Sign an employment contract electronically

An employment contract signed electronically has the same value as one signed by hand: it is a written document within the meaning of the French Civil Code, and nothing requires it to be printed. What remains is to choose a signature level that will make it possible, should the day come, to prove who signed.

What the law says

The French Civil Code (Code civil) recognises electronic writing (Article 1366) and the electronic signature (Article 1367), provided the signature identifies its author and guarantees its link with the deed. The French Labour Code (Code du travail), for its part, does not impose any particular level of electronic signature for an employment contract. The point is to select the most suitable signature level according to the risks attached to the job in question.

A fixed-term contract (contrat à durée déterminée, CDD), on the other hand, must be in writing and handed to the employee no later than two working days after hiring (Article L1242-13 of the Labour Code). An electronic signature makes it possible to meet this deadline even at a distance.

Employer and employee each sign on their own

1-signature has one person sign, for themselves. For an employment contract, each party therefore signs in turn:

1. the employer signs the contract — with 1-signature or with the tool of their choice — and sends it to the employee;
2. the employee uploads this already-signed PDF, places their own signature, and signs in turn.

The first signature is preserved in the document: the final PDF bears both.

Which level to choose

No level is imposed by law: the employer is free to decide which signature level to put in place, for themselves and for the employee.

• Level 1: it may be enough between parties who know each other. Access to the signature is protected by a code received by email; as soon as the signatory's identity could be disputed, prefer a level where it is verified.
• Level 3: your identity is supplied by FranceConnect (the French government's identity login service), and is therefore verified. This is the right choice if you want to be able to show that it really was you who signed — for example, for a contract signed at a distance, without a prior meeting.
• Level 4: a certificate is issued in your first name and surname, but without any identity check. Useful if you do not have a FranceConnect account; in that case, check your name carefully, as it will appear exactly as typed on the signature.

Good habits

• Sign the final version: after signing, any modification of the PDF breaks the signature, and that is intended.
• Keep the evidence file with the contract: it is what records the signing if it is ever disputed.
• Download both files within seven days: we do not keep them beyond that.