Qualified e-signatures and seals: legally valid for transport documents?

Short answer: Yes. Under eIDAS a qualified electronic signature has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature and is valid throughout the EU. For documents issued by a legal person, an electronic seal secures origin and integrity. For transport documents this means electronic signing can be legally valid, provided you choose the right level.

The three levels under eIDAS

Regulation (EU) 910/2014 (eIDAS) distinguishes three levels of electronic signature, with increasing evidential weight:

• Simple electronic signature: any electronic data attached to other data in order to sign — for example a scanned signature or an "I agree" click. Legally valid, but its evidential value depends on the circumstances.
• Advanced electronic signature: uniquely linked to the signatory, capable of identifying that person and detecting any subsequent changes. Provides stronger assurance of identity and integrity.
• Qualified electronic signature: an advanced signature created with a qualified device and based on a qualified certificate. Only this level is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.

Alongside signatures, eIDAS provides the electronic seal: intended for legal persons (not natural persons) to secure the origin and integrity of a document. A qualified seal enjoys the legal presumption of integrity and correct origin.

Relevance for transport and logistics

Documents in the supply chain are increasingly exchanged digitally. Electronic signatures and seals play a role in, among others:

• eCMR: the electronic consignment note, where signing by sender, carrier and consignee can take place digitally.
• eFTI data: electronic exchange of transport information with authorities.
• Customs declarations and filings where origin and immutability matter.

Which level you need depends on the legal form and evidence requirements of the specific document and the contractual arrangements in the chain. Where no handwritten signature is legally required, an advanced level may suffice; where the law calls for a handwritten signature, or where you want maximum certainty, qualified is the safe choice.

Trust services and eIDAS 2.0

Qualified signatures and seals are provided by qualified trust service providers listed on the EU trust list. Always verify that your provider appears on that list; it is the basis for recognition across all member states.

Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 (eIDAS 2.0) builds on this with the EU Digital Identity Wallet and qualified electronic attestations of attributes. This framework is being introduced in phases; the wallet and related services are still being rolled out. Consult the official EU sources for the current status.

When do you choose a qualified seal? If, as a legal person, you want to apply a traceable, tamper-evident proof of origin to large volumes of transport documents in an automated way — without an individual signing each document — a qualified seal is usually the right choice.

Read more: the Transport & Logistics overview. Take the scan.