Is electronic signature legal in Poland?
Yes. Polish law accepts electronic signatures under eIDAS, and the Civil Code treats a declaration signed with a qualified electronic signature as equal to written form. Simple signatures meet documentary form, but they do not replace written form, and they never replace a notarial deed.
Last reviewed October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
E-signature law in Poland at a glance
- Status
- Legal
- Main laws
Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS), as amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/1183
Kodeks cywilny (Civil Code), art. 77(2), 78 and 78(1) (1964)
Ustawa z dnia 5 września 2016 r. o usługach zaufania oraz identyfikacji elektronicznej
- 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 Poland
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 Poland it typically meets the 'documentary form' in art. 77(2) of the Civil Code.
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 art. 78(1) of the Civil Code it satisfies written form.
What you can sign electronically in Poland
- Most commercial contracts (no form requirement or documentary form)
- Contracts that require written form, such as copyright assignments, if signed with a QES
- Employment contracts, if signed with a QES
- Consumer contracts
Documents that need a handwritten signature or extra formalities
- Acts requiring a notarial deed, including transfers of real estate
- Acts requiring a notarially certified signature
- The trusted signature (podpis zaufany) and personal signature (podpis osobisty) equal a handwritten signature only toward public bodies, not in private written-form contracts (unless, for the personal signature, the parties agree)
Contracts that must be “in writing”
Under art. 78(1) of the Civil Code, a declaration in electronic form signed with a qualified electronic signature is equivalent to written form. Documentary form (art. 77(2)) is met by any document that identifies the person making the declaration.
E-signatures in Poland: frequently asked questions
Are e-signed employment contracts valid in Poland?
The Labour Code requires written form for employment contracts, so use a qualified electronic signature to meet it. A contract signed with a simple e-signature still exists, but does not meet the written form rule.
Can I use the trusted profile signature (podpis zaufany) for business contracts?
Its legal effect equals a handwritten signature only in dealings with public bodies. For private contracts that require written form, use a qualified electronic signature.
Can real estate be bought with an e-signature in Poland?
No. The transfer of real estate requires a notarial deed, and a QES does not replace it.
Sources
This page is general information about e-signature law in Poland, not legal advice. It was last reviewed in October 2026, and laws change. Check the official sources above or ask a lawyer in Poland before you rely on an electronic signature for an important document. See also whether electronic signatures are legal.
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