Expanding into Spain—or managing a subsidiary here—means working within one of Europe’s most regulated labour markets. Employment contracts, data protection and compliance requirements can slow down HR teams and add unnecessary complexity.

The good news: Spain fully recognises electronic signatures for employment contracts. This allows you to hire, onboard and manage employees entirely online, with the same legal certainty as traditional paper processes.

Spain has regulated eSignatures for more than 20 years. It began withRoyal Decree-Law 14/1999, later consolidated in Law 59/2003, and today is governed by the EU’s eIDAS Regulation (910/2014) together with Spanish Law 6/2020 on trusted electronic services.

This legal framework makes electronic signatures one of the most secure and efficient tools for digital HR. No wonder 83% of Spanish companies already use them in their internal processes. The same rules apply to international businesses.

At Lleida.net, a qualified trust service provider, we help companies worldwide manage their Spanish workforce with Click & Sign, our electronic signature platform that combines security, efficiency, and complete legal compliance.

The impact of electronic signatures on HR

Electronic signatures have become indispensable for HR departments, particularly in staffing agencies and consultancies. They simplify document management, automate repetitive tasks, reduce delays and ensure compliance with Spanish and EU law at every stage of the employee lifecycle.

Cloud-based services make it easier to design a smooth candidate and employee experience. They provide security, traceability, efficiency and legal validity. At Lleida.net, our solutions are updated seamlessly, so HR teams can always benefit from the latest features.

From data protection consent forms (required under Spain’s LOPDGDD and the EU GDPR) to employment contracts, settlement agreements and tax forms such as IRPF withholding certificates—all can be signed 100% digitally, with full legal standing and maximum convenience for both employer and employee.

Benefits of using electronic signatures in employment contracts

Electronic signatures, like handwritten ones, are legally valid and record the signatory’s consent. But they offer clear advantages for HR:

• Real-time tracking and secure storage
  Processes are tracked live, ensuring compliance and accuracy. Documents are stored securely for at least five years (extendable if needed), alongside additional records such as IDs, passports or registered certificates. Editable PDFs automatically capture entered data, keeping HR files centralised in one secure repository.

Is it legal in Spain to sign employment contracts electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are entirely legal and binding in Spain and across the EU, provided they comply with the eIDAS Regulation (EU 910/2014)and Spanish Law 6/2020on trusted electronic services.

All Lleida.net services adhere strictly to this framework, ensuring every transaction meets the highest standards of security, interoperability and validity, locally and globally.

>> Get in touch for more details

Is electronic signing recognised worldwide?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legal in most countries, though rules differ by jurisdiction. Lleida.net solutions are recognised in over 100 countries, enabling international transactions with complete security and no legal barriers.

>> You can check the validity by country here

Types of electronic signature under eIDAS

The eIDAS Regulationdefines three levels of electronic signature, each with different degrees of security and evidential strength. Click & Sign supports all three, so you can choose the level that best fits your business needs.

Simple electronic signature (SES)

• Best for low-risk processes or internal documentation.

• Lower probative value.

Advanced electronic signature (AES)

• Ensures the signatory’s identity and link to the document.

• Adds an extra layer of protection with a one-time password (OTP), sent via Registered Email, Registered SMS or Registered WhatsApp. The signatory enters the unique code to finalise the process, ensuring authenticity.

Qualified electronic signature (QES)

• Legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.

• Requires a qualified registered certificate.

• Used in high-assurance legal contexts.

Strong security and probative evidence

Every signature completed with Lleida.net is supported by authentication, integrity and non-repudiation mechanisms. This ensures the document cannot be altered and the signatory's identity is always clear.

Each transaction generates documentary evidence that records every event in the process. This file is digitally signed and timestamped, protecting its authenticity and integrity from creation through to secure storage.

The documentary evidence serves as registered proof, providing strong evidence that can be presented in court if required. Timestamping reinforces the long-term validity of the signature, even years after the signing took place.

Cloud-native security and automation

Companies are increasingly moving to 100% cloud-based solutions instead of on-premise systems. The cloud offers greater flexibility, lower costs and automatic updates, all without adding pressure on IT teams.

With Lleida.net, services can be activated the same day. Our APIsintegrate seamlessly with ERP, CRM or other HR platforms. New features are introduced continuously, based on client needs, without downtime or disruption for users.

How to sign an employment contract electronically

Employment contracts can be sent via Registered Email, Registered SMS or Registered WhatsApp. HR teams can issue them directly from the back office or set up automated workflows through our APIs.

How does the recipient sign?

The employee receives the contract via Registered Email, Registered SMS, or Registered WhatsApp and is redirected to the signing page.

 No prior registration or software installation is required. The signing process can also be embedded into your company’s website.

The contract can be signed instantly from any device—mobile, tablet or desktop—making the experience simple and user-friendly.

Can multiple people sign at once?

Yes.

With Click & Sign, you can create sequential or parallel signing flows and assign each participant the required type of signature.

The platform also supports bulk sending, allowing the same contract to be distributed individually to multiple signatories.

Can I use forms and editable PDFs?

Yes.

 Signatories can complete mandatory fields and sign directly. You can pre-fill fields in an editable PDF and mark them as required.

With Click & Automate, you can also design custom signing flows without any development work.

>> Ask for more details and start today

Customisation with Click & Sign

Click & Sign offers a high degree of customisation. You can adjust every aspect—from your email templates and corporate colours to sender verification, logos and even the sending domain.

 Contact our sales team to explore all available options and make sure your signing process reflects your brand identity.

Beyond signatures: registered notifications for HR

Electronic signatures aren’t the only digital HR tool in Spain. With Lleida.net, you can also certify the delivery, receipt and opening of an email or SMS—providing the digital equivalent of Spain’s traditional burofax (registered post).

Key services for HR digitalisation

With Lleida.net, you can digitalise the entire HR lifecycle in Spain—from data collection and employee communication to secure document management and storage.

Spain’s Organic Law 1/2025 (LO 1/2025) on measures to improve the efficiency of the Public Justice Service has placed Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at the centre of Spanish legal practice, making it a mandatory prerequisite in civil and commercial proceedings.

Within this new legal framework, an unprecedented event marks a turning point: the first Spanish Provincial Court ruling that validates Registered Email as a legitimate way to certify an ADR process.

This ruling not only reinforces the importance of ADR under LO 1/2025 but also provides much-needed clarity, reducing legal uncertainty surrounding mediation procedures since the law came into force. By recognising Registered Email as equivalent to the traditional registered post (burofax), the court consolidates it as a legally valid tool for communicating binding offers in commercial transactions. A faster and more efficient solution already used successfully by Lleida.net clients to optimise resources and ensure compliance.

What is ADR (MASC)?

ADR (in Spanish, Medios Adecuados de Solución de Controversias – MASC) refers to mandatory mechanisms to resolve disputes before claims can be admitted in civil and commercial courts, including those with an international dimension.

These methods —mediation, conciliation, and negotiation— encourage dialogue and collaboration, allowing parties to reach agreements through peaceful and voluntary means.

LO 1/2025 reinforces the importance of mediation and negotiation, requiring parties to provide verifiable proof of attempted ADR before taking a case to court. This ensures a faster, more cooperative judicial process.

Case background

The case was filed by a creditor against a debtor. Before going to court, the creditor sent a Confidential Binding Offer (CBO) to the debtor via Registered Email, in compliance with LO 1/2025.

However, the Commercial Court initially dismissed the case, claiming that the ADR requirement had not been proven with sufficient documentation.

The first Spanish ruling recognising ADR via Registered Email

The Provincial Court of Alicante (Ruling No. 48/2025) took a different approach. It explicitly stated that “there is no obstacle to using email as the method of communication,” thus recognising Registered Email as an effective and valid medium, thanks to:

• Verified sender identification.
• Proof of effective receipt.
• Reliable timestamp, ensuring confidentiality of content.

Importantly, the ruling clarifies that prior agreement between the parties to use email is not required. This reinforces a functional, non-formalistic interpretation of the ADR prerequisite.

The Court also referred to Article 3.1 of the Spanish Civil Code, which requires laws to adapt to “the social reality of their time.” In today’s business environment, email is an ordinary channel of communication — provided authenticity and integrity are guaranteed.

This interpretation aligns with guidelines from the Spanish General Council of Lawyers, which equates Registered Email to traditional burofax for ADR compliance.

The probative value of Registered Email

Today, Registered Email is a widely accepted and reliable communication tool across Spanish business practice. Its legal strength is supported by both EU and Spanish regulations, provided it is issued by a Qualified Trust Service Provider such as Lleida.net.

Legal foundations

Registered Email is legally recognised under a solid framework, including:

• Spanish Civil Code (1889)
• Spanish Criminal Code (1995)
• Civil Procedure Law (2000)
• Law on Information Society Services (2002)
• General Telecommunications Law (2014)
• Law 6/2020 on trust services
• EU Regulation 910/2014 (eIDAS)

The eIDAS Regulation explicitly states that electronic delivery services cannot be denied legal effect or admissibility as evidence in court solely because they are electronic.

This Regulation explicitly establishes that “data sent and received through an electronic registered delivery service shall not be denied legal effect or admissibility as evidence in legal proceedings solely on the grounds that they are in electronic form or do not meet the requirements for qualified electronic registered delivery services.”

Recent case law and various judicial rulings in Spain have reinforced this interpretation, recognizing the full legal validity of Registered Email in both commercial and procedural contexts.

Read our FAQ on registered electronic communications

Lleida.net’s pioneering role in digital justice

With over 30 years of expertise, Lleida.net has been at the forefront of digital justice in Spain, anticipating the challenges of LO 1/2025.

Our trusted electronic communication solutions enable businesses, law firms, and institutions to comply with legal requirements while ensuring full probative value for their communications.

Key advantages include:

• Verified identification of recipients.
• Legally valid proof of delivery and receipt.
• Encrypted PDF documents, ensuring confidentiality.
• Full traceability with timestamps.
• Certified evidence admissible in court.

Trust Lleida.net to certify your ADR processes. Contact us today to ensure secure, legally valid communications.

Certified translations' digital signature in Spain becomes a reality in March 2025. With the new AUC/213/2025 regulation, certified translators in Spain can legally sign translations online using a qualified electronic certificate. This new framework allows certified translations with a digital signature in Spain to fully replace the traditional stamped version

In this article, we break down the key points of the new regulation and explain how Lleida.net can support you in adopting it efficiently and securely.

Certified translations electronic signature Spain: What’s new in AUC/213/2025

In line with the ongoing development of digital public services in Spain, Order AUC/213/2025 formalises the use of electronic signatures for the issuance and delivery of certified translations and interpretation work. From now on, the entire process—from signing and submission to certification and archiving—can be completed entirely online.

The key changes include:

Certified translators and interpreters can now sign their translations using a qualified digital certificate issued to a natural person. This qualified electronic signature replaces the traditional handwritten signature and includes a unique digital seal showing the signer’s full name and personal ID number, as issued by the trusted certification service provider.

Optionally, the signature may also include a visual stamp generated by the signing platform, which displays the signer’s identity details clearly on the document.

The electronic signature must apply to the entire file, covering both the original source text and the translation.

The traditional physical stamp is replaced by a digital signature block, which includes the translator’s full name, official registration number, and authorised language combination. This must follow the format set out in Annexes I, II, and III of Spain’s Official State Gazette and be signed along with the rest of the document.

The standard certification clause attesting to the accuracy and completeness of the translation remains mandatory.

How Lleida.net helps with certified translations and electronic signatures in Spain

Lleida.net is a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) under the European eIDAS Regulation, and is also recognised by international authorities such as ONAC (Colombia), INDECOPI (Peru), and INDOTEL (Dominican Republic).

Thanks to this global accreditation, we can issue legally valid qualified certificates across both Europe and Latin America.

One of our main advantages is the ability to obtain a digital certificate fully online, without the need for in-person identity verification. With a 100% remote and secure process, any certified professional can request and activate their certificate directly through our website. For a practical walkthrough, check our step-by-step guide on how to sign a document digitally.

Your certificate is stored in the cloud—never locally on your device—offering added protection against data loss or unauthorised access. Our platform ensures your electronic signatures meet all legal requirements under eIDAS, with maximum security and reliability.

Apply for your centralised digital certificate here.

Certified, secure document delivery

In addition to electronic signature services, Lleida.net offers powerful certified delivery tools, including Registered Email, Registered SMS, and even Registered WhatsApp—enabled through our Openum platform.

These services ensure secure delivery of certified documents, offer optional access protection for recipients, and provide full traceability of the entire communication.

Not only do these tools confirm delivery, they also generate legal proof of when a message was received and opened. That makes them legally equivalent to a registered letter or postal burofax.

How can I check the authenticity of a digitally signed certified translation?

To verify whether a digitally signed certified translation is authentic and legally valid, you can use the Universal Signed Docs Verifier. This tool automatically and thoroughly validates electronic signatures applied to any type of file (XAdES, CAdES, PAdES, Facturae, UBL…). It analyzes all technical and legal aspects of the signature and generates a comprehensive validation report with legal value, which can be used as evidence before third parties.

>> Book a demo

Are traditional certified translations still valid in Spain?

Yes. Under the current regulations, certified translations can still be signed either with a qualified digital certificate or with a handwritten signature and physical stamp. Both formats are legally valid.

Advantages of switching to digital signatures

Faster turnaround, without relying on postal services.

Advantages of switching to digital signatures

Instant delivery to clients.

Stronger legal safeguards through verified authenticity and document integrity.

Moving to a digital model not only boosts efficiency, but it also aligns your work with today’s e-government standards.

If you’d like help transitioning to digital signing and certified delivery, don’t hesitate to contact us.

We’re here to guide you through every step of your digital transformation.