Qualified electronic signatures (QES)
With BoldSign, you can ask any signer for a qualified electronic signature (QES). It is the eIDAS level with the legal effect of a handwritten signature. A qualified trust service provider checks each signer’s ID first.
- Turn QES on per signer
- Signer ID checked before signing
Trusted by 50,000+ businesses worldwide
Why a simple electronic signature is not enough for some EU contracts
Some EU agreements carry real risk if the signature is challenged later. A simple electronic signature leaves three points open.
Nobody checked who signed
A simple signature records an email address, not an identity. Anyone with access to that inbox can sign.
With BoldSign: each QES signer proves who they are with a government ID and a selfie. See how it works
The signature carries no automatic legal weight
Under eIDAS Article 25, only a qualified signature is automatically equal to ink. Anything less is argued case by case.
With BoldSign: a completed QES is a qualified signature, recognised in every EU member state. See the signature levels
The other side cannot validate it
A counterparty checking the EU Trusted Lists finds no qualified provider behind a simple signature.
With BoldSign: the signed PDF carries the signer’s qualified certificate. See how the document is signed
How do you make an electronic signature legally binding in the EU?
With BoldSign, you ask the signers who need it for a QES. QES is a setting on a signer, in the documents and templates you already use.
Turn on QES for the signer
Upload the document, add signers, and switch on QES in a signer’s settings.
The signer registers with Evrotrust once
The signer scans an ID and takes a selfie in the Evrotrust app, which issues their qualified certificate.
The signer verifies on the signing page
The signer fills in their fields and selects Verify. They then enter a personal ID code, mobile number, or email address.
The signer signs in the Evrotrust app
The signer confirms their identity in the app and taps Sign. The document is then signed with their qualified certificate.
Why choose BoldSign for qualified electronic signatures
BoldSign gives your team qualified signing and free support, in the account you already use.
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Support costs nothing extra
Chat, email, and ticket support is free on every BoldSign plan.
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Unlimited envelopes
Send as many documents as you need, with every web app plan price published.
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QES fits your existing templates
Save QES on a signer role in a template. Every contract you send from it then asks that signer for a QES.
How are QES documents kept secure?
BoldSign encrypts every QES document twice with AES-256. Its security controls are independently audited for SOC 2 Type 2. Your account’s Compliance page lists each standard it meets.
Compliance
BoldSign meets global security and compliance standards to protect your documents and data. Manage the settings below to align with your organization’s requirements.
Data Residency
Active (EU - Netherlands)Your documents and signer data stay in the region you select. This meets data sovereignty and local regulatory rules.
PCI DSS
CompliantPayments are processed through Stripe, a PCI DSS Level 1-certified provider. All payment data is encrypted and handled safely.
SOC 2 Type II
CompliantBoldSign has completed a SOC 2 Type II audit. It validates the controls for security, availability, confidentiality, and data integrity.
eIDAS (SES)
CompliantBoldSign complies with the EU eIDAS Regulation (910/2014) and supports Simple Electronic Signatures (SES) by default.
eIDAS (QES)
EnabledEnable Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) for contracts requiring the highest legal assurance under eIDAS.
How much does a qualified electronic signature cost?
A BoldSign contract with two QES signers costs $6 in QES charges. That assumes each signer signs on the first attempt. The Business plan price comes on top. Prices are in USD.
| Contracts | QES signers per contract | QES charges |
|---|---|---|
| 1 contract | 2 | $6 |
| 20 contracts a month | 2 | $120 |
| 100 contracts a month | 1 | $300 |
SES, AES, and QES: the three eIDAS signature levels
BoldSign signs with simple electronic signatures (SES) by default. You add a qualified electronic signature (QES) for each signer you choose. BoldSign does not offer the advanced level (AES).
| Level | Simple (SES) | Advanced (AES) | Qualified (QES) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal effect of a handwritten signature under eIDAS | No | No | Yes |
| Signer verified by a qualified trust service provider | No | No | Yes |
| Accepted as a qualified signature in every EU member state | No | No | Yes |
| Available in BoldSign | Yes, by default | No | Yes, turned on per signer |
Limits and costs to know before you send for QES with BoldSign
BoldSign requests and records qualified signatures. A qualified trust service provider, not BoldSign, verifies signers and issues their qualified certificates.
- $15Business plan, per user a month Billed yearly. QES is an add-on from the Business plan.
- $3per signing attempt Charged whether the attempt succeeds or fails.
- 30 MBlargest document with QES on A larger file cannot be sent with QES on.
Before your first QES document
- QES signers need an active account in the QES signing app.
- QES cannot be used by reviewers or signing groups.
- Signers who share a place in the signing order cannot use QES, except the last one. See the signing order rules.
- With several QES signers, only the first can fill every field type. The others get Signature, Editable Date and Date Signed fields.
- Combine Audit Trail and Combine Attachments cannot be used with QES.
Can you send QES documents through an API?
Yes, the BoldSign API sends QES documents when you set EnableQes to true on a signer. QES must first be turned on in your account settings.
Code samples in cURL, .NET, Python, PHP, Java, and Node.js are in the QES API help article.
More guides on qualified electronic signatures
BoldSign guides explain QES rules in the EU and cover other signer checks.
- Guide
QES compliance explained
The eIDAS signature levels and when QES applies.
Read the guide - Guide
QES rules across the EU
How member states treat qualified signatures.
Read the guide - Page
Signer authentication
Access codes, email, and SMS codes, knowledge-based authentication (KBA), and ID verification.
See the page
Questions teams ask about qualified electronic signatures
What is a qualified electronic signature (QES)?
A QES is the highest signature level under eIDAS. A qualified trust service provider verifies the signer and issues a qualified certificate. BoldSign turns QES on for each signer you choose.
Is a BoldSign QES valid in every EU country?
Yes. A BoldSign QES uses a qualified certificate from a trust service provider on the EU Trusted List. Under eIDAS, a qualified signature issued in one EU member state is recognised in all the others.
What happens if a signer fails identity verification?
In BoldSign, the signer can try again. Your admin sets the number of attempts, from 1 to 10. Once that number is reached, verification is blocked for that signer.
Why does the EU DSS validator show a warning on a BoldSign QES document?
After the QES, BoldSign seals the document with an Entrust certificate. That certificate is trusted by common PDF viewers, and it is not on the EU Trusted List. The validator flags the seal, and the qualified signature stays valid.
Can you sign your own document with QES in BoldSign?
Yes. BoldSign supports QES for self-signing. Add yourself as the signer, turn on QES, and sign in the QES signing app.
Do you need QES for every document?
No. In BoldSign, QES is off until you turn it on for a signer. Your other documents keep simple signatures.
Send your next EU contract for a qualified electronic signature
Turn on QES in BoldSign for the signers who need it, and keep simple signatures for everything else.
Last updated: October 18, 2026.