eIDAS is the EU regulation (No 910/2014) that sets a common legal framework for electronic signatures, electronic seals, timestamps and trust services across all member states. It defines three signature levels — SES, AdES and QES — and the trust framework that lets a signature made in one country be recognised in another.
What eIDAS covers
Beyond signatures, eIDAS regulates electronic seals (the organisational equivalent of a signature), electronic timestamps, registered delivery services and website authentication certificates. Each can be ordinary or qualified, with qualified versions carrying stronger legal presumptions.
The regulation also establishes the supervisory bodies and conformity assessment that decide which providers may issue qualified certificates, and the trusted lists that publish them.
eIDAS 2.0
The 2024 revision (often called eIDAS 2.0) introduces the European Digital Identity Wallet and extends the framework to new trust services such as electronic attestation of attributes. The signature levels and validation model remain the foundation.
Frequently asked questions
Is eIDAS legally binding?
Yes. eIDAS is an EU regulation, so it applies directly in every member state without national transposition. It guarantees that an electronic signature cannot be denied legal effect solely for being electronic.
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