eIDAS and electronic signatures

Electronic signatures, refer to all methods applicable for signing non-printed documents. There are many approaches to electronic signatures, and not all of them are legally binding in the same way as a hand signature.

In general, the eIDAS regulations distinguish between three types of electronic signatures:

  • Simple electronic signatures (SES)

  • Advanced electronic signatures (AdES)

  • Qualified electronic signatures (QES)

Within the EU, Qualified electronic signatures are the only ones that are given the same legal value as hand-written signatures. Within Norway, Advanced electronic signatures are also given this legal value.

According to Norwegian legislation, Advanced electronic signatures (AdES) are given the same legal value as hand-written signatures

As such, Advanced electronic signatures can be used to digitize processes that traditionally have relied upon hand-written signatures. The applications here are endless, including

  • Forming a customer relationship

  • B2C, C2C and B2B contracts and transactions

  • Signing loan papers

  • Submitting declarations (for use in e.g. insurance, public services)

BankID electronic signature products

We offer several products related to electronic signing, all of which adherent to the AdES-standard, making them legally binding under Norwegian legislation.

PAdES

PAdES is our most recent e-signature product, and is well suited for signing PDF documents. It's the only solution that

  • Supports multiple end user signatures through serial signing where the output from one signing session is used as input for the next

  • Allows you to configure the visible seal applied to the PDF document after signing.

  • Supports end-user signature stand-alone (as well as end-user and merchant signatures)

SEID-SDO

SEID-SDO allows signing of PDF documents, as well as XML-files and plain text.

Simple text signing

Our most basic solution allows signing of text only.

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