E-signature formats: what public bodies must accept from 23 February 2027
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/248 sets the signature formats public bodies must recognise from 23 February 2027. JAdES joins the list.
When an online service of a public body in the EU asks for an advanced electronic signature, which file formats must it accept? The Commission answered that again in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/248 of 2 February 2026, published on 3 February 2026. It replaces Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1506 and applies to advanced electronic signatures and seals, including those based on a qualified certificate.
What changes
- An updated list of formats: public bodies must recognise signatures in the current baseline profiles of XAdES, CAdES and PAdES, and in the ASiC signature containers. JAdES, the JSON format, is added for the first time.
- Other formats only with a validation method: a signature in another format must be recognised when the Member State of the signer's trust service provider offers a way to validate it online, free of charge, and the signed document says where to find it.
- A transition for older files: signatures in the formats of the 2015 list stay recognised if they were created before 23 February 2028.
Key dates
- 23 February 2026: the regulation entered into force.
- 23 February 2027: public bodies must recognise the new list of formats.
- 19 August 2027: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1567 applies, with the reference standards for managing remote qualified signature and seal creation devices as a qualified trust service.
- Already in force since October 2025: the standards for qualified certificates (2025/1943), qualified validation services (2025/1942) and qualified preservation services (2025/1946).
None of these acts changes the three levels of electronic signature or their legal effect. More on that: eIDAS 2 and electronic signatures.
What to do now
If you file signed documents with public bodies, check which level and format the service asks for. Where it asks for a qualified signature, use Signs with a qualified signature in Dazr Sign for that person: they sign with their own electronic ID card, a signing app or a qualified certificate, and Dazr Sign checks the signature against the EU trusted lists. For everyday documents, Dazr Sign gives a simple electronic signature with an audit trail and a sealed PDF. Which level fits which document: Which signature do I need?
Sources
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/248 of 2 February 2026 (formats of advanced electronic signatures and seals recognised by public sector bodies)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1942 of 29 September 2025 (qualified validation services)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1943 of 29 September 2025 (qualified certificates for electronic signatures and seals)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1946 of 29 September 2025 (qualified preservation services)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1567 of 29 July 2025 (remote qualified signature creation devices)
- Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS), as amended, Articles 27 and 37
For information only, not legal advice. Last updated 7 November 2026.
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