Digital Signature Certificate

A digital signature certificate (DSC) is a secure digital key issued by recognised certifying authorities to validate the identity of the certificate holder. A digital signature certificate (DSC) includes information such as the user’s name, pin code, country, email address, certificate issuance date, and certifying authority’s name.

Benefits of a Digital Signature Certificate

Apart from authenticating the certificate holder’s identity, an online digital signature helps in the following ways:

Authentication – When conducting business online, a DSC helps in authenticating the personal information of the individual holder.

Enhanced security – The DSC’s enhanced security features avoid unauthorised access to your documents and records. No one can forge your signature, tamper with the records, or change the contents of your paper. Your DSC verifies and authenticates the signature.

Reduced cost and time – Digital signatures ensure a smoother workflow in an organization by limiting the time and cost spent on signing documents and contracts. Documents can be signed by the required persons in a click of a button. This is especially useful when the signer is located in a different area and there is no dependency for him/her to be physically present.

Data integrity – Digitally signed documents cannot be changed or modified after they have been signed, making the records safe and stable. These certificates are often required by government entities in order to cross-check and validate business transactions.

Documents Required For electronic signature

Indians looking to obtain a DSC must submit:

  • ID proof: passport/driving license or any photo identity issued by the govt
  • PAN card
  • Address proof: Aadhaar card/voter ID/driving license/registration certificate
  • Attesting officer proof

 

Indian organizations looking to get DSC must submit:

  • Organizational PAN
  • Partnership deed, if applicable
  • List of authorised signatories which could be the list of directors, board resolution, etc.
  • Authorised signatory ID proof
  • GST certificate
  • For Indian companies, the documents may differ depending upon the type of entity like partnership, proprietorship, sole ownership, LLP, etc.

 

Foreign individuals and organizations looking to obtain DSC must submit:

  • Attested copy of applicant’s passport
  • Attested copy of visa, if the applicant is out of their native country
  • Attested copy of resident permit certificate, if the applicant is in India
  • Attested copy of any govt-issued address proof

 

Foreign attestation procedure for DSC:

 

An authorisation letter must be sought with the respective company seal and signature from the.

  • Embassy of the native country (If the applicant is out of their native country)
  • Apostilled by the native country after a public notary (if the country is in the Hague Convention). For example, Austria, Greece, Oman, Australia, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, etc.
  • Consularized by the native country, after a public notary (if the country is not in the Hague Convention). For example, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, etc.