eSignature legality guide
eSignature legality, country by country
How electronic signatures are recognized country by country, with the laws that apply, what can be signed electronically, and the documents that still need wet ink or notarization.
- 82 countries
- 7 regions
- Reviewed June 15, 2026
Recognized by law
- United StatesESIGN Act — 15 U.S.C. ch. 96Recognized
- United KingdomElectronic Communications Act 2000, s. 7Recognized
- Saudi ArabiaElectronic Transactions Law (2007) and Implementing Regulations (2024)Recognized
- United Arab EmiratesFederal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2021 on Electronic Transactions and Trust ServicesRecognized
- CanadaPIPEDA (SC 2000, c. 5), Part 2Recognized
- SingaporeElectronic Transactions Act 2010 (Singapore)Recognized
Every country
Pick a country to see the laws, what you can sign electronically, and what still needs wet ink.
North America2
Europe36
- AustriaeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- BelgiumeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- BulgariaeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- CroatiaeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- CypruseIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- Czech RepubliceIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- DenmarkeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- EstoniaeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- FinlandeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- FranceeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014 (and eIDAS 2.0, Reg. (EU) 2024/1183)
- GermanyeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- GreeceeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- HungaryeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- IcelandeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- IrelandeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- ItalyeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- LatviaeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- LiechtensteineIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- LithuaniaeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- LuxembourgeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- MaltaeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- NetherlandseIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- NorwayeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- PolandeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- PortugaleIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- RomaniaeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- RussiaFederal Law No. 63-FZ “On Electronic Signature” (2011)
- ScotlandRequirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995
- SlovakiaeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- SloveniaeIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- SpaineIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- SwedeneIDAS Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014
- SwitzerlandFederal Act on Electronic Signatures (ZertES)
- TurkeyElectronic Signature Law No. 5070
- UkraineLaw on Electronic Trust Services (No. 2155-VIII)
- United KingdomElectronic Communications Act 2000, s. 7
Asia-Pacific18
- AustraliaElectronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth) and Electronic Transactions Regulations 2020
- BruneiElectronic Transactions Act (Cap. 196)
- ChinaPRC Electronic Signature Law (2004, revised 2015/2019)
- Hong KongElectronic Transactions Ordinance (Cap. 553)
- IndiaInformation Technology Act, 2000
- IndonesiaLaw No. 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions (as amended)
- JapanAct on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business
- KazakhstanLaw “On Electronic Document and Electronic Digital Signature” (2003)
- MacauMacau Law of Electronic Documents and Signatures (2005)
- MalaysiaElectronic Commerce Act 2006
- New ZealandContract and Commercial Law Act 2017, Part 4
- PhilippinesRepublic Act No. 8792 (Electronic Commerce Act of 2000)
- SingaporeElectronic Transactions Act 2010 (Singapore)
- South KoreaDigital Signature Act (South Korea)
- Sri LankaElectronic Transactions Act No. 19 of 2006 (as amended by Act No. 25 of 2017)
- TaiwanElectronic Signatures Act (2001, amended 2024)
- ThailandElectronic Transactions Act B.E. 2544 (2001), as amended
- VietnamLaw on Electronic Transactions No. 20/2023/QH15 (as amended)
Middle East & Africa13
- AlgeriaLaw No. 15-04 on Electronic Signature and Certification (2015)
- BahrainLegislative Decree No. 54 of 2018 (Electronic Communications and Transactions Law)
- EgyptLaw No. 15 of 2004 on E-Signature and the establishment of ITIDA
- IraqElectronic Signature and Electronic Transactions Law No. 78 of 2012
- JordanElectronic Transactions Law No. 15 of 2015
- KuwaitLaw No. 20 of 2014 on Electronic Transactions (as amended)
- LebanonLaw No. 81 of 2018 on Electronic Transactions and Personal Data
- MoroccoLaw No. 43-20 on Trust Services for Electronic Transactions (2020)
- OmanElectronic Transactions Law (Royal Decree No. 39/2025)
- QatarDecree-Law No. 16 of 2010 (Electronic Commerce and Transactions Law)
- Saudi ArabiaElectronic Transactions Law (2007) and Implementing Regulations (2024)
- TunisiaLaw No. 2000-83 on Electronic Exchanges and Electronic Commerce
- United Arab EmiratesFederal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2021 on Electronic Transactions and Trust Services
Latin America9
- ArgentinaDigital Signature Law No. 25,506 (as amended)
- BrazilProvisional Measure No. 2.200-2/2001 (ICP-Brasil)
- ChileLaw 19.799 on electronic documents and signatures
- ColombiaLaw 527 of 1999
- EcuadorLaw on Electronic Commerce, Electronic Signatures and Data Messages (2002)
- GuatemalaRecognition of Electronic Communications and Signatures Law (2008)
- MexicoFederal Civil Code (Mexico)
- PeruLaw No. 27269 (Digital Signatures and Certificates)
- UruguayElectronic Document and Signature Act (2009)
Africa3
Americas1
New to the topic?
Start with the frameworks most countries build on, then the notice that covers signing on Docshark.
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal advice, and is not a guarantee that any signature will be enforceable for a particular document or jurisdiction. Confirm requirements for your document and parties and consult a licensed lawyer before relying on electronic signing.
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