Electronic Signature in United Kingdom

Legal framework, valid signature types, and what you need to know.

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Legal Framework in United Kingdom

Legal Basis

Electronic Communications Act 2000

Supervisory Authority

ICO

Currency

GBP

Recognized Signature Types

Simple Electronic Signature
Advanced Electronic Signature
Qualified Electronic Signature

What You Can Sign Digitally

Electronic signature possible

  • Most commercial contracts
  • Employment contracts

Special requirements

  • !Deeds (witnesses required)
  • !Land Registry

Frequently Asked Questions about E-Signatures in United Kingdom

Are electronic signatures legally valid in United Kingdom?

Yes, electronic signatures are generally legally valid in United Kingdom under Electronic Communications Act 2000 and sufficient for most contract types without a form requirement. canusign uses the simple electronic signature (SES); for documents with a statutory written-form or notarial requirement it is not sufficient.

What contracts can I sign digitally in United Kingdom?

In United Kingdom, you can digitally sign most contracts, including: Most commercial contracts, Employment contracts. Exceptions are: Deeds (witnesses required), Land Registry.

Who is the responsible authority for e-signatures in United Kingdom?

The responsible authority in United Kingdom is ICO. They oversee compliance with legal requirements for electronic signatures.

Others show the signature. We show that it is genuine.

Verification page

Anyone can compare the PDF online with the stored version. The file never leaves the browser.

Timestamp

RFC 3161 by DigiCert, listed as trusted in Adobe Acrobat.

Audit certificate

At the end of the document: document ID, QR code, time of every signature and hash of the stored version.

Servers in Frankfurt

Functions, database and files run in Frankfurt am Main, processing stays in the EU.

Get started now in United Kingdom

Simple electronic signatures with audit certificate. €1.49 per document, from €0.50 in a pack.

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