required for specific regulated acts, including: notarial deeds (actes authentiques); court submissions requiring certified identity; government filings requiring a specific certificate. For standard B2B and B2C contracts, SES is sufficient.
Does SigPDF comply with French GDPR (RGPD) requirements?
SigPDF processes documents entirely in the user's browser — no personal data from the document is transmitted to SigPDF's servers. This is highly compatible with RGPD (GDPR) requirements for documents containing personal data. No data transfer to third-party processors occurs.
How is eIDAS applied in France?
eIDAS applies directly in France as an EU Regulation since July 1, 2016, without needing transposition. It is complemented by French domestic law (Civil Code, Code de Commerce). Article 25(1) of eIDAS — the non-discrimination principle — means French courts must accept electronic signatures as evidence regardless of their technical form.