Process automation is the engine of competitiveness, but issuing thousands of digital documents a day requires an irrefutable mechanism that guarantees their origin and prevents tampering. The electronic seal is the definitive cryptographic tool that solves this challenge. Acting as the digital and secure equivalent of the traditional corporate rubber stamp, it allows legal entities to authenticate documents on a massive scale without human intervention.
\nIf you’re wondering what an electronic seal is, what the differences are between an electronic signature and an electronic seal, or how the eIDAS Regulation governs their validity across Europe, this technical guide covers everything you need to know to implement it in your company.
","strapi_component":"blog.content-rich-text"},{"id":1033,"name":null,"description":"Issue and seal documents and transactions with full legal validity
","button":"Try Tecalis Sign for 6 months with no obligation","url":"https://www.tecalis.com/products/electronic-signature","blank":true,"image":null,"strapi_component":"blog.cta"},{"id":4334,"text":"An electronic seal is a set of data in digital format, attached or logically associated with an electronic document, which serves to guarantee the origin and unalterable integrity of said document. Unlike other digital identity solutions, the electronic seal is linked solely and exclusively to a legal entity (a company, institution, or government entity), and not to a natural person.
\nIts purpose is not to express human consent regarding a contract, but to automatically certify that a document has been officially issued by an organization and has not been altered since the time of its sealing.
\nRegulation (EU) No. 910/2014 (known as eIDAS) classifies seals into three levels, depending on their technological robustness and their evidentiary weight in court. Choosing the appropriate type is essential to ensure the validity of transactions and avoid legal risks in the corporate environment:
\nThe operation of the electronic seal is based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and asymmetric cryptography. This system uses a pair of linked mathematical keys: a private key (securely stored in an HSM or cryptographic server by the company) and a public key that is available for any recipient to quickly verify the document.
\nTo ensure maximum technical robustness, the process operates under three unbreakable principles, starting with the principle of authenticity. This mechanism irrefutably ensures that the document originates exactly from the legal entity claiming to have issued it, eliminating any risk of identity theft in digital workflows.
\nFurthermore, the principle of integrity guarantees that the content has not been altered in any way, since if a single bit is changed, the seal is immediately broken, alerting to the tampering. Added to this is the principle of Non-Repudiation, which prevents the issuing company from denying authorship of the issuance, as the private key is under its exclusive control.
","strapi_component":"blog.content-rich-text"},{"id":939,"title":null,"alt":"Two people are checking the electronic stamp on their tablets at a city hall office.","figcaption":null,"link":null,"blank":null,"image":{"id":5029,"name":"sello_electronico_interior_1.png","hash":"sello_electronico_interior_1_a447fd466b","sha256":null,"ext":".png","mime":"image/png","size":165.98,"url":"/uploads/sello_electronico_interior_1_a447fd466b.png","provider":"local","provider_metadata":null,"created_at":"2026-04-07T07:23:19.000Z","updated_at":"2026-04-07T07:23:19.000Z","alternativeText":"","caption":"","width":954,"height":525,"formats":{"thumbnail":{"name":"thumbnail_sello_electronico_interior_1.png","hash":"thumbnail_sello_electronico_interior_1_a447fd466b","ext":".png","mime":"image/png","width":245,"height":135,"size":76.35,"path":null,"url":"/uploads/thumbnail_sello_electronico_interior_1_a447fd466b.png"},"medium":{"name":"medium_sello_electronico_interior_1.png","hash":"medium_sello_electronico_interior_1_a447fd466b","ext":".png","mime":"image/png","width":750,"height":413,"size":582.69,"path":null,"url":"/uploads/medium_sello_electronico_interior_1_a447fd466b.png"},"small":{"name":"small_sello_electronico_interior_1.png","hash":"small_sello_electronico_interior_1_a447fd466b","ext":".png","mime":"image/png","width":500,"height":275,"size":278.85,"path":null,"url":"/uploads/small_sello_electronico_interior_1_a447fd466b.png"}},"previewUrl":null,"localFile___NODE":"e1d77254-709f-5a2b-9fff-c11893737eb9"},"strapi_component":"blog.image"},{"id":4336,"text":"When an organization automates its sealing process through internal systems such as an ERP or CRM, the technology executes a series of sequential steps in a matter of milliseconds to ensure the cryptographic security of each issuance without slowing down operational efficiency:
\nOne of the most common questions in the corporate environment is understanding the differences between electronic signatures and electronic seals. Although both tools use identical cryptographic foundations, their legal purpose and use cases are substantially different.
\nAn electronic signature is linked to a natural person and requires their conscious, manual action at the time of signing to demonstrate consent, approval, or legal intent regarding an employment contract or commercial agreement. In contrast, an electronic seal is linked to a legal entity and can be generated automatically and in bulk without human intervention, with the sole purpose of guaranteeing the origin and integrity of data in bulk invoices, pay stubs, or delivery receipts.
\nCan a company use both? Absolutely. In fact, it is the best operational practice within a comprehensive digitization strategy. A company will use the business electronic seal in its automated processes, such as sending a thousand structured invoices per month unattended, while it will require the electronic signature of its legal representatives when it needs to carry out actions involving human intent, such as closing a commercial agreement with a new supplier, signing an NDA, or formalizing a termination.
","strapi_component":"blog.content-rich-text"},{"id":4338,"text":"To better understand its application, an example of an electronic seal can be visualized in daily corporate automation processes. Since it does not require human intervention, it is ideal for preventing fraud across multiple sectors:
\nComplies with eIDAS and the Crea y Crece Law without technical friction
","button":"Talk to our experts","url":"https://www.tecalis.com/contact","blank":true,"image":null,"strapi_component":"blog.cta"},{"id":4339,"text":"The adoption of the electronic seal for businesses is not just a matter of regulatory compliance, but a direct strategy for optimizing resources and mitigating operational risks. Corporate benefits include:
\nCorporate benefits include these operational improvements that provide legal protection for any large-scale process. As a result, the company can focus on scaling its business model without fear of potential security breaches.
","strapi_component":"blog.content-rich-text"},{"id":4340,"text":"The validity of electronic seals in Europe is guaranteed by the eIDAS Regulation (EU Regulation No. 910/2014), which establishes a unified framework of trust and legal guarantees.
\nIt provides a cross-border legal framework where a qualified electronic seal issued in Spain has exactly the same legal recognition throughout the European Union.
\nIt also grants enhanced evidentiary validity, whereby the sealed document is presumed authentic in court, reversing the burden of proof in the event of a dispute; thus, whoever alleges that it is false must prove it.
\nAccording to Article 36 of the eIDAS Regulation, for an electronic seal to enjoy full guarantees and not be easily repudiated in court, it must comply with these mandatory technical requirements that ensure its absolute reliability. First, it is essential that the seal be uniquely linked to the seal creator—that is, the legal entity—thus allowing for the unambiguous identification of that entity.
\nFurthermore, this seal must have been generated using creation data that the holder can manage under their exclusive control, either through the use of secure hardware or through its cloud-based custody by a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP). Finally, it must be associated with the document in such a way that any subsequent attempt at manipulation or alteration is immediately and cryptographically detected by the validation software.
","strapi_component":"blog.content-rich-text"},{"id":940,"title":null,"alt":"A person connecting a USB security device to a laptop to manage the digital signature.","figcaption":null,"link":null,"blank":null,"image":{"id":5033,"name":"sello_electronico_interior_2.png","hash":"validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f","sha256":null,"ext":".png","mime":"image/png","size":1020.77,"url":"/uploads/validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f.png","provider":"local","provider_metadata":null,"created_at":"2026-04-07T08:16:29.000Z","updated_at":"2026-04-10T07:35:43.000Z","alternativeText":"","caption":"","width":1272,"height":700,"formats":{"thumbnail":{"name":"thumbnail_validacion-documentos-identidad_interior_2 (6).png","hash":"thumbnail_validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f","ext":".png","mime":"image/png","width":245,"height":135,"size":84.2,"path":null,"url":"/uploads/thumbnail_validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f.png"},"large":{"name":"large_validacion-documentos-identidad_interior_2 (6).png","hash":"large_validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f","ext":".png","mime":"image/png","width":1000,"height":550,"size":1130.77,"path":null,"url":"/uploads/large_validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f.png"},"medium":{"name":"medium_validacion-documentos-identidad_interior_2 (6).png","hash":"medium_validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f","ext":".png","mime":"image/png","width":750,"height":413,"size":661.39,"path":null,"url":"/uploads/medium_validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f.png"},"small":{"name":"small_validacion-documentos-identidad_interior_2 (6).png","hash":"small_validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f","ext":".png","mime":"image/png","width":500,"height":275,"size":310.57,"path":null,"url":"/uploads/small_validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f.png"}},"previewUrl":null,"localFile___NODE":"5dbe59ce-bc12-5389-8f9c-cda169108b76"},"strapi_component":"blog.image"},{"id":4341,"text":"Yes, legislation is moving toward its mandatory use in numerous scenarios, establishing the qualified or advanced electronic seal as the standard technology to guarantee the authenticity and integrity of operations in the following key areas:
\nTo obtain a signed and automated electronic seal quickly, companies must move away from manual processes and integrate solutions via APIs, ensuring secure implementation by connecting their management software.
\nBelow, we detail the key steps for a successful implementation that allows for the issuance of secure documents without operational friction:
\nThe use of specialized platforms transforms document management, eliminating friction and automating comprehensive regulatory compliance (eIDAS and GDPR). Notable solutions include Tecalis Sign, which allows for the bulk signing and automated sealing of PDF or XML documents. Integrating the electronic seal via APIs from leading providers reduces internal development costs and ensures that the cryptography used is always up to date with European regulations.
","strapi_component":"blog.content-rich-text"},{"id":1035,"name":null,"description":"Integrate the qualified electronic seal into your processes and say goodbye to paper
","button":"Discover Tecalis Sign ","url":"https://www.tecalis.com/products/electronic-signature","blank":true,"image":null,"strapi_component":"blog.cta"}],"blog_categories":[{"id":13,"name":"Electronic Signature","url":"electronic-signature"},{"id":22,"name":"RPA - Automation","url":"rpa-automation"},{"id":15,"name":"Legal Framework ","url":"regulatory-legal-framework"}],"reading_time":"Tiempo de lectura: 6 min"},"site":{"siteMetadata":{"title":"Tecalis","twitterHandle":"Tecalis"}}},"pageContext":{"id":"Blog-posts_404","title":"Electronic Seal: What It Is, How It Works, and What It’s Used For","langKey":"en","location":"https://tecalis.com/blog/electronic-seal-what-it-is-how-it-works","dateFormat":"MMMM D, YYYY","translates":{"en":"/blog/electronic-seal-what-it-is-how-it-works","es":"/es/blog/sello-electronico-que-es-como-funciona"},"images":{"e1d77254-709f-5a2b-9fff-c11893737eb9":{"data":{"image":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","placeholder":{"fallback":"data:image/png;base64,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"},"images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/b142ad1b10fce57aa2b7fb5a42830c26/59ffd/sello_electronico_interior_1_a447fd466b.webp","srcSet":"/static/b142ad1b10fce57aa2b7fb5a42830c26/7b6bd/sello_electronico_interior_1_a447fd466b.webp 350w,\n/static/b142ad1b10fce57aa2b7fb5a42830c26/aa5f2/sello_electronico_interior_1_a447fd466b.webp 512w,\n/static/b142ad1b10fce57aa2b7fb5a42830c26/806ca/sello_electronico_interior_1_a447fd466b.webp 520w,\n/static/b142ad1b10fce57aa2b7fb5a42830c26/59ffd/sello_electronico_interior_1_a447fd466b.webp 572w","sizes":"(min-width: 572px) 572px, 100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":572,"height":315}}}}},"5dbe59ce-bc12-5389-8f9c-cda169108b76":{"data":{"image":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","placeholder":{"fallback":"data:image/png;base64,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"},"images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/ad8ba74941b6ae63986112e48cbea6ab/59ffd/validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f.webp","srcSet":"/static/ad8ba74941b6ae63986112e48cbea6ab/7b6bd/validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f.webp 350w,\n/static/ad8ba74941b6ae63986112e48cbea6ab/aa5f2/validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f.webp 512w,\n/static/ad8ba74941b6ae63986112e48cbea6ab/806ca/validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f.webp 520w,\n/static/ad8ba74941b6ae63986112e48cbea6ab/59ffd/validacion_documentos_identidad_interior_2_6_ed0f202a6f.webp 572w","sizes":"(min-width: 572px) 572px, 100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":572,"height":315}}}}}},"advertisements":{},"advertisementsForms":{},"ctas":{},"videos":{},"cookies":true}}, "staticQueryHashes": ["1208480927","235538228","2927780632","3803179178","536423426","63159454"]}