Qualified electronic seal and legal regulations

The qualified electronic seal is becoming an essential tool in the era of digital transformation, enabling businesses and institutions to efficiently and securely manage documentation in the virtual space. In response to growing demands for digital security, the eIDAS Regulation introduced a unified legal framework that facilitates the use of qualified electronic seals, ensuring their broad acceptance and recognition across the European Union.

What is a qualified electronic seal?

A qualified electronic seal is the digital equivalent of a traditional company stamp, ensuring the authenticity, integrity, and immutability of electronic documents. It is assigned to a specific legal entity and used to secure electronic documents, meaning that any document bearing such a seal is unequivocally linked to the respective organization.

The key benefits of using a qualified electronic seal are functionality and security. Its use primarily enables time savings, which is particularly important in business processes. Applying a qualified electronic seal significantly enhances the credibility of documents in legal and business transactions, minimizing the risk of fraud and misuse. It allows for the quick verification of document authenticity, which is invaluable in the rapidly evolving digital environment. Additionally, utilizing this technology helps reduce costs associated with traditional document circulation, contributing to more efficient management and better organization of work.

Legal regulations regarding qualified electronic seals

The current legal basis for the functioning of qualified electronic seals in Poland is the eIDAS Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014). This regulation standardizes the rules for electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions within the European Union.

eIDAS not only defines the concept of the qualified electronic seal but also specifies the requirements that must be met for this service to be considered qualified. As a result, documents bearing a qualified electronic seal have the same legal force as documents signed by hand.

The eIDAS Regulation ensures a uniform standard for the security and acceptability of electronic transactions, which is crucial for the development of the European Union’s digital single market. Thanks to eIDAS, entities can confidently use qualified electronic seals, knowing that their documents will be recognized across the EU.

Another legal act regulating issues related to qualified electronic seals is the Act of September 5, 2016, on trust services and electronic identification.

Summary: qualified electronic seal and legal regulations

Since the introduction of the Act on Trust Services and the eIDAS Regulation, the qualified electronic seal has become a widely used tool in Polish legal and business transactions. Its popularity stems not only from its practical benefits but also from the necessity to adapt to the demands of the digital age. Among other tools, its use combines the guarantee of document authenticity with transaction security.

Signius offers a range of services related to electronic signatures and electronic seals, fully compliant with the eIDAS Regulation. These include an electronic signature application, a timestamping tool, and identity verification solutions such as KYC verification. Contact us for a consultation or to request a free demo.