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e-Signature standards


To ensure that electronic signatures can be created and validated anywhere in Europe, the eIDAS Regulation, through Implementing Decision 2015/1506/EU, has defined a number of baseline profiles. 

e-Signature baseline profiles


XAdES (XML Advanced Electronic Signatures) Baseline Profile

Current XAdES Standards (eIDAS)

ETSI EN 319 132 XML Advanced Electronic Signatures (XAdES)

  • Part 1: Building blocks and XAdES baseline signatures
  • Part 2: Extended XAdES signatures


Although DIGITAL supports the ETSI EN 319 132 standards released in 2016, please note that Decision 2015/1506/EU still refers to the previous set of standards (below).

Previous XAdES Standards

  • ETSI TS 101 903: “Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI); XML Advanced Electronic Signatures (XAdES)”

  • ETSI TS 103 171: “Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI); XAdES Baseline Profile”


CAdES (CMS Advanced Electronic Signature) Baseline Profile

Current CAdES Standards (eIDAS)

ETSI EN 319 122 CMS Advanced Electronic Signatures (CAdES)

  • Part 1: Building blocks and CAdES baseline signatures
  • Part 2: Extended CAdES signatures


Although DIGITAL supports the ETSI EN 319 122 standards released in 2016, please note that Decision 2015/1506/EU still refers to the previous set of standards (below).

Previous CAdES Standards

  • ETSI TS 101 733: “Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI); CMS Advanced Electronic Signatures (CAdES)”
  • ETSI TS 103 173: “Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI); CAdES Baseline Profile”


PAdES (PDF Advanced Electronic Signature) Baseline Profile

Current PAdES Standards (eIDAS)

ETSI EN 319 142 PDF Advanced Electronic Signature Profiles (PAdES)

  • Part 1: Building blocks and PAdES baseline signatures
  • Part 2: Additional PAdES signatures profiles


Although DIGITAL supports the ETSI EN 319 142 standards released in 2016, please note that Decision 2015/1506/EU still refers to the previous set of standards (below).

Previous PAdES Standards

  • ISO 32000-1: “Document management – Portable document format – Part 1: PDF 1.7″
  • ETSI TS 102 778-1: “Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI); PDF Advanced Electronic Signature Profiles; Part 1: PAdES Overview – a framework document for PAdES”
  • ETSI TS 102 778-2: “Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI); PDF Advanced Electronic Signature Profiles; Part 2: PAdES Basic – Profile based on ISO 32000-1″
  • ETSI TS 102 778-3: “Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI); PDF Advanced Electronic Signature Profiles; Part 3: PAdES Enhanced – PAdES-BES and PAdES-EPES Profiles”. Available as ISO Standard or directly from Adobe’s PDF Reference.
  • ETSI TS 102 778-4: “Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI); PDF Advanced Electronic Signature Profiles; Part 4: PAdES Long Term – PAdES LTV Profile”
  • ETSI TS 103 172: “Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI); PAdES Baseline Profile”


ASiC (Associated Signature Container) Baseline Profile

Current ASiC Standards (eIDAS)

ETSI EN 319 162 Associated Signature Containers (ASiC)

  • Part 1: Building blocks and ASiC baseline containers
  • Part 2: Additional ASiC containers


Although DIGITAL supports the ETSI EN 319 162 standards released in 2016, please note that Decision 2015/1506/EU still refers to the previous set of standards (below).

Previous ASiC Standards

  • ETSI TS 102 918: “Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI); Associated Signature Containers (ASiC)”
  • ETSI TS 103 174: “Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI); ASiC Baseline Profile”

Trusted List standards

As laid down in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1505 of 8 September 2015, Member States shall establish, publish and maintain trusted lists in a format that is compliant with the technical specifications set out in its Annex I. These specifications rely on the following ETSI standard:

ETSI TS 119 612 v2.1.1 “Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures (ESI); Trusted Lists"