Is electronic signature legal in Austria?
Yes, with some exceptions. Under the Signatur- und Vertrauensdienstegesetz a qualified electronic signature meets the legal written form requirement, and simple signatures are valid where no form is required. Wills cannot be made electronically, and some family law declarations and private guarantees need a notary's or lawyer's confirmation.
Last reviewed October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
E-signature law in Austria at a glance
- Status
- Legal
- Main laws
Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS), as amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/1183
Signatur- und Vertrauensdienstegesetz (SVG), BGBl. I Nr. 50/2016
- Approach
- Tiered: simple, advanced and qualified
- EU member
- Yes. The eIDAS Regulation applies directly, so a qualified e-signature from any EU country has the effect of a handwritten signature.
Types of electronic signature in Austria
Simple electronic signature
Any electronic data used to sign, such as a typed name, a click-to-sign box or a drawn signature. Under eIDAS it cannot be refused as evidence just because it is electronic, and it is used for most everyday contracts.
Advanced electronic signature (AES)
Uniquely linked to and able to identify the signer, under the signer's sole control, and linked to the data so later changes are detectable. It carries more evidential weight than a simple signature.
Qualified electronic signature (QES)
An advanced signature made with a qualified signature creation device and based on a qualified certificate from a trust service provider on an EU trusted list. It has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature in every EU member state. Under §4(1) SVG it satisfies the written form requirement of §886 ABGB.
What you can sign electronically in Austria
- Most commercial contracts
- Employment contracts
- Contracts that require written form under §886 ABGB, if signed with a QES
- Consumer contracts (a clause stating that a QES does not meet written form is not binding on consumers unless the business proves it was individually negotiated or that another comparably easy electronic authentication method was agreed, §4(3) SVG)
Documents that need a handwritten signature or extra formalities
- Wills and other last-will dispositions cannot be made electronically (§4(2) SVG)
- Family and inheritance law declarations that require written form, and guarantees given by consumers under §1346(2) ABGB, are valid electronically only with a notary's or lawyer's confirmation that the signer was advised (§4(2) SVG)
- Form requirements that need a notarial deed or notarial or court certification (for example land register filings) are not replaced by a QES
Contracts that must be “in writing”
§4(1) SVG states that a qualified electronic signature satisfies the legal written form requirement of §886 ABGB. Other form requirements, such as notarial deeds, and form rules agreed by the parties remain unaffected.
E-signatures in Austria: frequently asked questions
Are e-signed employment contracts valid in Austria?
Yes. Employment contracts have no general form requirement, so an electronic signature works, and a QES meets any written form requirement.
Can a guarantee be signed electronically in Austria?
A business can give one with a QES. A guarantee from a private person under §1346(2) ABGB needs a notary's or lawyer's confirmation in the document that the signer was informed of the consequences.
Can I make a will electronically in Austria?
No. §4(2) SVG states that last-will dispositions cannot be validly made in electronic form.
Sources
This page is general information about e-signature law in Austria, not legal advice. It was last reviewed in October 2026, and laws change. Check the official sources above or ask a lawyer in Austria before you rely on an electronic signature for an important document. See also whether electronic signatures are legal.
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