Is electronic signature legal in Chile?
Yes. Chile's Law 19.799 gives electronic documents and signatures the same validity as paper and handwritten signatures. Acts that need a formality that cannot be met electronically, acts requiring personal attendance and family law acts are excluded, and public instruments need an advanced electronic signature.
Last reviewed October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
E-signature law in Chile at a glance
- Status
- Legal
- Main law
Ley 19.799 sobre documentos electrónicos, firma electrónica y servicios de certificación (2002)
- Approach
- Two-tier: basic and secure (often certificate-based) signatures
Types of electronic signature in Chile
Simple electronic signature (firma electrónica simple)
Any sound, symbol or electronic process that allows the recipient to identify the author. Valid for most private documents and has the value of a private instrument.
Advanced electronic signature (firma electrónica avanzada)
Certified by an accredited provider and created under the signer's sole control. Required for public instruments and gives the document full evidentiary value.
What you can sign electronically in Chile
- Commercial and service contracts
- Employment contracts and related documents
- Lease agreements
- Private instruments generally
Documents that need a handwritten signature or extra formalities
- Acts for which the law requires a solemnity that cannot be met by an electronic document
- Acts for which the law requires the personal attendance of a party
- Acts relating to family law
- Acts that the law requires to be granted by public deed (escritura publica) before a notary, such as sales of real estate and mortgages
Contracts that must be “in writing”
Under Law 19.799, acts and contracts signed electronically are valid in the same way as those on paper, and are treated as in writing where the law requires it. Public instruments must be signed with an advanced electronic signature.
E-signatures in Chile: frequently asked questions
Are electronically signed employment contracts valid in Chile?
Yes. The Labor Directorate has ruled that employment contracts can be signed with electronic signatures under Law 19.799, provided this does not prevent labor inspections, and the law gives electronic signatures the same validity as handwritten ones.
When do I need an advanced electronic signature in Chile?
For public instruments and where a specific law requires it. For ordinary private contracts, a simple electronic signature is generally enough.
Can family law documents be signed electronically?
No. Law 19.799 excludes acts relating to family law.
Sources
This page is general information about e-signature law in Chile, not legal advice. It was last reviewed in October 2026, and laws change. Check the official sources above or ask a lawyer in Chile before you rely on an electronic signature for an important document. See also whether electronic signatures are legal.
Send documents for eSignature in Chile
BunnyDoc records every step in an audit trail that can be used as evidence. 5 free signature requests every month, no credit card needed.