ChoosingSimplySign or a signature on a card?
Compare devices, everyday use and setup before choosing a cloud or card signature.
Read the guideINFORMATION CENTRE
Guides to signatures, seals and renewal
Choose your situation. Find an explanation and the next step.
18 guides
Guide library
Choosing
Validity and renewalSignature, seal and renewal: how many years?
Understand 1, 2 and 3-year certificate periods and the difference between signature renewal and a seal’s next term.
Read the guideValidity and renewalWhen to renew a signature — and what if it expires?
Check expiry and access, and understand renewal versus a new certificate.
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Business and public servicesSignature, seal and KSeF certificate: three different roles
Separate the needs of a person, an organisation and the KSeF system before choosing.
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Practical helpSignature not working? Prepare for a useful support call
Check the application, certificate, reader and the point where the error occurs.
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Practical helpHow to check a signed PDF — beyond the signature image
Understand a visible signature graphic and inspect the PDF’s actual signature validation result.
Read the guideGetting startedActivate SimplySign — from application to first signature
Prepare your phone, email access and application details. Certificate issuance, application setup and signing are separate stages.
Read the guideGetting startedActivate a card signature — prepare your kit
Your card, reader and software need to work together. Prepare the kit before installing the issued certificate.
Read the guideGetting startedSign a PDF with SimplySign on a computer
Go from a finished document to a signed file. Your phone authorises access while compatible computer software signs the document.
Read the guideGetting startedSign a PDF using a card and reader
Prepare the final PDF, connect your kit and select the correct certificate. Check the saved result after signing.
Read the guidePractical helpPAdES or XAdES — which signature format?
Choose according to the document and recipient requirements. A signature inside a PDF differs from an XML signature structure.
Read the guidePractical helpMultiple signatures on one document — keep the chain intact
Agree the order and use the correct file version. Each next signer receives the document containing the existing signatures.
Read the guideChoosingA qualified signature without PESEL — where to start
Separate certificate eligibility from the requirements of the system where you will use it. Prepare your purpose and identity document details.
Read the guideBusiness and public servicesSignatures in Płatnik — setup and error diagnosis
Check your user certificate, application setup and submission stage. The ZUS certificate and your personal signature serve different purposes.
Read the guideBusiness and public servicesQualified signatures in S24 — document, signer and submission
Prepare your certificate and browser environment. Establish separately who signs a document and who submits the application.
Read the guideBusiness and public servicesFinancial statements — signatures and file preparation
Establish the required format, signers and destination. A readable PDF printout does not automatically replace the required source file.
Read the guideBusiness and public servicesCRBR submissions — prepare for signing
Separate data accuracy, authority to submit and the signing operation. Confirm completion in the CRBR system.
Read the guideBusiness and public servicesA seal for EPREL — check organisational data
Choosing an EPREL seal requires checking the organisation identifier and supplier verification process. “Qualified” alone does not describe every requirement.
Read the guideNo results. Try another word or category.
GLOSSARY
Technical terms. Plain explanations.
- Certificate
- An electronic attestation linking particular data to a person or organisation, with a stated validity period.
- SimplySign
- A cloud solution for using a qualified signature without a physical card.
- Reader
- A device connecting a cryptographic card to a computer.
- Activation
- The process of enabling a selected certificate, separate from everyday signing.
- Renewal
- A process for a certificate’s next term; requirements depend on the product.
- Seal
- A tool to confirm the origin and integrity of an organisation’s documents.
- Validation
- Checking a signature or seal and assessing the verification result.
- PAdES
- A signature format associated with PDF documents.
- PIN
- A code used to authorise particular certificate operations. Keep it private.
- PUK
- A code associated with access management. Its exact purpose depends on the product instructions.
- Token
- A temporary access code, for example generated by a mobile app. It differs from the signing PIN.
- XAdES
- A family of XML-based signature formats; choose the variant required by the recipient.
- Detached signature
- A signature stored separately from the signed content. Validation needs the correct file set.
- Embedded signature
- A signature held with the content in a shared file structure. The arrangement depends on the format.
- Timestamp
- Electronic data linking other data to a particular time, separate from a signature image.
- Identity verification
- Checking a person’s identity in the certificate issuance process.
- Authentication
- Establishing identity when accessing a system.
- Permissions
- The actions a person may perform in a system or for an entity.
- KSeF certificate
- A certificate for purposes within KSeF, rather than a general contract-signing solution.
- NTR
- A national trade-register identifier used in organisational data, relevant when choosing an EPREL seal.