e-Certis in Public Procurement 2026

e-Certis: EU information system for evidence and certificates in procurement procedures, facilitating cross-border procurement.

Definition: e-Certis is a free online information system operated by the European Commission that provides contracting authorities and tenderers with information on the certificates, evidence and attestations accepted across EU Member States in cross-border procurement procedures, and on how they can be obtained.

Last updated: January 2026 · Legal basis: Directive 2014/24/EU Art. 61, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/7

What is e-Certis?

e-Certis is an online tool operated by the European Commission to facilitate the mutual recognition of suitability evidence in cross-border EU procurement procedures. The system offers a structured database of the evidence, certificates and attestations available in each Member State that are typically required in procurement procedures — ranging from criminal record extracts and tax compliance certificates to professional qualification evidence.

The system is accessible through the EU's public procurement portal and is continuously updated by the Member States.

Legal basis and obligation to use

Article 61 of Directive 2014/24/EU requires Member States to keep e-Certis up to date and to give priority to consulting e-Certis where there are questions about certificates issued in other Member States.

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/7 on the European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) also refers to e-Certis as a tool for correctly completing the ESPD.

How it works

e-Certis allows users to search for the evidence required for particular selection requirements in each EU Member State.

Users can search by:

Country (the tenderer's Member State)
Type of evidence (e.g. absence of grounds for exclusion, economic and financial standing, technical capacity)
Type of certificate (e.g. criminal record extract, commercial register extract)

They receive information on the competent issuing authority, the content of the evidence, and how to obtain it.

Importance for tenderers and contracting authorities

For cross-border tenderers, e-Certis is an important tool to understand which documents a foreign contracting authority will expect them to produce.

For contracting authorities, e-Certis makes it easier to assess whether documents submitted by foreign tenderers are equivalent to the required national evidence. The system thus supports the principle of mutual recognition of suitability evidence in the EU internal market.

Limits of the system

e-Certis is an information system, not a verification or validation system. It does not confirm the authenticity or validity of a specific document; it merely informs users about the types of documents available in a given country. Substantive review of the evidence submitted remains the responsibility of the contracting authority.

FAQ

Is use of e-Certis mandatory? Under Art. 61 Directive 2014/24/EU, contracting authorities are required to give priority to e-Certis when they have questions about evidence from other Member States. Strict exclusivity does not apply.

In what languages is e-Certis available? e-Certis is available in all official EU languages and is therefore accessible to users from all Member States.

Does e-Certis replace the European Single Procurement Document (ESPD)? No. e-Certis is an informational tool; the ESPD is the standardised form for the self-declaration of suitability. The two instruments complement each other.

Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without warranty. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.