A German supplier sends you a contract. You're in France, the contract is in English, and you'd rather sign electronically than courier paper across the Rhine. Under eIDAS, you can — and the signature is recognised in every EU member state.
What eIDAS does
Regulation (EU) No 910/2014, known as eIDAS, sets out a single legal framework for electronic identification and trust services across the EU. It defines three tiers of electronic signature — each more rigorous than the last — and guarantees mutual recognition between member states.
That last part matters. A signature valid in Germany is valid in France, Spain, Poland and everywhere else in the bloc, without re-execution.
The three tiers
Simple Electronic Signature (SES): typing your name, drawing a signature, clicking 'I agree'. Legally valid for most contracts; no formal identity verification required.
Advanced Electronic Signature (AES): uniquely linked to the signer, capable of identifying them, created with means they alone control, and linked to the data such that tampering is detectable.
Qualified Electronic Signature (QES): an AES backed by a qualified certificate issued by a qualified trust service provider. Legally equivalent to a handwritten signature throughout the EU.
Which tier do you need?
For most commercial contracts, employment paperwork, NDAs and consumer transactions, SES is enough — that's the level Flint's signing tool provides.
QES is needed for certain regulated cases: notarised deeds, some employment terminations, public-sector tenders, and where national law explicitly demands it. Banks and qualified providers issue the certificates required. For the 90% of business signing, SES via Flint is the right tool.
Cross-border recognition
An SES applied via Flint in the Netherlands is recognised as an SES in Italy. A QES issued by a French qualified provider is recognised as a QES in Sweden. eIDAS makes this automatic — counterparties cannot refuse a valid QES purely because it was issued elsewhere.
This is one of the major EU integrations. It removes the friction of paper-based cross-border contracts almost entirely.
FAQ
Does eIDAS apply in the UK?
Post-Brexit, the UK has its own UK eIDAS regulation, which mirrors EU eIDAS closely. Signatures are mutually recognised in most cases.
Do I need a qualified certificate?
Only for QES. For SES (most everyday signing), no certificate is needed — just intent to sign.
Is a Flint signature SES or AES?
SES, by default. It records the action, time and document hash but doesn't bind the signature to a qualified certificate.
Can SES be used for company-to-company contracts?
Yes. SES is widely used for B2B contracts under eIDAS. Some industries (financial services, real estate) require AES or QES — check the specific regulation.
For everyday EU contracts, sign with Flint and your counterparty is good across the bloc.