When submitting official documents to Swiss authorities, organizations, or digital platforms, you may be required to use a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) that complies with the Swiss Federal Act on Electronic Signatures (ZertES).
Even if your document is signed with a valid QES, you may encounter an error during submission. This is often due not to the signature itself, but to the format of the PDF file you uploaded.
Common Error Scenarios
In some cases, systems will reject your submission with a message indicating that:
- The signature is missing
- The certification level is incorrect
- The document has been modified or altered
A common cause of this issue is submitting a PDF portfolio, which certain validation platforms do not support.
What Is a PDF Portfolio?
A PDF portfolio is a special file format that acts as a container for multiple documents or attachments. While some e-signature platforms use this format to bundle signed files, Swiss validation systems and authorities may reject them, even if the signature inside is valid.
How to Fix the Issue
- Open the downloaded file in Adobe Acrobat
- If it’s a portfolio, you’ll see one or more attached documents
- Extract the actual signed PDF file from inside the portfolio
- Submit this extracted file to the requesting Swiss institution or platform
Validate Your Signature with the Swiss Government Tool
To confirm whether your signature meets ZertES standards and is recognized by Swiss authorities, use the official validation service: