From 28 October 2026, SignClearly names the kind of electronic signature each document gets. The default is a simple electronic signature (SES): SignClearly confirms that the recipient controls the email address the link was sent to and records every step in the event log, but it does not check who the recipient is. Signing your own document is always an SES.
The advanced signature: an ID check before signing
An advanced electronic signature (AES) is for documents where you need to know who signed. Before signing, the recipient shows an ID document and takes a selfie with Didit, a third-party identity service. SignClearly compares the name on the ID with the name you entered for the recipient, and the signer's certificate carries the name from the ID.
What changes for the sender
When you send, you choose the kind of signature. For an AES you require an ID check and enter the recipient's full name exactly as it appears on their ID. The check compares every name on the ID, in the same alphabet; only case and word order may differ. If the passport says Anna Maria Kowalska, “Kowalska Anna Maria” passes and “Anna Kowalska” fails. Spelling counts too: “Muller” does not match “Müller”.
The recipient name of a sent document cannot be edited. If you typed it wrong, revoke the link, make a copy of the document, correct the name and send the copy.
What the recipient does
- Enters the access code, if you set one.
- Shows an ID document and takes a selfie with Didit. There are up to 3 attempts per link.
- Agrees to sign electronically. The consent text says the signature is an AES.
- Draws the signature. The full name is not typed: it is the name you entered and the ID confirmed.
- Reviews the final PDF exactly as it will be signed, confirms the intent to sign and signs.
If the names do not match, the recipient cannot sign. They can still decline, with an optional reason.
What SignClearly stores
SignClearly keeps the result of the check and the name on the ID, not images of the ID. The images stay with Didit; the privacy policy explains what Didit receives. The ID check is written to the event log, and the name from the ID goes into the signer's certificate inside the PDF.
What each kind costs
Both kinds are paid per document in credits, with no subscription. An AES costs more credits than an SES, and resending an invitation is free for both. If a document is not signed, its credits go back to your balance, except a credit for each ID check attempt that got a result. Current prices are on pricing.
How SignClearly meets the AES requirements
Article 26 of eIDAS lists four requirements for an advanced electronic signature. This is how SignClearly addresses each one:
- Uniquely linked to the signatory: the certificate is issued for this one signature and carries the name confirmed by the ID check.
- Capable of identifying the signatory: the ID document and selfie check, with the name matched to the one the sender entered.
- Created with data under the signatory's sole control: the key is created in the signer's browser and never leaves it.
- Linked to the signed data so any change is detectable: the PAdES signature covers the exact file, and Adobe Acrobat shows if it changed after signing.
What an AES is not
An AES is not a qualified electronic signature (QES). A QES needs a qualified certificate from a qualified trust service provider and a qualified signature creation device, and SignClearly has neither. Under eIDAS Article 25(2) a QES has the equivalent legal effect of a handwritten signature; an AES does not get that automatically. Whether a court or the other party accepts an SES or an AES depends on the country and the type of document. The SES vs AES vs QES guide covers the differences.
Which one to choose
- SES usually fits everyday documents where the email address is enough: a quote acceptance, a photo release or a policy acknowledgment.
- AES fits documents where you need to show who signed: a letter of authorization, a document the signer might later deny signing, or any document where the other party asks for an AES.
- Neither fits when the law or the other party requires a QES or a handwritten signature.