What a qualified electronic signature is
A qualified electronic signature is the highest-assurance type of electronic signature defined under eIDAS, the European Union regulation for electronic identification and trust services. It is backed by a qualified certificate issued by a qualified trust service provider, which gives a strong assurance of who the signer is.
eIDAS sets out three levels of electronic signature. A simple electronic signature is the most basic. An advanced electronic signature is uniquely linked to the signer and capable of detecting later changes to the document. A qualified electronic signature builds on the advanced level by adding a qualified certificate and creation device, and under eIDAS it carries the legal effect equivalent to a handwritten signature.
The higher the assurance level, the stronger the evidence of identity and intent, which matters most for high-value or high-risk agreements.
Qualified electronic signatures in the Cohiva platform
Cohiva Sign provides eIDAS-compliant e-signatures with a full audit trail. Documents are signed electronically and every step is recorded, so there is a clear record of who signed and when. For background on the framework these signature levels come from, see eIDAS.