Qualified electronic signature

The highest level of electronic signature, sometimes required for online submission on SIMAP.

The qualified electronic signature, or QES, is the legally strongest form of electronic signature in Switzerland. It relies on a certificate issued by a recognized provider, and some tenders require it for online submission.

When a bid is submitted through SIMAP, the platform checks uploaded PDF files for a QES but does not automatically block files without a valid signature. The tender documents, rather than a general rule, state whether a QES is mandatory.

Bidders without a QES should obtain the certificate well before the submission deadline. There is often little time to obtain one at the last minute.