Electronic signature laws by country
Is an electronic signature legal in your country? Find the law that makes e-signatures valid, what you can sign electronically, and which documents still need a handwritten signature or a notary, for 46 countries.
Electronic signatures are legally recognised in almost every country. Most laws follow one of three approaches. Open laws, such as the US ESIGN Act, accept any electronic signature the signer intended to use. Tiered laws, such as the EU’s eIDAS Regulation, recognise every e-signature but give extra legal weight to advanced and qualified signatures. Two-tier laws, such as India’s Information Technology Act, recognise electronic signatures and give extra legal weight to secure or certificate-based signatures. Read more about whether electronic signatures are legal and what an eSignature is.
North America
| Country | E-signatures | Main law |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Legal | Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Part 2 (2000) |
| Mexico | Legal | Código de Comercio, Title Two (Electronic Commerce), as reformed (2000) |
| United States | Legal | Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN), 15 U.S.C. 7001 et seq. (2000) |
Europe
| Country | E-signatures | Main law |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Legal | eIDAS and Signatur- und Vertrauensdienstegesetz (SVG), BGBl. I Nr. 50/2016 |
| Belgium | Legal | eIDAS and Civil Code, Book 8 (Evidence), introduced by the Law of 13 April 2019 |
| Czech Republic | Legal | eIDAS and Zákon č. 297/2016 Sb., o službách vytvářejících důvěru pro elektronické transakce |
| Denmark | Legal | eIDAS and Lov nr. 617 af 8. juni 2016 om supplerende bestemmelser til forordning om elektronisk identifikation og tillidstjenester |
| Finland | Legal | eIDAS and Laki vahvasta sähköisestä tunnistamisesta ja sähköisistä luottamuspalveluista (617/2009) |
| France | Legal | eIDAS and Code civil, articles 1174 to 1176 and 1366 to 1367 (2016) |
| Germany | Legal | eIDAS and Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB), §126 (written form), §126a (electronic form), §126b (text form) (2001) |
| Greece | Legal | eIDAS and Law 4727/2020 on Digital Governance (Government Gazette A' 184/23.09.2020), articles 13 to 15 |
| Hungary | Legal, with limits | eIDAS and Act V of 2013 on the Civil Code (Ptk.), Section 6:7 |
| Ireland | Legal | eIDAS and Electronic Commerce Act 2000 (No. 27 of 2000) |
| Italy | Legal | eIDAS and Decreto legislativo 7 marzo 2005, n. 82 (Codice dell'amministrazione digitale), articles 20 and 21 |
| Netherlands | Legal | eIDAS and Burgerlijk Wetboek Boek 3, artikel 15a (electronic signature) (2003) |
| Norway | Legal | Lov om elektroniske tillitstjenester (tillitstjenesteloven), LOV-2018-06-15-44 |
| Poland | Legal | eIDAS and Kodeks cywilny (Civil Code), art. 77(2), 78 and 78(1) (1964) |
| Portugal | Legal | eIDAS and Decreto-Lei n.º 12/2021, de 9 de fevereiro |
| Romania | Legal | eIDAS and Law No. 214/2024 on the use of electronic signatures, time stamps and trust services (Monitorul Oficial No. 647 of 8 July 2024) |
| Spain | Legal | eIDAS and Ley 6/2020, de 11 de noviembre, reguladora de determinados aspectos de los servicios electrónicos de confianza |
| Sweden | Legal | eIDAS and Lag (2016:561) med kompletterande bestämmelser till EU:s förordning om elektronisk identifiering |
| Switzerland | Legal | Federal Act on Electronic Signatures (ZertES), SR 943.03 (2016) |
| Turkey | Legal, with limits | Electronic Signature Law No. 5070 (Elektronik İmza Kanunu) (2004) |
| United Kingdom | Legal | Electronic Communications Act 2000 |
Latin America
| Country | E-signatures | Main law |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Legal | Ley 25.506 de Firma Digital (2001) |
| Brazil | Legal | Medida Provisória 2.200-2 (ICP-Brasil) (2001) |
| Chile | Legal | Ley 19.799 sobre documentos electrónicos, firma electrónica y servicios de certificación (2002) |
| Colombia | Legal | Ley 527 de 1999 (data messages, electronic commerce and digital signatures) |
Asia Pacific
| Country | E-signatures | Main law |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Legal | Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth) |
| China | Legal | Electronic Signature Law of the People's Republic of China (amended 2015 and 2019) (2004) |
| Hong Kong | Legal | Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Cap. 553) (2000) |
| India | Legal | Information Technology Act, 2000 |
| Indonesia | Legal | Law No. 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions (UU ITE), amended by Law No. 19 of 2016 and Law No. 1 of 2024 |
| Japan | Legal | Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business (Act No. 102 of 2000) |
| Malaysia | Legal | Electronic Commerce Act 2006 (Act 658) |
| New Zealand | Legal | Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017, Part 4 (Electronic transactions) |
| Pakistan | Legal | Electronic Transactions Ordinance, 2002 |
| Philippines | Legal | Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8792) |
| Singapore | Legal | Electronic Transactions Act 2010 (2020 Revised Edition) |
| South Korea | Legal | Electronic Signature Act (wholly amended by Act No. 17354, in force 10 December 2020) |
Middle East
| Country | E-signatures | Main law |
|---|---|---|
| Israel | Legal | Electronic Signature Law, 5761-2001 (amended 2018) |
| Saudi Arabia | Legal | Electronic Transactions Law (Royal Decree No. M/18, 1428H), as amended (2007) |
| United Arab Emirates | Legal | Federal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2021 on Electronic Transactions and Trust Services |
Africa
| Country | E-signatures | Main law |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | Legal, with limits | Kenya Information and Communications Act (Cap. 411A) (1998) |
| Nigeria | Legal | Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (section 17), as amended in 2024 |
| South Africa | Legal | Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA) |
Electronic signature laws: frequently asked questions
Are electronic signatures legal everywhere?
Electronic signatures are legally recognised in all 46 countries listed here, with limits in some, and in most other countries. Each country has exceptions, usually wills, some family law matters and property transfers that need a notary, witnesses or official registration. Open a country to see its rules.
What is the difference between a simple, advanced and qualified electronic signature?
These are the three levels in the EU eIDAS Regulation, and many other countries use similar tiers. A simple e-signature is any electronic sign of agreement, such as a typed name or a drawn signature. An advanced signature is uniquely linked to the signer and detects later changes. A qualified signature is an advanced signature created with a qualified signature creation device and based on a qualified certificate from a qualified trust service provider, and it has the same effect as a handwritten signature in every EU member state.
Can I sign a contract electronically with someone in another country?
Usually yes. Most cross-border commercial contracts can be signed electronically. Whether a particular form of signature is enough can depend on the law that governs the contract and, in some cases, the law of the country where a party is or where property is located. Check both countries when the document is a deed, a property transfer or a family matter.
Is this legal advice?
No. These pages summarise each country's e-signature laws for general information. Laws change and every document is different, so ask a lawyer in the country concerned before you rely on an e-signature for an important document.
This information is general guidance, not legal advice. It was last reviewed in October 2026. Laws change, so check the official sources linked on each country page or ask a local lawyer before relying on an e-signature for an important document.
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