Electronic Signature
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Entrust's electronic signature solutions let you have documents reviewed and digitally signed by an applicant as part of a Workflow Studio verification journey. A single Request eSignature task captures the signature, and a matching verification task confirms the integrity and completion of the signing transaction.
Three assurance levels are available, so you can match the strength of identity assurance to the risk of the document being signed:
- Simple Electronic Signature (SES) — a lightweight signing experience for lower-risk documents where advanced identity verification is not required.
- Advanced Electronic Signature (AES) — signing combined with document and biometric identity verification and a sealed, tamper-proof transaction receipt.
- Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) — the highest assurance level, backed by a qualified certificate issued on-the-fly for the signer, for contract signing that requires the legal equivalent of a handwritten signature under eIDAS.
To enable electronic signature on your account, contact your Customer Success Manager or Account Executive, or Entrust's Customer Support.
This page covers Entrust's electronic signature solutions for document and contract signing, built around the Request eSignature task. It is distinct from our ETSI certified identity verification with Qualified Electronic Signature onboarding solution, which is documented separately in the Compliance Suite.
Choosing an assurance level
| Simple (SES) | Advanced (AES) | Qualified (QES) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Acknowledgements, low-risk agreements | Regulated agreements requiring verified identity | Contracts requiring the legal equivalent of a handwritten signature |
| Identity verification | Optional / lightweight (for example a live selfie) | Required (Document + Facial Similarity reports) | Required, plus a qualified certificate issued for the signer |
| Verify task | Verify eSignature (Simple) | Verify eSignature (Advanced) | Verify eSignature (Qualified) |
| Guide | Simple Electronic Signature | Advanced Electronic Signature | Qualified Electronic Signature |
How it works
All three assurance levels share the same building blocks in Workflow Studio:
- A Request eSignature task presents the document(s) to the applicant to review and sign. Its
signature_assurance_levelconfiguration option (simple,advancedorqualified) selects the assurance level. - A verification task — Verify eSignature (Simple), (Advanced) or (Qualified) — confirms the outcome of the signing transaction and securely stores the signed documents.
- For AES and QES, the workflow must also verify the signer's identity (for example with a Document Report and a Facial Similarity Report).
Configuration that is common to all assurance levels — supplying the documents to sign, placing a visible signature with a signature tag, interpreting results, and retrieving the signed files — is described in the Electronic Signature configuration guide.
Please note: These product guides are provided for general informational purposes and do not constitute legal advice. They are intended to provide a high-level overview of how the product functions from a technical and operational perspective. Customers are encouraged to consult their own legal advisors to ensure that any use of electronic signing products complies with applicable laws and meets their specific requirements.
