Level 1 · Simple electronic signature

Simple electronic signature: a click that leaves a trail

To accept terms, an internal policy or a form, nothing more is needed: an acceptance click, a checkbox or an email confirmation. KimoSign adds what makes it defensible: a record of who accepted, when and from where.

What it is and when it is enough

A simple electronic signature is one given with an acceptance click, a checkbox or an email confirmation; the eIDAS Regulation grants it legal effect, and KimoSign reinforces it by logging the date, time, IP address, signer's email and fingerprint of the accepted document, so it can be relied on for consent and low-risk documents.

Content reviewed on 17 October 2026

Legal definition: Art. 3(10) of the eIDAS Regulation Electronic data that the signatory uses to sign
Legal effect: Cannot be denied for being electronic Art. 25(1) of the eIDAS Regulation
Identification: Not required by law KimoSign logs email, IP, date and time; optional PIN
Risk you take on: Evidential If challenged, whoever relies on it must prove who signed
Recommended use: Documents with low legal impact Terms, forms, internal policies

Click or checkbox

The signer accepts with a button or by ticking a box, with no codes or certificates.

Email confirmation

Optionally, a second confirmation with a link or a PIN sent to their inbox.

Date, time and IP

Every acceptance is logged with its timestamp and IP address.

Sealed document

The accepted version is fixed with its cryptographic fingerprint and a time stamp.

When it is enough

Documents with low legal risk

Acceptance of a service's terms and conditions
Registration, enrollment or application forms
Internal policies: device use, code of conduct, remote work
Acknowledgments of notices and circulars
Low-impact informed consent
Internal approvals between departments

How it works

From sending to the signed copy

The workflow is the same as at the other levels; what changes is the identification step, which here is covered by the acceptance itself.

1 The document is createdYour own PDF or one generated by your Kimobox workflow or your ERP.
2 The link is sentBy email to the signer, or within a portal where they have already logged in.
3 The signer acceptsWith a click, a checkbox or an email confirmation, with an optional PIN.
4 It is recordedDate, time, IP, email and document fingerprint, in the evidence file.
5 Everyone gets a copySigner and company receive the signed document with its validation data.

In context

Where simple stands against the other levels

Comparison of simple, advanced and qualified electronic signatures under the eIDAS Regulation
Feature	Level 1 Simple	Level 2 Advanced	Level 3 Qualified
Security level	Basic	High	Highest
Signer identification	Not required: a click, a checkbox or an email confirmation is enough	Mandatory: one-time PIN by text message or email, handwritten stroke on screen	Qualified certificate issued by a trust service provider that has verified the signer's identity
Document integrity	Does not, on its own, guarantee the document stays unchanged	Any later change invalidates the signature	Any change invalidates it, backed by a qualified device and certificate
Evidence recorded	Date, time, IP address and email	Plus authentication method, time stamp and document fingerprint	Plus certificate data and a qualified time stamp
Legal value (eIDAS)	Valid; its weight as evidence depends on the audit trail	Valid, and carries considerable weight if challenged	Same legal effect as a handwritten signature throughout the EU
Typical uses	Terms of service, forms, internal policies	Commercial and employment contracts, NDAs, authorizations	High-value transactions, financial agreements, procedures that require a qualified signature

Typical scenarios

Where simple is exactly what you need

Software company · onboarding

Device use policy before day one

Before HR printed the policy, handed it over on the first day and filed the signed copy in a folder. Some went missing.

After New hires receive it by email before they start and accept it with a checkbox. KimoSign keeps the date, time and IP and sends the copy to both parties.

Training · enrollment

Enrollment terms

Before Students ticked a box on a web form that did not record which version of the terms they had accepted.

After Acceptance is logged with the fingerprint of the exact version of the document. If the terms change, you know what each student agreed to.

Manufacturing · notices

Acknowledging a safety circular

Before The circular was pinned to the noticeboard and there was no way of knowing who had read it.

After Each worker confirms receipt from their phone. The list of who has signed and who is still pending is available in seconds.

Vocabulary

Simple signature terms

Acceptance click: Pressing a button such as "Accept" on an identified document. It is a valid form of simple electronic signature, whose strength depends on the record that accompanies it.
Double confirmation: An additional check in which the signer confirms from their inbox, with a link or a code, that they own the email address the document was sent to.
Timestamp: A record of the exact date and time at which an electronic act takes place. When it is issued by a qualified provider, it is a qualified electronic time stamp.

Frequently asked questions

What people ask us before they start

Is signing with a click legal?

Yes. The eIDAS Regulation recognizes as an electronic signature any electronic data the signer uses to sign, and its Article 25(1) prevents it from being denied legal effect for being electronic. What needs care is the evidence.

How do you prove the right person accepted?

With the evidence: the email address the link was sent to, the IP address, the date and time and, if enabled, the double email confirmation or the PIN. If signing happens inside a portal where the user is already logged in, the link is even stronger.

When is it not enough?

When the document may be challenged and significant money or rights are at stake: a customer contract, a salary addendum, a confidentiality agreement. There, an advanced signature is the better choice.

Can a PIN be requested for a simple signature too?

Yes, as a prior check of the signer's email. It strengthens the evidence without making the process burdensome for the signer.

Does the signer need to register?

No. They receive a link and accept from the browser on any device.

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Keep exploring

Simple electronic signature with an evidence trail

KimoSign's simple electronic signature lets you capture acceptance of terms, internal policies and forms with a click, a checkbox or an email confirmation, in line with the eIDAS Regulation.

Each acceptance is logged with date, time, IP address, the signer's email, the document's cryptographic fingerprint and a time stamp, and both the signer and the company receive a signed copy.