Signatures
IF YOU ARE UNSURE WHICH SIGNATURE TO CHOOSE, CONSULT A LAWYER. 16IT IS NOT LIABLE FOR THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF AN INCORRECT SIGNATURE CHOICE.
Autosignly supports three signature levels under eIDAS, chosen by the document issuer. They differ in how the signer is identified and in their legal value.
| Type | In short |
|---|---|
| SES — Simple Electronic Signature | Lightweight, everyday signature (click‑to‑accept). |
| SES + verification — electronic signature with identity verification | Stronger; identity verified (SMS, later Węzeł Krajowy / Open Banking). |
| QES — Qualified Electronic Signature | Highest level; equivalent to a handwritten signature. |
IF YOU ARE UNSURE WHICH SIGNATURE TO CHOOSE, CONSULT A LAWYER. 16IT IS NOT LIABLE FOR THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF AN INCORRECT SIGNATURE CHOICE.
Comparison matrix
Based on the 16IT eIDAS certification package.
| Feature | SES (Simple) | SES + verification | QES (Qualified) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signer identification | e‑mail + IP + timestamp (click‑accept) | SMS (later Węzeł Krajowy / Open Banking) — LoA Substantial/High | qualified certificate of a natural person (LoA High) |
| Change detection | non‑qualified 16IT seals (EuroCert) | qualified 16IT seals (KIR QSeal) + qualified timestamp | signer's qualified signature on a USB QSCD + 16IT seals |
| Written form (Art. 78 Civil Code) | does not satisfy | does not satisfy | satisfies (Art. 78²) |
| Recognised across the EU | — | — | yes (Art. 25(3)) |
| Support in Autosignly | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (Autosignly QES) |
IF YOU ARE UNSURE WHICH SIGNATURE TO CHOOSE, CONSULT A LAWYER. 16IT IS NOT LIABLE FOR THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF AN INCORRECT SIGNATURE CHOICE.
Verification methods (for the signature with identity verification)
When you require an electronic signature with identity verification you also choose a Verification method — how the signer's identity is confirmed before the signature is accepted. The dropdown offers:
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| SMS | A one‑time code is sent by SMS to the signer's phone; the signer enters it to confirm. The code expires after a short time, must be entered for the same phone number it was sent to, and a new code can be re‑sent only after 5 minutes. |
| National Node (Węzeł Krajowy, WK) | The signer confirms identity through Poland's national identity node (Log in with National Node). It is billed per verification as the Identity verification – national system service. |
Open Banking verification — confirming identity directly in the signer's banking app via the Open Banking standard — is also available as a paid, per‑verification service.
SMS verification can be sent to many countries across multiple continents. We don't publish a fixed country list here, because it can change — the current, authoritative list of supported countries and their per‑country prices is always the one in the app under Services and Payments → Services → SMS → "Countries and multiplier", grouped by continent and searchable by country name or dialing prefix. Each country has its own dialing prefix and a price multiplier, so the cost of one SMS is the SMS unit price (in Autocoin) × that country's multiplier (the multiplier differs per country).
The other levels do not use these methods: SES identifies the signer by e‑mail + IP + timestamp (click‑to‑accept, no code), and QES is confirmed by the signer's qualified certificate and card PIN in the Autosignly app.
The signature mode (Visual stamp vs. Signatures card) is independent of all of this and does not affect legal validity — see Signature mode.
See also
- Require a signature when generating: Generating with a signature.
- How signing works per type: Signing documents.
This page summarises the 16IT eIDAS certification package. It is informational, not legal advice — for high‑stakes documents consult a lawyer.