Are electronic signatures legally valid? What the law says by country
By the nodshake team. Published 14 October 2026, updated 14 October 2026.
In the 9 places we checked, an electronic signature is generally accepted for ordinary contracts. Wills, powers of attorney and property transfers are where it most often stops: several laws exclude them or need extra steps, and the rule differs by country. This guide summarises our sourced checker. It is information, not legal advice.
Key points
- 9 of 9 places accept an e-signature for an ordinary contract, each with its own law.
- Wills are not covered by the e-signature law in the US, Canada (Ontario and BC), India and Pakistan, and need extra formality in the UK.
- Property transfers and powers of attorney often need extra steps or are outside the e-signature law.
- Many answers for the EU, UAE, Australia and courts are not established, so ask a lawyer.
Ordinary contracts
Read from national legislation and official guidance on 13 October 2026.[1]
| Country | Law | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| United States | ESIGN Act 2000 (15 USC 7001, 7003) and the state UETA laws | Generally accepted |
| European Union | eIDAS Regulation (EU) 910/2014, as amended by 2024/1183 | Generally accepted |
| United Kingdom (England and Wales) | Electronic Communications Act 2000 s7 (an evidence rule); UK eIDAS; Law Commission report (2019) | Generally accepted |
| Canada (federal law, with Ontario and BC as examples) | PIPEDA Part 2 (federal laws only); Ontario Electronic Commerce Act 2000; BC Electronic Transactions Act | Generally accepted |
| Australia | Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth) s8 and s10 | Generally accepted |
| India | Information Technology Act 2000 (ss3, 3A, 5, 10A and the First Schedule) | Generally accepted |
| United Arab Emirates | Federal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2021 on Electronic Transactions and Trust Services | Generally accepted |
| Saudi Arabia | Electronic Transactions Law, Royal Decree M/18 (2007) | Generally accepted |
| Pakistan | Electronic Transactions Ordinance 2002 | Generally accepted |
Wills, powers of attorney and property
Scroll sideways to see all columns
| Country | Will | Power of attorney | Real-estate transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not covered by the e-signature law (other law decides) | Not established, ask a lawyer | Not established, ask a lawyer |
| European Union | Not established, ask a lawyer | Not established, ask a lawyer | Not established, ask a lawyer |
| United Kingdom (England and Wales) | Needs a stronger signature or extra formality | Needs a stronger signature or extra formality | Needs a stronger signature or extra formality |
| Canada (federal law, with Ontario and BC as examples) | Not covered by the e-signature law (other law decides) | Not covered by the e-signature law (other law decides) | Not established, ask a lawyer |
| Australia | Not established, ask a lawyer | Not established, ask a lawyer | Not established, ask a lawyer |
| India | Not covered by the e-signature law (other law decides) | Not covered by the e-signature law (other law decides) | Not covered by the e-signature law (other law decides) |
| United Arab Emirates | Not established, ask a lawyer | Not established, ask a lawyer | Not established, ask a lawyer |
| Saudi Arabia | Not established, ask a lawyer | Not established, ask a lawyer | Not established, ask a lawyer |
| Pakistan | Not covered by the e-signature law (other law decides) | Not covered by the e-signature law (other law decides) | Not covered by the e-signature law (other law decides) |
Not covered by the e-signature law does not mean e-signatures are banned: other law decides, and some jurisdictions allow it under separate rules. † means inferred from the absence of an exclusion in the cited text. This is information, not legal advice.
What changes the answer
- The country, and inside it the state or province: the US, Canada and Australia differ by state or province.
- The type of document, which matters more than the signing tool.
- The strength of signature: the EU and UAE separate simple, advanced and qualified signatures, and a qualified one is treated like handwriting.[1]
- Whether the other side agreed to sign electronically.
Open the e-signature law checker for the law, the caveats and the source behind each answer, and read how we source and check it.
Questions
- Are electronic signatures valid in the United States?
- For ordinary contracts in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, the ESIGN Act says a signature or contract may not be denied legal effect solely because it is electronic. It does not apply to wills, codicils and testamentary trusts.
- Are electronic signatures valid in the UAE?
- Federal Decree-Law 46 of 2021 says a contract does not lose validity merely because it is made electronically. A qualified signature equals a manual one. Rules for other documents were not established.
- Can I sign a UK will electronically?
- The Wills Act requires two witnesses present at the same time. Whether an electronic signature can meet that is not settled in the source we read, so ask a lawyer.
Sources
- [1] nodshake legal checker, which links the primary text for every answer, read 13 October 2026.