Is electronic signature legal in Italy?
Yes, with some exceptions. Italy recognises all eIDAS signature types through the Codice dell'amministrazione digitale (CAD), and simple e-signatures are weighed freely by the courts. Contracts that transfer real estate and other acts listed in article 1350 of the Civil Code must carry a qualified or digital signature, or they are void.
Last reviewed October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
E-signature law in Italy at a glance
- Status
- Legal
- Main laws
Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS), as amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/1183
Decreto legislativo 7 marzo 2005, n. 82 (Codice dell'amministrazione digitale), articles 20 and 21
- 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 Italy
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. In Italy a judge freely assesses its value as evidence.
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. Italy's 'firma digitale' is a type of qualified signature.
What you can sign electronically in Italy
- Most commercial contracts with no form requirement
- Employment contracts
- Written-form acts under article 1350 n. 13 of the Civil Code, if signed with an advanced, qualified or digital signature, or formed through a signing process with prior identification of the signer under AgID rules
- Real estate contracts and other acts in article 1350 nn. 1 to 12, if signed with a qualified or digital signature
Documents that need a handwritten signature or extra formalities
- Contracts transferring or creating rights in real estate and other acts listed in article 1350 nn. 1 to 12 of the Civil Code are void unless signed with a qualified or digital signature (or an authenticated signature)
- Public deeds (atti pubblici) must be signed by the notary or public official with a qualified or digital signature, with the parties signing in the official's presence
- Holographic wills must be handwritten by the testator
Contracts that must be “in writing”
Under article 21(2-bis) of the CAD, private writings covered by article 1350 nn. 1 to 12 of the Civil Code need a qualified or digital signature (or an authenticated signature), and acts under article 1350 n. 13 need at least an advanced signature or a signing process with prior identification of the signer that meets AgID rules, on pain of nullity. Under article 20(1-bis), other electronic documents meet written form if they carry an advanced, qualified or digital signature or are formed through such an AgID process; otherwise the judge assesses them freely.
E-signatures in Italy: frequently asked questions
Are e-signed employment contracts valid in Italy?
Yes. Employment contracts can be signed electronically. Where written form is required for a specific clause, use at least an advanced signature.
What is the difference between firma digitale and firma elettronica in Italy?
Firma digitale is a qualified signature based on a qualified certificate and cryptographic keys, equal to a handwritten signature. Firma elettronica is the broader term that includes simple signatures, which a court assesses case by case.
Can real estate contracts be e-signed in Italy?
Only with a qualified or digital signature, under article 21(2-bis) of the CAD. A simple or advanced signature makes such a contract void, and the deed still goes through a notary for registration.
Sources
This page is general information about e-signature law in Italy, not legal advice. It was last reviewed in October 2026, and laws change. Check the official sources above or ask a lawyer in Italy before you rely on an electronic signature for an important document. See also whether electronic signatures are legal.
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