Are Electronic Signatures Legal in the UK?

The Electronic Communications Act 2000 (ECA 2000) is the foundation of UK electronic signature law. Section 7 of the Act provides that electronic signatures are admissible in evidence in legal proceedings in relation to the authenticity or integrity of any communication or data. This means that a document signed electronically — using a drawn, typed, or uploaded signature — can be presented in court and relied upon as evidence of the signer's intent.

The ECA 2000 takes a technology-neutral approach. It does not prescribe a specific method for creating electronic signatures. Whether you draw your name with a mouse, type it, use a touchscreen, or upload an image of your handwritten signature, the result is equally admissible. SigPDF supports all of these methods.

The Law Commission's Position

In September 2019, the Law Commission of England and Wales published a detailed report on the legal status of electronic signatures. The report concluded that electronic signatures are capable in law of being used to execute documents, including deeds, provided that the relevant formalities are satisfied. This was a significant clarification because it confirmed that e-signatures are valid not only for simple contracts but also for more formal document types under English law.

The Law Commission noted that an electronic signature is anything in electronic form that is intended to serve the same purpose as a handwritten signature. This broad definition encompasses the types of signatures created with SigPDF. The report also stated that existing legislation does not need to be reformed — the current legal framework already accommodates electronic signatures for virtually all purposes.

UK eIDAS — Retained EU Law After Brexit

Before Brexit, the EU's eIDAS Regulation (EU No 910/2014) applied directly in the UK. When the UK left the EU on January 31, 2020, eIDAS was retained in domestic law through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The retained version, often referred to as “UK eIDAS,” preserves the core principles of the original regulation with modifications to reflect the UK's status as an independent jurisdiction.

Under UK eIDAS, electronic signatures continue to be recognised at three levels — simple, advanced, and qualified — mirroring the EU framework. The non-discrimination principle is retained: an electronic signature cannot be denied legal effect or admissibility as evidence solely because it is in electronic form. For most business and personal documents, a simple electronic signature remains entirely sufficient.

The key post-Brexit difference is that UK qualified electronic signatures (QES) are no longer automatically recognised in EU member states, and EU QES are not automatically recognised in the UK. However, this affects only the qualified tier — simple and advanced electronic signatures used for private-sector transactions are unaffected by this change, as their validity depends on the domestic law of the jurisdiction where they are used.

Common Law Contract Formation

It is worth noting that English contract law does not, in most cases, require a written signature at all. Under common law, a contract is formed when there is an offer, acceptance, consideration, and an intention to create legal relations. A signature — whether handwritten or electronic — serves as evidence of agreement but is not always a formal requirement. This means that for the vast majority of commercial agreements, an electronic signature provides even stronger evidence of intent than the law actually requires.

Exceptions — When E-Signatures May Not Be Sufficient

While electronic signatures are valid for the overwhelming majority of documents under UK law, there are a few specific exceptions where additional formalities may be required:

• Deeds under certain circumstances — The Law Commission confirmed that e-signatures can be used to execute deeds, but the deed must still be witnessed. The witness must be physically present when the signature is applied. If the witnessing requirement cannot be met in person, the deed may not be validly executed with an e-signature alone. Some land registry transactions require specific forms of execution that may limit e-signature use.
• HM Land Registry documents — While HM Land Registry has been moving towards accepting electronic signatures for certain transactions, specific conveyancing documents — particularly those requiring registration — may still need wet-ink signatures or Mercury-compliant electronic signatures depending on the transaction type.
• Wills — Under the Wills Act 1837, a will must be in writing, signed by the testator, and witnessed by two witnesses who are present at the same time. Electronic signatures are not currently accepted for wills under English law, though the Law Commission has recommended reform in this area.
• Certain statutory declarations and affidavits — Documents that require swearing or affirming before an authorised person typically require physical presence and a wet-ink signature.

For everyday business documents — contracts, agreements, invoices, proposals, NDAs, employment letters, consulting agreements, and similar records — electronic signatures are fully valid and enforceable in the UK.

How SigPDF Works for UK Users

SigPDF is a browser-based PDF signing tool that lets you add a legally valid electronic signature to any PDF document in under a minute. Your signature is permanently embedded in the PDF, satisfying the requirement that the signature be associated with the document and demonstrating clear intent to sign.

Privacy is a core feature. SigPDF processes your PDF entirely inside your browser — your document never leaves your device. There are no server uploads, no cloud storage, and no third-party access. For UK users concerned about data protection under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, this client-side approach means there is no personal data processing to account for and no risk of your documents being stored on external servers.

SigPDF costs €2.99/month with unlimited signatures. There are no per-document fees, no envelope limits, and no tiered pricing. One plan covers all your signing needs, whether you sign one document a week or dozens a day.

How to Sign a PDF with SigPDF

1. Open your PDF in SigPDF — click “Choose File” or drag and drop
2. Create your signature by drawing, typing, or uploading an image
3. Place your signature on the document where needed
4. Download the signed PDF — your signature is permanently embedded

The Bottom Line

Electronic signatures are legal, recognised, and enforceable in the United Kingdom under the Electronic Communications Act 2000, retained UK eIDAS, and confirmed by the Law Commission. Brexit has not diminished the legal standing of e-signatures for domestic or international business transactions. For the vast majority of documents, a simple electronic signature created with SigPDF is all you need — legally valid, completely private, and ready in seconds.