What is an electronic signature?
An electronic signature (or e-signature) is a catch-all term for any electronic method used to sign a document. It represents the signer's intent to accept and be bound by the terms of the document.
However, the legal effects of an electronic signature can vary depending on the type of e-signature and the laws that apply.
What's the difference between an electronic signature and a digital signature?
The terms "electronic signature" and "digital signature" are often confused.
An electronic signature refers to any electronic method used to sign a document.
A digital signature, on the other hand, is a specific and reliable type of electronic signature that uses cryptographic techniques to authenticate the signer's identity and ensure that the document's content has not been altered after signing.
In short, the two terms shouldn't be used interchangeably: all digital signatures are electronic signatures, but not all electronic signatures are digital signatures.
What's the difference between the three levels of electronic signatures (simple, advanced, and qualified) under the EU eIDAS Regulation?
In the European Union (EU), the EU eIDAS Regulation (910/2014) defines three types of electronic signature, each offering different levels of security and legal certainty.
- Simple Electronic Signature (SES): The most common and basic type. It includes any electronic method that shows a person's intent to sign — for example, clicking a 'Sign' button or typing a name. While a SES is suitable for most everyday agreements, its legal strength can vary depending on the type of document and jurisdiction.
- Advanced Electronic Signature (AdES): A more secure type of e-signature that is uniquely linked to the signer. It uses advanced authentication and cryptographic methods to verify the signer's identity and to detect any changes made to the document after signing.
- Qualified Electronic Signature (QES): The most secure and legally recognized type of e-signature under EU law. It's treated the same as a handwritten signature across the EU. A QES is created by a qualified electronic signature creation device, and is based on a qualified certificate for electronic signatures issued by a qualified trust service provider after strict identity verification.
Can I use WeTransfer Sign to sign documents worldwide?
WeTransfer Sign provides an electronic signature that qualifies as a Simple Electronic Signature (SES) under the EU eIDAS Regulation (910/2014) and an electronic signature under the U.S. Federal E-Sign Act.
This means you can generally use WeTransfer Sign to sign documents in many jurisdictions.
However, the specific requirements for electronic signatures and transactions may vary depending on the country (or U.S. state) and the type of document that needs to be signed.
For example, certain types of documents may not be eligible for electronic signature, or may be subject to additional requirements depending on the applicable law.
If you're unsure, you should check the applicable requirements before signing.
WeTransfer is not responsible for determining any of the foregoing and does not provide legal advice.
Can I revoke my signature after signing with WeTransfer Sign?
Depending on the type of document and the applicable law, you may have the right to revoke your consent to a signed document or use of electronic records.
However, once you've completed the signing process through WeTransfer Sign, the signature itself cannot be technically undone or removed.
If you signed a document by mistake or wish to withdraw your agreement, please contact the person or organization that sent you the document.
Is WeTransfer Sign free to use?
WeTransfer Sign is currently available as a free tool. You can send up to 10 files per day for signature, and its functionality is not tied to any specific subscription plan.
If you reach the daily limit, sending will fail with an error (for example "SIGN_TRANSFER_SEND_FAILED"). You'll be able to send again after 24 hours.
Are sign transfers counted in my transfer count?
No, Sign transfers are excluded from the standard WeTransfer transfer count and do not affect the user's regular transfer limit.
What file formats are currently supported by WeTransfer Sign?
WeTransfer Sign currently supports PDF files only.
What should I do if the recipient cannot access the document?
If the recipient received the signature request email but cannot access the document in their account, they may be logged into a different account than the one the document was sent to. Ask them to confirm that they are signed in with the exact email address that received the signature request.
If they're logged in with the correct email address, they can also find the document at wetransfer.com/sign under Action required.
The recipient didn't receive the signature request email, or deleted it. What can I do?
- Ask them to check their spam or junk folder for an email from noreply@wetransfer.com.
- If they're logged in to WeTransfer with the email address the request was sent to, they can find the document at wetransfer.com/sign under Action required.
- You can also open the document on wetransfer.com/sign, copy the URL from your browser's address bar, and send it to them directly. They'll need to verify with the email address the request was sent to.
- Or send a new signature request with the same document. You don't need to delete the original request first.
Do recipients get reminder emails?
Yes. If a document hasn't been signed yet, WeTransfer Sign sends up to 2 reminder emails: the first 2 days after the signature request, and the second 2 days after that. Reminders can't be turned off.
How many signers can I add?
You can add up to 5 signers to one document. A sixth signer can't be added.
How do I delete a signature request or see who hasn't signed yet?
To delete a signature request, click the trash bin icon next to it in your WeTransfer Sign dashboard.
For requests with several recipients, hover over the Waiting for others status to see the email addresses of the recipients who haven't signed yet.
Can I recover a deleted document?
Only the sender can delete a signature document, and deleted documents can't be recovered. If you're a recipient and a document you could see before is no longer there, check with the sender.
How long do signature transfers remain active?
Signature transfers remain active for 1 year from the date they are created.