What legal value does a PDF signed online have?
Updated: 23 September 2026 · General information, not legal advice
A signature image placed on a PDF does not automatically receive a specific legal classification. You have to look at the process, the identification of the signer, the link with the deed, the integrity of the document and the context of the exchange. The European eIDAS Regulation defines electronic signatures, advanced signatures and qualified signatures; these categories do not depend solely on how the PDF looks.
Three categories to distinguish
| Level | What it is | Evidential value | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple (SES) | Data in electronic form attached to or associated with other data and used by the signer to sign. The context and the process remain decisive. | No automatic equivalence with a handwritten signature and no general presumption attached to a mere image. | To be assessed according to the deed, the parties' requirements and the evidence available. |
| Advanced (AES) | Must be uniquely linked to the signer, capable of identifying them, remain under their control and make any subsequent change detectable. | Meets the four requirements of article 26 of eIDAS. A qualified certificate is not required for every advanced signature. | When the level of assurance sought or the applicable framework requires these guarantees. |
| Qualified (QES) | An advanced signature created with a qualified device and based on a qualified certificate issued by a qualified provider. | Article 25 of eIDAS gives it a legal effect equivalent to that of a handwritten signature. | When this level is required or sought; the exact formalities depend on the deed concerned. |
Where Parapheo stands
In local mode, Parapheo embeds a visual representation of your signature in the PDF. It does not verify your identity and does not set up a cryptographic mechanism that makes any subsequent change detectable. The site must therefore not present this result as an advanced or qualified signature, nor guarantee how it will be classified for a given deed.
In remote mode, the recipient's email address is verified and a technical certificate records certain events and fingerprints. This information can document the process, but it does not automatically turn the process into an advanced or qualified signature and does not, on its own, guarantee the outcome of a dispute.
Five habits that strengthen a simple signature
- Date the document in its content (“Signed in Lyon on 12 March 2026”) rather than relying on the file's metadata.
- Add a handwritten note where it is customary (“Read and approved”, “Agreed”): it shows consent.
- Keep a record of the exchange: the email with which the signed document was returned is valuable additional evidence.
- Initial every page of multi-page documents, as you would on paper.
- Don't change the file after signing: always send back the exported PDF as it is.
What about the fact that the document never leaves my computer?
That is a privacy and architecture choice, not a legal classification. In local mode, the content of the PDF is not sent to Parapheo. This does not replace identification of the signer, a guarantee of integrity or any formalities that may apply to the deed.
Frequently asked questions
Can an employer refuse a contract signed this way?
The recipient may ask for a different process or specific formalities. Check their instructions before signing; this page does not allow any conclusion about a particular contract.
Can a PDF signed this way be modified?
A PDF that only carries a signature image can still be modified. Parapheo's local mode does not provide a cryptographic seal guaranteeing that such changes are detected. Keep the original, the exported file and the context of the exchange.
Can I use this for a lease or an employment contract?
The answer depends on the document, the parties and the applicable rules. Ask the recipient what level is expected and, for an important deed, have the appropriate process checked.