On the Slovensko.sk portal (Central Government Portal), eSignature (ePodpis) is used as an umbrella term for the most commonly used forms of electronic signature:
An eSignature is the electronic equivalent of a handwritten signature in the paper-based environment. It is used to authorise electronic submissions (eSubmissions).
A qualified electronic signature (QES) has, pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS), the equivalent legal effect of a handwritten signature. Under the e-Government Act, it is one of the methods of authorising (signing) an eSubmission. If it includes a qualified electronic time stamp, it has, pursuant to Act No. 305/2013 Coll., the legal effect of an officially certified signature (in the same way as a handwritten signature certified by a registry office or notary).
eSignature, i.e. a qualified electronic signature (QES), is one of the four types of electronic signatures distinguished by the eIDAS Regulation at EU level:
In addition to the eSignature (QES), which all public authorities are required to accept, other types of electronic signatures are used on the portal, depending on whether the respective public authority accepts them.
The recognised method of authorisation is an advanced electronic signature based on a qualified certificate.
The recognised method of authorisation may be used until a specified date (31 December 2026) to sign selected eSubmissions. It is a temporary solution introduced due to the expiry of the “old” identity documents issued up to 20 June 2021. For more information on activating the recognised method of authorisation and the list of services where it can be used, see the separate articleOpens in a new window.
A qualified mandate signature is a qualified electronic signature (QES) created using a mandate certificate. Pursuant to the e-Government Act, such a signature with an attached qualified electronic time stamp is required when authorising electronic official documents (decisions) where legislation requires the signature of a specific person acting in a specific capacity (e.g. the mayor of a municipality).
A qualified mandate signature is not used by an ordinary natural person. A mandate certificate is issued to a natural person who is authorised by law or pursuant to law to act on behalf of another person or a public authority, or in their name, or to a natural person who performs an activity under specific legislation or holds a position pursuant to specific legislation (Section 8 of Act No. 272/2016 Coll. on Trust Services).
The National Security Authority (NBÚ) maintains a List of AuthorisationsOpens in a new window for which a mandate certificate may be issued.
The mandate certificate itself is issued by a qualified trust service provider (prior to the adoption of Act No. 272/2016 Coll. on Trust Services, this was an accredited certification authority, “ACA”) on a qualified electronic signature creation device, i.e. a special USB token or smart card. The issuance of a mandate certificate is subject to a fee in accordance with the price list of the trust service provider (hereinafter referred to as the “Provider”). The list of qualified trust service providers is maintained by the NBÚOpens in a new window.
A qualified electronic signature using a mandate certificate is then created using the USB token or smart card and an appropriate software application intended for signing.
A detailed guide to the issuance of a mandate certificate is available on the NASES websiteOpens in a new window.
Authorisation using an access point function is an electronic signature for which it is sufficient for the user to log in (authenticate) at the “substantial” assurance level. The electronic signature is automatically created when the user confirms the signing in the access point system (portal) through which the logged-in user creates an electronic submission. This method allows users to sign electronic submissions without having an electronic signature, smart card, or card reader.
The user must be logged in (authenticated) using any electronic identification means providing a “substantial” assurance level, such as an electronic ID card with a chip, the Slovakia in Your Mobile mobile application, Mobile eID (eIDENTITA application), or the eIDAS node using foreign electronic identification means.
Once the authorisation has been completed, information about the authorisation performed is automatically added to the electronic message containing the electronic submission. This information includes the identification details of the person who signed the submission.
This method of authorisation is defined in Section 23(1)(a), point 2 of Act No. 305/2013 Coll., and confirmation of its execution is defined in Section 48(2) and (3) of Decree No. 78/2020 Coll. on Standards for Public Administration Information TechnologiesOpens in a new window.
An advanced electronic signature based on a qualified certificate is, pursuant to Decree No. 511/2022 Coll., a recognised method of authorisation. An advanced electronic signature based on a qualified certificate cannot be used by public authorities to authorise electronic official documents (decisions).
Pursuant to Section 23(10) of Act No. 305/2013 Coll., a public authority may decide to accept such a signature on an electronic submission. It may also decide to accept such a signature on attachments where a specific regulation allows the attachments to be submitted without authorisation.
A public authority is required to accept this type of signature where a specific regulation requires authorisation by a recognised method of authorisation, an advanced electronic signature (or seal) based on a qualified certificate, or an advanced electronic signature.
An advanced electronic signature, i.e. an electronic signature created without using a qualified certificate, cannot be used to authorise electronic official documents or electronic submissions and their attachments. Services for verifying the validity of this type of signature are generally not readily available and, therefore, it is usually verified as invalid by publicly available services.
A public authority may decide to accept such a signature on an electronic submission or its attachments if a specific regulation allows the electronic submission or its attachments to be submitted without authorisation. A public authority is required to accept such a signature if a specific regulation requires authorisation by means of an advanced electronic signature.
Under the e-Government Act, a qualified electronic seal is one of the methods of authorising (sealing) an eSubmission and, where a qualified electronic time stamp is attached, electronic official documents (decisions).
A qualified electronic seal can be created using a qualified certificate for a qualified electronic seal, which is issued exclusively to legal entities.
An advanced electronic seal based on a qualified certificate cannot be used to authorise electronic official documents (decisions). A public authority may decide to accept such a seal on an electronic submission or its attachments if a specific regulation allows them to be submitted without authorisation. A public authority is required to accept this type of seal where a specific regulation requires authorisation by an advanced electronic seal based on a qualified certificate or by an advanced electronic seal.
This is a seal created using a qualified certificate that is not stored on a qualified secure device for electronic seal creation and therefore does not contain the QSCD or SSCD designation.
An advanced electronic seal, i.e. an electronic seal created without using a qualified certificate, cannot be used to authorise electronic official documents or electronic submissions and their attachments. Services for verifying the validity of this type of seal are generally not readily available and, therefore, it is usually verified as invalid by publicly available services.
A public authority may decide to accept such a seal on an electronic submission or its attachments if a specific regulation allows the electronic submission or its attachments to be submitted without authorisation. A public authority is required to accept such a seal if a specific regulation requires authorisation by means of an advanced electronic seal.
