Act global, sign local: e-signing and doing business across borders

There’s no need to limit your business geographically just because international agreements seem daunting.

Electronic signatures enable smarter, faster, and more secure cross-border business.

Whether you’re working with clients in EU member states, suppliers in China, or remote colleagues scattered across time zones, e-signing services can simplify your processes, ensure legal compliance in every market where you operate, and improve both operational efficiency and user experience.

If you’re thinking globally, it’s time to start signing locally — with the #1 electronic signing service in the region .

The global problem: too much paper, not enough time

The biggest pain points in traditional cross-border transactions are:

• Long delays in sending and returning signed documents
• High costs of international courier services
• Risk of document loss or unauthorized access
• Inconsistent legal validity across jurisdictions

Today, speed is critical. These obstacles can cost you deals and damage your reputation.

Modern companies turn to e-signing, which delivers speed, supports global expansion, and ensures legal reliability wherever they operate.

Legal foundations for international e-signing

European Union: eIDAS

In the EU, all providers must comply with the eIDAS Regulation (Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services). eIDAS recognizes three types of e-signatures:

• Simple Electronic Signature (SES): Basic legal validity without identity verification. For example, typing your name at the end of an email.
• Advanced Electronic Signature (AES): Uniquely linked to the signer, verifies their identity, and detects any subsequent changes to the data. Signed via an e-signature service using credentials like a password or SMS code.
• Qualified Electronic Signature (QES): An advanced signature created with a qualified signature creation device (smart card, SIM card, USB token) and a qualified certificate. Under Article 25 of eIDAS, it has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature.

Thanks to eIDAS, the EU is one of the most secure environments for e-signing.

United Kingdom: UK eIDAS

Post-Brexit, the UK retained eIDAS regulations with minor adaptations, along with the Electronic Communications Act.

United States: ESIGN Act & UETA

In the US, e-signatures are regulated by the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN Act) and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA).

An e-signature is defined as “an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record, executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.”

For validity, four key factors apply:

• Intent to sign — the signer must clearly intend to sign
• Consent to do business electronically — especially for consumer transactions, explicit consent is required
• Association with the record — the signature must be logically linked to the document
• Record retention — the signed record must be stored accurately and remain accessible

ESIGN and UETA do not define “advanced” or “qualified” levels, but they encourage trust-enhancing measures like authentication (email, 2FA), digital certificates, and audit trails.

Other Regions

Canada: Governed by PIPEDA and UECA, recognizes standard e-signatures (SES) but does not define advanced or qualified levels.

Serbia: The law on electronic document, electronic identification, and trust services recognizes three signature types, the same as eIDAS.

Australia, Singapore, and others: Similar frameworks are largely aligned with international standards.

How e-signing fuels global business growth

Faster international agreements: Send documents anywhere in the world and get them back signed within minutes (time zones permitting).

High security and legal compliance: Documents are securely encrypted, signer identity is verified, and an audit trail is preserved.

Better user experience: Partners, clients, and colleagues can sign anywhere, on any device, at their convenience.

Multilingual support: BetrSign® supports multiple languages in documents and workflows, making deals easier for all global partners.

Don’t let borders limit your growth

Whether you’re entering international partnerships, selling products or services abroad, or hiring talent worldwide, you can cross borders digitally — faster, safer, and smarter.

Grow with BetrSign: Try it for free or book a demo with our expert.