The eIDAS (Electronic Identification and Trust Services) regulation, which came into force on July 1, 2016, establishes a harmonized legal framework for electronic signatures and digital trust services within all 27 member states of the European Union. Its main aim is to guarantee the legal certainty, interoperability and validity of cross-border digital transactions.

In this European regulatory context, it is becoming essential for companies, public administrations and individuals to be able to verify the technical and legal conformity of an electronic signature. Fortunately, the European Commission has made available a free, high-performance tool for carrying out this verification simply and reliably.

→ Access the European Commission’s DSS tool

The three levels of electronic signatures under eIDAS

Before verifying a signature, it is important to understand the three levels of electronic signature defined by the eIDAS regulation, as they do not all offer the same level of legal and technical security.

1. Simple electronic signature (SES)

The basic level is the simple electronic signature. It is any data in electronic form that is attached to or logically linked with other data, and serves as a method of authentication.

Common examples: typing your name in an email, checking an “I accept” box, using a scanned image of your handwritten signature, or clicking on a “Validate” button.

Features :

• Suitable for exchanges with low legal value
• Does not rely on advanced cryptographic security mechanisms
• Low probative value in the event of dispute
• Easily challenged in court

2. Advanced electronic signature (AES)

The advanced electronic signature must meet four strict technical requirements defined in article 26 of the eIDAS regulation:

1. It is uniquely linked to the signatory
2. It identifies the signatory
3. It is created using signature creation data that the signatory can, with a high level of confidence, use under his exclusive control.
4. It is linked to the associated data in such a way that any subsequent modification of the data is detectable.

Technical mechanisms: uses a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), generates a unique cryptographic signature for each document, any modification of the document after signature automatically invalidates the signature.

Legal value: legally recognized in the EU with greater probative value than the SES, but not automatically equivalent to a handwritten signature.

3. Qualified electronic signature (QES)

The qualified electronic signature represents the highest level of security and legal recognition. It combines the requirements of an advanced signature with strict additional guarantees:

• Created with a certified Qualified Signature Creation Device (QSCD)
• Based on a qualified certificate issued by a qualified trust service provider (QTSP)
• QTSP has been assessed by an accredited compliance body and is supervised by national authorities.
• The identity of the signatory has been rigorously verified (face-to-face or via electronic identification)

Comparative table of the three levels

The European Commission’s Digital Signature Service (DSS) tool

The European Commission is providing a free online platform, the Digital Signature Service (DSS), to enable any user to check the technical validity and regulatory compliance of electronic signatures to eIDAS standards.

DSS tool features

The DSS tool automatically performs a series of complex technical checks:

• Verification of document integrity: the document has not been modified since signature.
• Certificate validation: the certificate used is valid and issued by a recognized authority
• Revocation check: the certificate has not been revoked by the QTSP
• Timestamp validation: the electronic timestamp is valid and reliable
• eIDAS compliance: the signature meets the technical requirements of the regulation
• Certification chain: the entire chain up to the root certification authority is verified

Step-by-step guide: How to verify a signature

Why is checking eIDAS compliance essential?

1. Maximum legal certainty

eIDAS verification enables you toensure legal recognition of electronically signed documents. In the event of a dispute or challenge, a positive validation report provides solid technical proof of the document’s authenticity and integrity.

For commercial contracts, legal agreements, notarial documents or financial transactions, this legal security is essential to protect your interests.

2. User and partner confidence

Systematically verifying the electronic signatures you receive reinforces the credibility of your digital processes. Your customers, partners and suppliers know that you take the security of electronic transactions seriously.

This proactive approach helps to build a climate of digital trust that is essential to modern business relations.

3. Compliance with regulatory requirements

Many sectors are subject to strict obligations in terms of storing and validating electronic documents: banking and finance, insurance, healthcare, public procurement, notaries, etc.

Regular verificationavoids any risk of non-compliance that could lead to administrative or financial penalties, and ensures that your processes meet the requirements of the RGPD and eIDAS.

4. Fraud and forgery detection

The DSS tool enables immediate detection of :

• Documents modified after signature
• Revoked or expired certificates
• Forged or invalid signatures
• Identity theft

This detection capability is an essential safeguard against document fraud in a fast-moving digital environment.

5. Archiving and long-term probative value

Some documents need to be kept for many years (10, 30 or more). Regular verification and archiving of validation reports helps maintain the probative value of signatures over the long term, even if certificates or technologies evolve.

Practical use cases for eIDAS verification

For companies

• Validation of electronically signed customer contracts before archiving
• Verification of orders and delivery notes signed by suppliers
• Control of HR documents (employment contracts, amendments) signed by employees
• Compliance audit of electronic signature processes

For public administrations

• Validation of documents submitted by citizens for administrative procedures
• Checking electronically signed responses to public procurement contracts
• Verification of official declarations and regulatory forms

For legal professionals

• Verification of the authenticity of contracts presented as evidence
• Validation of electronically signed notarial deeds
• Checking document conformity in legal proceedings

For private customers

• Verification of bank or property loan contracts signed online
• Validation of leases and real estate documents
• Control of insurance or service contracts

Key points to remember

• Free official tool: The European Commission provides the DSS, a professional and reliable tool for verifying the eIDAS compliance of electronic signatures, free of charge.
• Three signature levels: Understanding the differences between SES, AES and QES is essential for assessing the legal and probative value of a signed document.
• Comprehensive technical checks: The tool automatically checks certificate integrity, validity, revocation status and regulatory compliance.
• Enhanced legal security: Systematic verification protects against fraud, ensures compliance with regulatory obligations and guarantees the probative value of documents.
• Exportable documentation: Validation reports can be downloaded in PDF format for archiving, sharing with third parties or presentation in a legal context.

Conclusion

The eIDAS verification of electronic signatures is a key step in securing digital exchanges in a professional or personal context. Thanks to the free Digital Signature Service tool offered by the European Commission, this operation becomes simple, accessible and reliable for all users, whatever their technical level.

By systematically integrating this verification into your document processes, you guarantee the legal validity of your documents, reinforce confidence in your electronic transactions, and ensure full regulatory compliance with the eIDAS framework.

In a digital environment where documents circulate rapidly and where the legal and financial stakes are high, the ability to verify the authenticity and conformity of electronic signatures is no longer an option, but a necessity for any modern organization.

→ Check a signature now with the DSS tool