Visual signature vs electronic or digital signature on a PDF

Much of the confusion comes from vocabulary. "Electronic signature" is a broad legal term, "digital signature" usually means a specific cryptographic technique, and a picture of your autograph on a page is something else again.

In the United States, the federal ESIGN Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), which most states have adopted, broadly say that a signature or contract cannot be refused legal effect just because it is electronic. Both exclude some documents, such as wills; ESIGN also excludes court documents and certain notices. And the person relying on a signature may still have to show that you were the one who signed.

In the European Union, the eIDAS regulation defines three levels: simple, advanced and qualified electronic signatures. A qualified signature, made with a qualified certificate and a qualified signature creation device, has the same legal effect as a handwritten one. The UK keeps a similar framework of its own and generally accepts electronic signatures, although some documents, such as deeds that need a witness, carry extra formalities.

A drawn signature on a PDF can count as a simple electronic signature in many places. What it lacks is the evidence built into a digital signature: nothing in the file ties the image to you, and nothing reveals if a clause was edited after you signed.

This guide is a general overview, not legal advice. Rules depend on the country, the state and the type of document; for anything with serious consequences, ask a lawyer.

If the person or organisation receiving the document accepts a signed PDF, that is normally the end of the question. Typical examples are internal approvals, holiday requests, school permission slips, letters to a landlord, quotes you are accepting and registration forms for clubs or events.

When in doubt, ask one plain question: "Is a PDF with my drawn signature OK, or do you need an electronic signature through a specific system?" Their answer beats any general rule, including the ones in this guide.

Some documents usually call for a stronger method or a particular process: mortgage and property paperwork, documents that must be notarised or witnessed, many government forms, and contracts where the other side has already chosen a signing platform. In those cases a visual signature is likely to be rejected, and you should follow the recipient's instructions, which may mean a certificate-based signature or signing on paper.

Sign PDF on PDFont adds a visual signature; it does not create an advanced or qualified electronic signature. Use it when the recipient accepts that kind of signature. Your signature exists only in the open page and is not uploaded or saved.

1. Open Sign PDF and add the document.
2. Create the signature in the Draw, Type or Photo tab. Draw with a mouse, finger or stylus, type your name in a handwriting style, or photograph a signature on white paper; the background of the photo is removed automatically.
3. Drag it into place, resize it and press Add to this page. Repeat on every page that needs it.
4. Press Sign PDF and download the signed copy.

If the document is a form with fields, complete it with Fill PDF Form before signing, so the signature goes on the final version. Turning on Flatten makes the answers part of the page so they cannot be edited later.

If you are emailing the result and want to control who can open it, add a password with Protect PDF and share the password another way, such as by phone. That protects the file in transit; it does not turn a visual signature into a digital one.