Document signing link behavior
When clicking a Penneo document signing link, the system behavior depends on the current status of the signatures. If you have already signed the documents, the link redirects you to a confirmation message. If you have not signed yet, the signing process begins, and you will either see the documents or be prompted to confirm your identity based on the document’s access control settings.
Signature registration and storage requirements
Penneo requires signers to specify their storage preferences to finalize the registration of a signature. When you return to the signing page after signing the documents, you must answer the prompt regarding where you want to store your documents. Your signature will not be registered if this storage question remains unanswered.
Mobile electronic ID (eID) signing requirements
When signing a Penneo document via a mobile device using an electronic ID (eID) application, you must return to the original signing page after the app redirection. Failure to return to the signing page after completing the eID process prevents the signature from being registered. This step is critical for ensuring the system captures the completed signature event.
Legal validity and evidence of Penneo signatures
Digital documents signed through Penneo are as legally binding, valid, and enforceable in court as physical documents signed with ink on paper. Each document signed via Penneo embeds cryptographic elements with probative value, certifying its reliability and trustworthiness as legal evidence. In the event of a dispute, the document contains evidentiary visual elements that attest to its validity.
Methods for verifying document validity
The validity of Penneo-signed documents can be verified using a PDF reader, the Penneo Validator, or the EU Validator. To see a sample of a validly signed file, you can download a document signed via Penneo.
Visual indicators of document validity in PDF readers
When opening a Penneo document in a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader, a seal appears as a blue bar at the top to guarantee the document’s probative value. If the document is invalid, the bar displays the text: “Certification by Penneo A/S is invalid.”
The visual appearance of the blue bar depends on the date the document was signed and the seal provider used:
- Current Seal (Standard): A blue bar appears at the top indicating the Penneo signature is valid.
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Intesi Group Seal (February 2021 – May 2025): Documents signed during this period may show a specific Intesi Group banner. Intesi Group may still be used as a provider beyond May 2025 to ensure high availability.
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GlobalSign Seal (Pre-February 2021): Documents older than February 2021 will show a blue bar from GlobalSign, the provider used prior to Intesi Group.
Technical proofs and the Penneo audit log
Penneo embeds technical components into documents to ensure content and signatures remain untampered. You can view additional validity details by clicking the paperclip icon in the left tab of a PDF reader or by clicking the Signature Panel button next to the seal on the top blue bar.
Key technical elements include:
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Encrypted Signature Algorithms: Viewable timestamps show exactly when each signature was applied.
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Audit Log: A human-readable and printable audit trail traces every operation from document creation to signing completion. It records the time and IP location for every activity, providing evidence of who opened, viewed, and signed the document.
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Signature Panel Details: Provides extra data on the technical validity of signatures.
- Unique Document Key: A key visible on the right side of every page ensures the immutability of the content.
- Dedicated Signature Page: The final page of the document contains cryptographically bound information, including signer names, roles, entity names, IP addresses (partially anonymized), and timestamps.
Compliance with eIDAS and PAdES standards
Penneo complies with the eIDAS EU Regulation (n. 910/2014) for the creation and validation of electronic signatures. The system follows the PAdES (Advanced Electronic Signatures for PDF documents) standard for cryptographically secure signatures. These digital signatures provide indisputable proof of authenticity, data integrity, and non-repudiation, ensuring that parties cannot deny having signed the document.
Step-by-step guide to using the Penneo validator
To verify the validity of a signed document, follow these steps in the Penneo Validator:
- Navigate to the Penneo Validator.
- Upload the signed document by clicking on Choose document to check.
- Review the validation results and compare them with the physical document.
Troubleshooting Penneo validator errors
If the Penneo Validator returns an Invalid Certificate error, it may be because the certificate provider’s service is temporarily down or because the document has been modified, which damages the certificate and renders the document invalid.
A Non-Penneo Document error typically indicates the document was not downloaded correctly. To prevent this error:
- Ensure you are using the correct file following the finalization guide.
- Avoid downloading the document a second time from a browser window after it automatically opens; use the file already saved to your computer.
- Do not export the document to a different format, as this can remove the digital certificate.
- You may move the file to different folders, but do not create a new copy using “Save As” or export tools that might strip the cryptographic signatures.