DigiCert Document Signing Certificates

By attaching a cryptographically unique Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificate to a document, a document signing certificate ascribes the signer’s identity and signing location to the document. Any party will also be able to see if a document’s contents were altered or tampered with at any point after signing.

A Qualified Digital Signature is a highly secure way to sign because it requires a regionally valid digital ID. Qualified digital signatures have long-term validity and are legally binding, thanks to identity verification. In countries that use Qualified Digital Signatures, this form of signing is considered the legal equivalent of pen-on-paper.

A standard electronic signature, or e-signature, refers to any electronic process that shows acceptance of agreement or record, even for something as simple as typing your name in a form fill box. Basic electronic signatures differ from Qualified Digital Signatures because they aren’t legally binding and don’t carry long-term validity or identity verification.

You have three options for identity validation:

1. Take your regionally valid ID to an authorized agent for in-person registration.
2. Use Remote Identity Validation (RIV) to register online.
3. Have your approved enterprise organization verify your identity.

While requirements vary widely by location, DigiCert’s status as a globally recognized Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) enables our document signing solution to meet compliance standards anywhere in the world. For location-specific requirements, check the local governing authority (i.e., eiDAS) or reach out to your DigiCert account manager.

DigCert certificate subscriptions give you the ability to easily replace or reconfigure certificates and other licensed products and automate license renewals. Subscriptions also simplify budgeting by annualizing the fees associated with your certificates, streamlining all parts of certificate lifecycle management.