Consigne
Simple or advanced signature: which to choose
The two available levels, how they actually differ and when each one is worth it.
The difference between the two levels is not the look of the signature — that is the same — but how much is checked about whether the signer is who they claim to be. And that is exactly what gets argued about if someone ever denies having signed.
How they differ
| What to look at | Simple signature | Advanced signature |
|---|---|---|
| What the signer does | Draws their signature with a finger or mouse | The same, plus typing a code received by SMS |
| What gets verified | That whoever opened the link signed | Also that they control that mobile number |
| What you need from them | An email or a phone | A valid mobile, necessarily |
| How long it takes | Under a minute | About a minute and a half |
| Where it fits | Acknowledgements, consents, internal documents | Contracts, NDAs, agreements with money involved |
How to decide without agonising
Ask yourself one question: if in two years this person said "I never signed that", would I care? If nothing much would happen, simple signature. If you would have a problem, advanced.
Worth knowing
It is chosen per signer, not per document. You can require advanced from the client and simple from the person on your team who signs off.
What is NOT supported today
Worth knowing before promising it to a client: there is no qualified signature with a certificate (the equivalent of signing with a national eID or a certificate authority), no identity verification by photographing an ID document, and no authenticator-app codes. The available levels are the two above.
Frequently asked questions
›Is a simple signature legally valid?
Yes — an electronic signature cannot be rejected merely for being electronic. What changes between levels is how easy it is to defend if somebody disputes it.
›What if the signer has no mobile?
Then they cannot complete an advanced signature, because the code goes by SMS. For that person you have to use a simple signature.
›Can I change the level after sending?
Not on a request already sent. You would cancel it and create a new one with the right level.
›Does the SMS code expire?
Yes, it is short-lived for security. If it lapses, the signer can request another from the same link.
A real case
The situation
A sales rep closes a €40,000 contract with a new client they have never met in person.
What you do
- Sets advanced signature for the client's signer
- Leaves simple signature for the internal manager signing off
- Checks the client's mobile number before sending
What you get
If the client ever disputed the contract, there is a record that the code reached their mobile and was used to sign.
The situation
The highest level is required for everything by default.
What you do
- Checks which documents genuinely need it
What you get
The rest is signed the same day.
The situation
A supplier cannot obtain a certificate and the process halts.
What you do
- Separates what needs the high level from what does not
What you get
What can move, moves.
The situation
Nobody knows what proof each level leaves.
What you do
- Compares what is recorded in each case
What you get
The choice rests on the real difference.
The situation
A low level is chosen for a document with a lot at stake.
What you do
- Raises the level where the risk justifies it
What you get
The level matches the document's value.
The situation
The level is changed midway through a process.
What you do
- Decides the level before sending
What you get
Nothing has to be cancelled and resent.
This article answers
- difference between simple and advanced signature
- which electronic signature level do I need
- signature with SMS OTP
- is a simple electronic signature legally valid