Signature Card in Procurement Law
The signature card is a chip card with a qualified certificate and forms the basis for the qualified electronic signature when submitting tenders electronically.
Definition: A signature card is a chip card containing a qualified certificate from an accredited trust service provider and enabling its holder to create qualified electronic signatures within the meaning of Art. 3(12) of the eIDAS Regulation (EU) No 910/2014, which are legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.
Last updated: January 2026 · Legal basis: eIDAS Regulation (EU) No 910/2014, BVergG 2018, VgV, Austrian Signature Act (SigG)
What is a signature card?
A signature card is a physical chip card on which a qualified electronic certificate is stored that cryptographically confirms the identity of the card holder and enables the creation of legally binding qualified electronic signatures. The card is issued by an accredited trust service provider: in Austria, this is primarily A-Trust (formerly Bürgerkarte) and Österreichische Post; in Germany, providers include D-Trust (Bundesdruckerei), Telesec and others approved by the Federal Network Agency.
To use a signature card, a card reader and corresponding signature application software are required. The signature process requires the entry of a PIN known only to the card holder. This two-factor authentication (possession of the card + knowledge of the PIN) meets the eIDAS requirements for secure signature creation devices (Art. 29 eIDAS).
Significance in procurement procedures
In electronic procurement, the qualified electronic signature created with a signature card is the legally secure tool for the binding signing of tenders, declarations and procurement documents. In Austria, the BVergG 2018 requires that for electronic tendering, tenders be signed with a qualified electronic signature where the contracting authority so requires or where the procurement platform technically demands it. In Germany, under § 53 VgV, tenders and requests to participate submitted electronically must be submitted in text form pursuant to § 126b BGB; for certain declarations (e.g. self-declarations in certain procedures), a qualified electronic signature may be required.
With the growing use of remote signatures (cloud signatures under Art. 29 eIDAS), the classic chip card has lost some ground; both forms are equivalent under procurement law as long as they meet the requirements for qualified electronic signatures.
Related terms
Last updated: January 2026 All information without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in procurement law.
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