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Last updated on Feb 18, 2026

E-Signature Legality in France

E-Signature Legality in France

Everything you need to know about electronic signature laws in France fully recognizes electronic signatures under eIDAS and the Civil Code. SES and AES cover nearly all commercial B2B contracts, with QES reserved for public procurement and notarial acts. and how Firma.dev helps you comply.

Everything you need to know about electronic signature laws in France fully recognizes electronic signatures under eIDAS and the Civil Code. SES and AES cover nearly all commercial B2B contracts, with QES reserved for public procurement and notarial acts. and how Firma.dev helps you comply.

Overview

Intro & Key Facts

Quick Summary

France is one of Europe's most e-signature friendly markets for B2B software. The eIDAS Regulation and French Civil Code make SES and AES valid for virtually all commercial contracts. QES is only required for public procurement, notarial deeds, and court filings. Foreign e-signature providers operate freely, and EU hosting meets all data residency needs. The March 2024 Court of Cassation ruling reinforced that proper electronic signatures (not scanned images) are essential for legal validity.

France is one of Europe's most e-signature friendly markets for B2B software. The eIDAS Regulation and French Civil Code make SES and AES valid for virtually all commercial contracts. QES is only required for public procurement, notarial deeds, and court filings. Foreign e-signature providers operate freely, and EU hosting meets all data residency needs. The March 2024 Court of Cassation ruling reinforced that proper electronic signatures (not scanned images) are essential for legal validity.

Practical Usage

Document Types in France

Document Types in France

Permitted Document Types

Commercial contracts, employment agreements, NDAs, service agreements, software licenses, invoices, purchase orders, lease agreements, insurance contracts, banking documents, procurement documents (with QES)

Commercial contracts, employment agreements, NDAs, service agreements, software licenses, invoices, purchase orders, lease agreements, insurance contracts, banking documents, procurement documents (with QES)

Restricted Document Types

Wills and codicils, notarial deeds (actes notariés) including real estate transfers, family law documents (marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance), personal suretyships by non-professionals, commercial instruments (promissory notes), public procurement contracts (require QES or AES with qualified certificate)

Wills and codicils, notarial deeds (actes notariés) including real estate transfers, family law documents (marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance), personal suretyships by non-professionals, commercial instruments (promissory notes), public procurement contracts (require QES or AES with qualified certificate)

Common Exclusions

Wills, notarial deeds, family law documents, personal suretyships by non-professionals, commercial instruments (promissory notes)

Wills, notarial deeds, family law documents, personal suretyships by non-professionals, commercial instruments (promissory notes)

Authentication Required

Email-based authentication with optional SMS verification for signer identification. Cryptographic sealing ensures document integrity.

Email-based authentication with optional SMS verification for signer identification. Cryptographic sealing ensures document integrity.

Restrictions

Restrictions in France

Generally Permitted

  • Commercial contracts and MSAs

  • Employment contracts and offer letters

  • NDAs and confidentiality agreements

  • Software licenses and SaaS subscriptions

  • Lease agreements (residential and commercial)

  • Insurance and banking documents

May Require Special Handling or Exclusions

  • Wills and codicils

  • Notarial deeds (actes notariés)

  • Family law documents

  • Personal suretyships by non-professionals

  • Commercial instruments (promissory notes)

  • Public procurement (requires QES)

Legal Requirements

France E-Signature Law Explained

Legal Frameworks

eIDAS Regulation (No. 910/2014) provides the overarching structure. French Civil Code Articles 1366-1367 define e-signatures domestically. Decree No. 2017-1416 specifies technical requirements. Article L.110-3 of the Commercial Code allows proof "by any means" for B2B disputes.

eIDAS Regulation (No. 910/2014) provides the overarching structure. French Civil Code Articles 1366-1367 define e-signatures domestically. Decree No. 2017-1416 specifies technical requirements. Article L.110-3 of the Commercial Code allows proof "by any means" for B2B disputes.

Regulatory Bodies

ANSSI (Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d'information) supervises QTSPs and trust services. CNIL (Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés) enforces data protection.

ANSSI (Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d'information) supervises QTSPs and trust services. CNIL (Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés) enforces data protection.

E-Sign Retention Min.

Varies by document type (5-10 years typical for commercial)

Varies by document type (5-10 years typical for commercial)

Retention Notes

Employment contracts: 5 years after termination. Commercial contracts: typically 10 years. Tax documents: 6 years.

Employment contracts: 5 years after termination. Commercial contracts: typically 10 years. Tax documents: 6 years.

Data, Privacy & Cross-Border

Data Privacy and Compliance France

Privacy Frameworks

GDPR (direct application as EU member state) + Loi Informatique et Libertés (French Data Protection Act, updated 2018)

Privacy Compliance Status

Compliant via EU Hosting

Privacy Notes

GDPR applies directly. CNIL oversees enforcement. For e-signature purposes: obtain consent, minimize data collection, define retention periods, ensure appropriate security measures.

Data Residency Required

Adequacy Decision

Cross-Border Transfer Allowed

Yes

Residency Notes

No general data residency requirement for commercial data. Health data requires HDS certification. Public archives must be retained in France. EU hosting satisfies all standard commercial requirements.

Privacy Retention Maximum

Minimization principle applies - delete when no longer necessary

Industry Compatibilty

E-Signatures by Industry in France

Fully Supported Industries

General Commercial

SaaS Software

HR Tech Employment

Education/Edtech

Construction

Supported with Agreement

Healthcare

Life Sciences/Pharma

Insurance

Financial Services/Fintech

Legal Tech

Real Estate Tech

Should Consult Counsel

Government

Industry Matrix Notes

Most B2B commercial use cases work with SES/AES. Healthcare and financial services may need additional compliance measures (HDS certification, PVID identity verification). Government contracts require QES, which is outside [Firma.dev](http://Firma.dev)'s current scope. Real estate transactions involving notarization also require QES.

General Commercial

Healthcare organizations can use SES/AES for most administrative documents, but HDS (Hébergeur de Données de Santé) certification is required for hosting health data. AES or QES recommended for patient consent forms. Firma.dev's EU hosting (AWS Paris) supports HDS-compliant workflows when paired with certified infrastructure.

SaaS Software

Financial services contracts generally work with SES/AES under French commercial law. High security standards apply for customer-facing documents, and AML/CFT compliance may require PVID-certified identity verification for certain transactions. Most B2B fintech agreements work seamlessly with Firma.dev.

Healthcare

Residential and commercial lease agreements can be signed with SES/AES. Property conveyances requiring notarization must use QES. Firma.dev works well for lease agreements, property management contracts, and related B2B documents.

Life Sciences/Pharma

Employment contracts, offer letters, NDAs, and HR policy acknowledgments all work with SES/AES under French labor law. No special signature requirements for standard employment documentation. Retention: keep employment contracts for 5 years after termination.

Insurance

Public procurement contracts require QES or AES with qualified certificate per the March 2019 Decree. This is outside Firma.dev's current scope (SES/AES only). Government contractors should use ANSSI-certified QTSPs for public sector work.

Financial Services/Fintech

SaaS companies can use SES/AES for all B2B contracts in France: software licenses, subscription agreements, API terms of service, MSAs, and DPAs. Freedom of form under French commercial law means electronic signatures are fully valid. Firma.dev's API-first approach fits naturally into software onboarding flows.

HR Tech Employment

Insurance: Standard policies work with SES/AES, certain regulated products may need enhanced verification. Legal services: Law firms may need QES for specific filings. Education: Administrative documents and enrollment agreements work with SES/AES.

How we works

How We Works on France

Firma.dev Supports

Firma.dev supports SES and AES workflows with EU data residency (AWS Paris), complete audit trails, and tamper-evident documents. Covers virtually all B2B commercial use cases in France.

Firma.dev supports SES and AES workflows, covering the vast majority of B2B commercial use cases in France. The platform provides:

  • Signer identification: Email-based authentication with optional SMS verification

  • Tamper-evident documents: Cryptographic sealing ensures any modification after signing is detectable

  • Complete audit trails: Every action is timestamped and logged

  • EU data residency: All data hosted in AWS Paris

For B2B software agreements, SaaS subscriptions, employment contracts, NDAs, and vendor agreements, Firma.dev's signature level meets French legal requirements.

// Create an envelope for a French commercial contract
const envelope = await firma.envelopes.create({
  title: 'Contrat de Service',
  documents: [{ file: contractPdf }],
  signers: [{
    email: 'client@example.fr',
    name: 'Jean Dupont',
    locale: 'fr' // French language signing experience
  }],
  metadata: {
    contract_type: 'service_agreement',
    jurisdiction: 'FR'
  }
});
// Create an envelope for a French commercial contract
const envelope = await firma.envelopes.create({
  title: 'Contrat de Service',
  documents: [{ file: contractPdf }],
  signers: [{
    email: 'client@example.fr',
    name: 'Jean Dupont',
    locale: 'fr' // French language signing experience
  }],
  metadata: {
    contract_type: 'service_agreement',
    jurisdiction: 'FR'
  }
});
// Create an envelope for a French commercial contract
const envelope = await firma.envelopes.create({
  title: 'Contrat de Service',
  documents: [{ file: contractPdf }],
  signers: [{
    email: 'client@example.fr',
    name: 'Jean Dupont',
    locale: 'fr' // French language signing experience
  }],
  metadata: {
    contract_type: 'service_agreement',
    jurisdiction: 'FR'
  }
});

Firma.dev's API-first design means you can embed signing directly into your application. French companies using Customer Workspaces get isolated environments for each customer, with templates and envelope usage tracked separately.

Legal Details

Implementing E-Signatures in France

Implementing E-Signatures in France

France's e-signature framework combines EU regulation with national civil code provisions. The eIDAS Regulation (No. 910/2014) provides the overarching structure, establishing three signature levels and ensuring cross-border recognition throughout the EU.

The French Civil Code, specifically Articles 1366-1367, defines electronic signatures domestically. Article 1367 is particularly important: it grants only Qualified Electronic Signatures the presumption of reliability. QES is automatically assumed valid unless the challenging party proves otherwise. SES and AES don't get this presumption, but they remain fully admissible in court if the relying party can demonstrate the signature process was reliable.

Decree No. 2017-1416 specifies technical requirements for a signature to be considered reliable, linking back to eIDAS definitions. For commercial contracts between businesses, Article L.110-3 of the Commercial Code allows proof "by any means," which strengthens the position of SES/AES in B2B disputes.

Signature Types Recognized

Simple Electronic Signature (SES): Any data in electronic form attached to or logically associated with other data, used by a signatory to sign. Valid for most commercial contracts.

Advanced Electronic Signature (AES): Must be uniquely linked to the signatory, capable of identifying them, created using data under their sole control, and linked to the signed data so any change is detectable. Firma.dev's standard signing flow meets AES requirements.

Qualified Electronic Signature (QES): An AES created by a Qualified Signature Creation Device using a qualified certificate from an ANSSI-certified QTSP. Required for public procurement, notarial deeds, and certain regulated filings.

Recent developments

E-Signature Landscape in France: 2026

March 2024 Court of Cassation Ruling: The Court ruled (n° 22-16.487) that scanned signatures do not constitute reliable electronic signatures. This decision clarified that digitizing a handwritten signature doesn't meet Article 1367 requirements. Businesses should use proper e-signature solutions with authentication and audit trails.

eIDAS 2.0 Implementation: Regulation 2024/1183 entered into force in May 2024, introducing the EU Digital Identity Wallet. By 2026, French citizens will be able to create QES directly from government-issued digital wallets. Existing SES/AES methods remain fully valid.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

For any unanswered questions, reach out to our support team via email. We'll respond as soon as possible to assist you.

Are electronic signatures legal in France?

Yes. Electronic signatures are fully legal and enforceable in France under eIDAS Regulation (No. 910/2014) and Articles 1366-1367 of the French Civil Code. Courts consistently uphold e-signed agreements in commercial disputes, provided the signature reliably identifies the signer and ensures document integrity.

What types of e-signatures does France recognize?

France recognizes three levels under eIDAS: Simple Electronic Signature (SES), Advanced Electronic Signature (AES), and Qualified Electronic Signature (QES). Only QES benefits from the legal presumption of reliability under Art. 1367 Civil Code, but SES and AES remain admissible and enforceable if the party can demonstrate reliability.

Which documents require a qualified electronic signature (QES) in France?

QES is required for public procurement contracts (per the March 2019 Decree), notarial deeds (actes notariés), electronic court decisions, and certain regulated filings. Most B2B commercial contracts, employment agreements, and software licenses do not require QES.

Can foreign e-signature providers operate in France?

Yes. Under eIDAS, e-signatures from any EU-certified provider are valid across all member states. Non-EU providers offering SES/AES for commercial contracts face no restrictions. QES must be issued by QTSPs on an EU Trusted List, but this only matters for specific use cases requiring QES.

What happened with the March 2024 Court of Cassation ruling?

The Court of Cassation ruled (March 13, 2024, n° 22-16.487) that scanned signatures do not constitute reliable electronic signatures and lack the presumption of validity. This reinforced that proper e-signature solutions with audit trails and signer identification are essential, not just digitized images of handwritten signatures.

How does France handle cross-border e-signatures?

E-signatures from any EU member state are automatically recognized in France under eIDAS. For non-EU countries, French courts apply general contract law principles and will accept foreign e-signatures if reliability can be demonstrated. Data transfers follow GDPR rules.

What data protection rules apply to e-signatures in France?

GDPR applies directly as France is an EU member state. The French Data Protection Act (Loi Informatique et Libertés) supplements GDPR. CNIL oversees enforcement. For e-signature purposes: obtain consent, minimize data collection, define retention periods, and ensure appropriate security measures.

What's changing with eIDAS 2.0?

eIDAS 2.0 (Regulation 2024/1183) entered into force in May 2024 with phased implementation through 2026. The main change is the EU Digital Identity Wallet, which will let citizens create QES directly from smartphones. Existing SES/AES methods remain fully valid.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

For any unanswered questions, reach out to our support team via email. We'll respond as soon as possible to assist you.

Are electronic signatures legal in France?

Yes. Electronic signatures are fully legal and enforceable in France under eIDAS Regulation (No. 910/2014) and Articles 1366-1367 of the French Civil Code. Courts consistently uphold e-signed agreements in commercial disputes, provided the signature reliably identifies the signer and ensures document integrity.

What types of e-signatures does France recognize?

France recognizes three levels under eIDAS: Simple Electronic Signature (SES), Advanced Electronic Signature (AES), and Qualified Electronic Signature (QES). Only QES benefits from the legal presumption of reliability under Art. 1367 Civil Code, but SES and AES remain admissible and enforceable if the party can demonstrate reliability.

Which documents require a qualified electronic signature (QES) in France?

QES is required for public procurement contracts (per the March 2019 Decree), notarial deeds (actes notariés), electronic court decisions, and certain regulated filings. Most B2B commercial contracts, employment agreements, and software licenses do not require QES.

Can foreign e-signature providers operate in France?

Yes. Under eIDAS, e-signatures from any EU-certified provider are valid across all member states. Non-EU providers offering SES/AES for commercial contracts face no restrictions. QES must be issued by QTSPs on an EU Trusted List, but this only matters for specific use cases requiring QES.

What happened with the March 2024 Court of Cassation ruling?

The Court of Cassation ruled (March 13, 2024, n° 22-16.487) that scanned signatures do not constitute reliable electronic signatures and lack the presumption of validity. This reinforced that proper e-signature solutions with audit trails and signer identification are essential, not just digitized images of handwritten signatures.

How does France handle cross-border e-signatures?

E-signatures from any EU member state are automatically recognized in France under eIDAS. For non-EU countries, French courts apply general contract law principles and will accept foreign e-signatures if reliability can be demonstrated. Data transfers follow GDPR rules.

What data protection rules apply to e-signatures in France?

GDPR applies directly as France is an EU member state. The French Data Protection Act (Loi Informatique et Libertés) supplements GDPR. CNIL oversees enforcement. For e-signature purposes: obtain consent, minimize data collection, define retention periods, and ensure appropriate security measures.

What's changing with eIDAS 2.0?

eIDAS 2.0 (Regulation 2024/1183) entered into force in May 2024 with phased implementation through 2026. The main change is the EU Digital Identity Wallet, which will let citizens create QES directly from smartphones. Existing SES/AES methods remain fully valid.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

For any unanswered questions, reach out to our support team via email. We'll respond as soon as possible to assist you.

Are electronic signatures legal in France?

Yes. Electronic signatures are fully legal and enforceable in France under eIDAS Regulation (No. 910/2014) and Articles 1366-1367 of the French Civil Code. Courts consistently uphold e-signed agreements in commercial disputes, provided the signature reliably identifies the signer and ensures document integrity.

What types of e-signatures does France recognize?

France recognizes three levels under eIDAS: Simple Electronic Signature (SES), Advanced Electronic Signature (AES), and Qualified Electronic Signature (QES). Only QES benefits from the legal presumption of reliability under Art. 1367 Civil Code, but SES and AES remain admissible and enforceable if the party can demonstrate reliability.

Which documents require a qualified electronic signature (QES) in France?

QES is required for public procurement contracts (per the March 2019 Decree), notarial deeds (actes notariés), electronic court decisions, and certain regulated filings. Most B2B commercial contracts, employment agreements, and software licenses do not require QES.

Can foreign e-signature providers operate in France?

Yes. Under eIDAS, e-signatures from any EU-certified provider are valid across all member states. Non-EU providers offering SES/AES for commercial contracts face no restrictions. QES must be issued by QTSPs on an EU Trusted List, but this only matters for specific use cases requiring QES.

What happened with the March 2024 Court of Cassation ruling?

The Court of Cassation ruled (March 13, 2024, n° 22-16.487) that scanned signatures do not constitute reliable electronic signatures and lack the presumption of validity. This reinforced that proper e-signature solutions with audit trails and signer identification are essential, not just digitized images of handwritten signatures.

How does France handle cross-border e-signatures?

E-signatures from any EU member state are automatically recognized in France under eIDAS. For non-EU countries, French courts apply general contract law principles and will accept foreign e-signatures if reliability can be demonstrated. Data transfers follow GDPR rules.

What data protection rules apply to e-signatures in France?

GDPR applies directly as France is an EU member state. The French Data Protection Act (Loi Informatique et Libertés) supplements GDPR. CNIL oversees enforcement. For e-signature purposes: obtain consent, minimize data collection, define retention periods, and ensure appropriate security measures.

What's changing with eIDAS 2.0?

eIDAS 2.0 (Regulation 2024/1183) entered into force in May 2024 with phased implementation through 2026. The main change is the EU Digital Identity Wallet, which will let citizens create QES directly from smartphones. Existing SES/AES methods remain fully valid.

Background Image

Get Started with Firma.dev in France

Firma.dev is designed for developers building SaaS products that need e-signature capabilities in France and across Europe. At $0.029 per envelope with no monthly minimums, you can integrate compliant e-signatures without enterprise pricing.

Get started for free

Background Image

Get Started with Firma.dev in France

Firma.dev is designed for developers building SaaS products that need e-signature capabilities in France and across Europe. At $0.029 per envelope with no monthly minimums, you can integrate compliant e-signatures without enterprise pricing.

Get started for free

Background Image

Get Started with Firma.dev in France

Firma.dev is designed for developers building SaaS products that need e-signature capabilities in France and across Europe. At $0.029 per envelope with no monthly minimums, you can integrate compliant e-signatures without enterprise pricing.

Get started for free