Digital signing

Several signing plugins have been developed for different operating systems and browsers: components and sample applications.

In order to verify signatures given with test certificates in the DigiDoc4 client, you need to configure the test certificates manually. Otherwise the signature validation check will return the status “Unknown”.

In Estonia, the BDOC format and its two subformats are used for digital signatures, which can be recognised by .bdoc and .asice file extensions.

Nowadays, nearly all file formats are suitable for digital signing. There are no restrictions on digitally signed documents exchanged between information systems, but if a signed document is sent to an end-user, the most common and standard file formats should be preferred.

An overview of DigiDoc container formats supported by different versions and components of the ID-software can be found on the DigiDoc container format life cycle page. There is also a sample file for each format.

DigiDoc libraries can be used to create DigiDoc-compatible applications. An overview of DigiDoc libraries and file formats supported therein.

Digital stamping means digital signing with an e-Stamp designed for legal persons. The service is offered by SK ID Solutions AS. There are two methods of digital stamping: stamping individual documents with DigiDoc4 and mass stamping with the DigiDoc4j utility program.

eIDAS (electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services) is the regulation on e-identification and e-transactions effective in the European Union, which is aimed at simplification of the use of cross-border e-services through harmonised standards and operating principles.

Upon electronic use of an ID-card, setup related errors may occur with the browser. To avoid problems, we recommend doing an automated check-up of the signing plugin in the e-service and display to the user as precisely a formulated error message as possible.

In order to make it easier to add signing support to web applications, we recommend using a JavaScript library with a unified API that allows different plugins to be used in a similar way (independently of the operating system and the browser).