ZertES: Switzerland’s Electronic Signature Framework

The Swiss Electronic Signature Act’s certification framework, distinct from EU eIDAS and the requirements for a particular signature.

Sarah Mitchell

Published on

2026-11-06

Last updated on

ZertES/ESigA is Switzerland’s certification and electronic-signature framework.
Swiss handwritten equivalence requires the applicable qualified signature and qualified timestamp.
EU eIDAS qualification is not automatically interchangeable with Swiss qualification.

What is ZertES?

ZertES is the German abbreviation commonly used for Switzerland’s Federal Act on Electronic Signatures, known in English as ESigA. The current framework derives from the Act of 18 March 2016, rather than the superseded 2003 legislation.

It governs certification services relating to electronic signatures and other uses of digital certificates. Its recognition and technical framework should be distinguished from the rules deciding whether a particular transaction requires a handwritten-equivalent signature.

What does the framework regulate?

The Swiss federal signature FAQ describes certification-provider recognition, certificate requirements and the distinction between advanced, regulated and qualified concepts. A general “secure signature” label or a certificate issued by a known brand is not, by itself, proof of Swiss qualification.

Simple electronic signing is not automatically forbidden merely because it is outside the qualified framework. The document’s applicable form requirements still determine what signing method is sufficient.

How does handwritten equivalence work?

Swiss federal guidance on signature types explains that the handwritten-signature equivalence under Article 14(2bis) of the Code of Obligations requires a qualified electronic signature combined with a qualified electronic timestamp, subject to the applicable legal requirements.

The Swiss QES definition covers that specific signature-and-time requirement. It does not mean every Swiss agreement requires QES or that technical validation establishes every contractual element.

ZertES versus eIDAS

EU eIDAS and Swiss law have related technical concepts but separate legal recognition conditions. EU qualified certificates should not be assumed automatically recognized as Swiss qualified credentials, or vice versa.

Identify the regime, document formalities and signatory authority, including any power of attorney. The Sign.Plus ZertES overview covers product context without replacing that assessment.

A Common Case: Separating Swiss requirements from an EU label

Imagine a New York professional-services firm returning an agreement governed by Swiss requirements. Its team can identify the relevant Swiss signature conditions and authority before selecting a workflow, rather than assume an EU qualification label resolves the transaction’s Swiss formalities.