Is electronic signature legal in France?
Yes. French law gives an electronic signature the same value as a handwritten one if it reliably identifies the signer and is linked to the document, and a qualified signature is presumed reliable. Private documents in family and inheritance law are the main exception, and acts that require a notary follow notarial rules.
Last reviewed October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
E-signature law in France at a glance
- Status
- Legal
- Main laws
Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS), as amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/1183
Code civil, articles 1174 to 1176 and 1366 to 1367 (2016)
Décret n° 2017-1416 du 28 septembre 2017 relatif à la signature électronique
- 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 France
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 Décret 2017-1416, only a qualified signature is presumed reliable; for other signatures the party relying on it must prove reliability if challenged.
What you can sign electronically in France
- Most commercial and B2B contracts
- Employment contracts
- Consumer contracts and terms of sale
- Personal and real security interests (sûretés), since the 2021 reform removed them from the exceptions in article 1175
- Preliminary real estate sale agreements (compromis de vente) signed privately
Documents that need a handwritten signature or extra formalities
- Private documents (actes sous signature privée) relating to family law and succession, under article 1175 of the Code civil, except agreements countersigned by lawyers and filed with a notary in the cases the article lists
- Acts that must be made before a notary (acte authentique), such as the final sale of real estate, which follow notarial electronic procedures
- Holographic wills, which must be handwritten, dated and signed by the testator
Contracts that must be “in writing”
Article 1174 of the Code civil allows a document required in writing to be created and kept electronically, and article 1366 gives an electronic writing the same evidential value as paper. Article 1367 requires a reliable identification process that guarantees the link with the document.
E-signatures in France: frequently asked questions
Are e-signed employment contracts valid in France?
Yes. An employment contract can be signed with an electronic signature that meets article 1367 of the Code civil. An advanced or qualified signature makes the signer easier to prove if the contract is disputed.
Is a simple electronic signature enough in France?
It is valid, but it is not presumed reliable. If it is challenged, the party relying on it must show the process identified the signer and protected the document. A qualified signature shifts that burden.
Can a guarantee (caution) be signed electronically in France?
Yes. Since the 2021 reform of security law, article 1175 no longer excludes personal or real security interests, so guarantees can be signed electronically if their specific formalities are respected.
Sources
This page is general information about e-signature law in France, not legal advice. It was last reviewed in October 2026, and laws change. Check the official sources above or ask a lawyer in France before you rely on an electronic signature for an important document. See also whether electronic signatures are legal.
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