Electronic signatures in Switzerland
What makes an electronic signature legally valid in Switzerland, the three signature levels (SES, AES, QES), and how wesign.now lets you sign contracts with a Swiss-made tool — with your documents stored in Switzerland if you choose, for around 90% less than DocuSign plus DocSend.
Are electronic signatures legally valid in Switzerland?
Yes. Electronic signatures have been legally recognised in Switzerland since the Federal Act on Electronic Signatures (ZertES). The Code of Obligations also matters: contracts are generally form-free — they need no signature at all to be valid. An electronic signature therefore serves, in the vast majority of business cases, as proof of identity and consent.
For everyday business — quotes, work orders, employment contracts, NDAs, mandates — a simple or advanced electronic signature is legally valid and admissible in court as evidence. Only a few contract types require a special form by law.
The three signature levels: SES, AES and QES
Swiss and EU law (ZertES and eIDAS) define three levels of electronic signature. They differ in how strictly the signer's identity is verified and the document is protected against later changes.
- SES – Simple Electronic Signature: any electronic form of consent (a click, a typed name, a drawn signature). Fast, and sufficient for most business documents.
- AES – Advanced Electronic Signature: uniquely linked to the signer, with identity verification (e.g. a one-time SMS code) and tamper-evidently bound into the document.
- QES – Qualified Electronic Signature: the highest level, legally equivalent to a handwritten signature. Only it satisfies statutory form requirements and needs a qualified certificate from an accredited provider.
Which signature level do you need?
For the vast majority of B2B contracts, an SES or AES is enough. A QES is only mandatory where the law explicitly requires written form — such as a consumer credit agreement.
wesign.now produces SES and AES signatures with a tamper-evident PAdES audit trail and an independent RFC 3161 timestamp on every signed PDF. That covers everyday business — without the cost and friction of a QES.
Signing electronically with wesign.now
wesign.now is the Swiss platform for legally valid electronic signing — built for SMEs, fiduciaries, agencies and staffing firms that want to sign professionally and under their own brand.
- Swiss-made, and your documents can be stored in Switzerland (Zürich) — available to signers worldwide.
- Your own branded domain: from the Branded tier you send from YOURCOMPANY.wesign.now.
- PAdES audit trail and an independent RFC 3161 timestamp on every signed PDF — verifiable any time at /verify.
- Around 90% cheaper than DocuSign plus DocSend — one Swiss tool instead of two US products.
- Signing flow in six languages: German, English, French, Italian, Dutch and Spanish.
Sign your first contract in minutes
Start free — with a 7-day free Branded trial so you can test your own-domain branding before you pay.
FAQ — electronic signatures in Switzerland
Are electronic signatures legally valid in Switzerland?
Yes, for contracts without a form requirement, which covers most business: SES and AES (as defined in ZertES and eIDAS) are admissible in court as evidence. Where the law requires written form, only the stricter QES will do.
What is the difference between SES, AES and QES?
SES is the simple level, AES the advanced one (with identity verification and tamper protection), and QES the qualified level, legally equivalent to a handwritten signature. wesign.now offers SES and AES.
Do I need a QES?
Only when the law explicitly requires written form for a specific contract. For everyday business, SES and AES are sufficient.
Which ZertES and eIDAS levels does wesign.now offer?
SES, and AES with SMS verification, as defined in ZertES and eIDAS. Every signed PDF carries a tamper-evident PAdES audit trail with an independent RFC 3161 timestamp. wesign.now does not currently issue qualified signatures (QES).