New digital signature for private citizens and companies in Hungary

In connection with the ongoing transformation of the Hungarian real estate registry, it will also be of paramount importance for citizens and companies to have the appropriate signature. 

When land registry procedures finally switch to electronic methods, it will become important for all contracting parties – whether private individuals, companies, other legal entities or bodies – to have an accepted electronic signature.

The European Union's regulations also apply to acceptable electronic signatures. Directive (EU) 2022/2555, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 as regards the establishment of a European digital identity framework, Regulation (EU) 910/2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market provides the regulatory framework for the electronic identification of natural and legal persons and the provision of trust services.

However, companies in Hungary now also have the option of having their contracts and statements made during various procedures signed digitally by their senior officers. The electronic signatures of company executives can now be entered in the company register, where anyone can verify their existence and validity.

It is important to note that not all digital signatures automatically meet these legal requirements, as there are a number of solutions that do not link the digital signature to the associated natural person through detailed identification. 

Basic digital signatures that are only linked to email do not comply with eIDAS standards, and are typically embedded in software created for other purposes, do not comply with either domestic or EU regulations and therefore cannot be used in official contexts.

The eIDAS Dashboard lists the details of companies that comply with the above regulations and are classified as trusted service providers.

One such provider is the Italian company InfoCert S.p.A., which, in cooperation with its Hungarian partner company, currently offers the appropriate digital signature at a very favourable introductory price under the Flintsign brand name to participants in the legal market, as well as to all other individuals and businesses interested in the services.

If you would like to learn more about the everyday use of electronic signatures as a private individual, company, or lawyer, please contact Dr. György Zalavári, lawyer and partner at ECOVIS Zalavári Legal Hungary.

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