eSignature legality summary
Federal Law 63-FZ governs electronic signatures for transactions, state and municipal services, and other legally significant actions. As a general rule, a contract may be concluded electronically if it belongs to a category that can be made in simple written form.
Types of permitted electronic signature
63-FZ recognizes a simple electronic signature (codes or passwords confirming the signer); an enhanced unqualified electronic signature (cryptographic, identifies the signer, detects later alteration); and an enhanced qualified electronic signature (with a qualified certificate and certified tools). A qualified signature is presumed equivalent to a wet-ink signature.
Documents that may be signed electronically
Contracts permissible in simple written form can be electronic — via click-accept plus payment, a simple or enhanced-unqualified signature where the parties agreed in a wet-ink paper document, or an enhanced qualified signature.
Use with caution / not typically appropriate
Real-property transactions require an enhanced qualified signature if done electronically. If a non-qualified signature is challenged, the relying party may need to prove validity (authentication, tamper-evidence, audit log).
- Real-property transactions (require an enhanced qualified electronic signature)
- Contracts excluded by law from the simple written form
Seminal court cases
None reported.
Primary sources
- Federal Law No. 63-FZ “On Electronic Signature” (2011)
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal advice, and is not a guarantee that any signature will be enforceable for a particular document, transaction, or jurisdiction. E-signature and data-protection laws change frequently. Confirm the requirements for your specific document and parties, and consult a licensed lawyer in the relevant country before relying on electronic signing.
Last reviewed: June 15, 2026