Lexipedia

Digital signatures

Digital signatures use cryptographic methods to authenticate electronic documents and may satisfy legal signature requirements where applicable conditions are met.

Swiss law recognises electronic signatures in a framework that distinguishes different assurance levels, including qualified electronic signatures. A qualified electronic signature can, in defined circumstances, fulfil a legal requirement for a handwritten signature, provided the statutory conditions and certification requirements are met. In practice, parties must check the required form for the transaction, the identity verification process, the provider’s status and evidentiary reliability. Cross-border use may raise recognition issues, especially between Swiss and EU signature regimes.