The eIDAS regulation (Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services) is a set of standards for electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the European Union. It includes provisions for digital signatures, digital certificates, electronic seals, time stamping, and related services that ensure secure and verified electronic transactions. Within this framework, signature cards and seal cards serve distinct purposes:

eIDAS Signature Cards #

• Purpose: Signature cards are used by individuals to create electronic signatures. These signatures are legally binding and are used to confirm the identity and consent of the signer in electronic transactions.
• Usage: They are typically used for signing documents, contracts, or transactions where an individual’s explicit approval is required. The electronic signature generated using a signature card is equivalent to a handwritten signature under EU law.
• Authentication: The card contains a digital certificate that verifies the identity of the cardholder and their authority to sign documents electronically.

eIDAS Seal Cards #

• Purpose: Seal cards are used by legal entities, such as companies or organizations, to ensure the origin and integrity of electronic documents. An electronic seal is similar to a company stamp; it indicates that a document has been issued by the entity, but it does not provide information about individual consent.
• Usage: Seal cards are used to seal documents, data, or transactions to prove their origin and integrity. This is particularly useful for official documents, reports, or any electronic output that needs to be authenticated as coming from a specific entity.
• Authentication: The card contains a digital certificate that verifies the identity of the entity. Unlike signature cards, seal cards do not tie back to an individual but rather to the legal entity itself.

Key Differences #

• Individual vs. Entity: Signature cards are for individuals, while seal cards are for legal entities.
• Consent vs. Integrity: Signature cards indicate consent and are legally binding for the signer. Seal cards indicate the origin and integrity of the document or data but do not imply consent by an individual.
• Application: Signature cards are used in contexts where individual approval is needed, whereas seal cards are used to authenticate documents or data issued by an organization.

In summary, eIDAS signature cards and seal cards serve to secure and authenticate electronic transactions and documents, but they do so in different contexts—one for individual consent and the other for verifying the origin and integrity of documents issued by entities.

Our CodeB Authenticator App proudly Supports contactless D-Trust Seal Cards with the Version 5.4

German Version: https://www.win-logon.com/docs/unterschied-zwischen-eidas-signaturkarten-und-siegelkarten/