Electronic signatures are legally recognised in the UK, but not all electronic signatures offer the same level of security, identity assurance or evidential value.
Understanding the different types of electronic signatures helps businesses choose the right signing method for each document, reduce compliance risks and create a more secure digital onboarding process.
Many everyday agreements can be signed using a simple electronic signature, though regulated industries often require stronger verification through advanced or qualified electronic signatures.
There are three recognised levels of electronic signature under the UK eIDAS framework.
| Type | Identity verification | Security | Typical use cases |
| Simple Electronic Signature (SES) | None required | Basic | Everyday contracts, internal approvals, acknowledgements |
| Advanced Electronic Signature (AES) | Required | High | Financial services, regulated onboarding, higher-risk agreements |
| Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) | Stringent verification by a Qualified Trust Service Provider | Highest | Certain regulated legal transactions and cross-border use |
A Simple Electronic Signature is the most common type of electronic signature. It includes methods such as typing your name into a document, clicking an "I agree" button or inserting an image of your handwritten signature.
Simple signatures are suitable for many low-risk business agreements. However, because they generally do not verify the signatory's identity, they provide less evidence if a signature is later challenged.
An Advanced Electronic Signature provides a significantly higher level of assurance by linking the signature to the individual signatoryand detecting any changes made after the document has been signed.
Advanced electronic signatures are commonly supported by identity verification, multi-factor authentication and secure audit trails. These additional layers of evidence make them well suited to regulated sectors where proving who signed a document is just as important as capturing the signature itself.
A Qualified Electronic Signature is the highest level of electronic signature recognised under UK eIDAS. It must be issued using a qualified certificate from an approved Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) and created using a qualified signature creation device.
Although QES offers the strongest technical assurance, it is not required for most commercial agreements. Instead, it is typically reserved for specific regulated use cases where legislation or industry guidance demands the highest level of trust.
The right electronic signature depends on the level of risk involved in the transaction.
For routine internal documents, a Simple Electronic Signature is often sufficient. Where contracts involve regulated industries, significant financial value or increased fraud risk, an Advanced Electronic Signature combined with identity verification provides stronger protection. Qualified Electronic Signatures should be considered where regulations specifically require them or where the highest level of assurance is appropriate.
Rather than asking, "Which signature is the most secure?", organisations should ask, "Which signature provides the appropriate level of evidence for this transaction?"
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally recognised in the UK provided there is clear evidence that the signatory intended to sign the document and any legal formalities have been satisfied.
However, legal enforceability is only part of the picture. If a signature is disputed, businesses may need to demonstrate who signed, when they signed and what document they agreed to. A robust audit trail and verified identity can make this significantly easier.
An electronic signature proves that a signing action took place. Identity verification helps prove who performed that action.
Combining identity verification with electronic signing creates stronger evidence, reduces the risk of impersonation fraud and provides organisations with a comprehensive audit trail. This is particularly valuable for regulated sectors such as legal services, financial services and property transactions, where compliance requirements continue to evolve.
Platforms that integrate identity verification, authentication, document signing and evidence collection into a single workflow can also simplify compliance while improving the customer experience.Understanding the different types of electronic signatures is only part of the decision. To protect your business, it's equally important to choose a solution that combines the right level of security, identity assurance and evidence for every transaction. This not only helps reduce the risk of fraud but also strengthens compliance and provides greater confidence if a signature is ever challenged.
Bonafidee's end-to-end onboarding platform goes beyond electronic signing by combining identity verification, authentication, secure document signing and comprehensive audit trails in a single journey. The result is a seamless signing experience that's simple for customers while providing the evidence businesses need to demonstrate trust and compliance. Download our guide below to find out more.