A handful of useful information on the qualified certificate, i.e. electronic signature, from discussing what it is used for to information on how it can be obtained.

Qualified certificates

According to Polish law, a safe electronic signature is a an electronic signature which is:

• uniquely assigned to the signatory,
• made using a secure signature-creation device and signature-creation data (private key) that the signatory can maintain under his sole control,
• related to the data to which it has been attached in such a manner that any subsequent change of the data is recognizable.

In order to create safe signatures, safe electronic signature device is needed. As a minimum, such a device should:

• prevent obtaining information used to create electronic signature or authentication, i.e. prevent obtaining private keys,
• not alter the data to be signed or authenticated electronically, whereas it should allow the presentation of the data to the signatory prior to his creating the signature,
• guarantee that a clear warning shall be displayed prior to signature's creation advising that the continuation of the operation shall result in the creation of an electronic signature,
• ensure easy identification of any security-relevant changes to the signature-creation device.

Qualified certificates are generated and managed according to the provisions of Polish act on electronic signature and accompanying regulations. Each qualified certificate issued by, e.g., KIR S.A. May consist of the following information:

• parameters of the public key included in the certificate,
• subscribers details,
• maximum value of transactions which can be performed with a given certificate,
• information regarding the scope of privileges of a subscriber,
• information specifying who a subscriber represents.

A detailed scope of information included in the certificate is established individually with Customer.

Applications of electronic signature

Legal force of a safe electronic signature is equal to this of a handwritten signature, which enables the former to be used in new areas. The possibilities of employing this technology in electronic documents are virtually endless. Moreover, numerous legal acts allow to practically employ safe electronic signature (apart from a traditional signature) by means of qualified certificates.Currently, there are a few applications of safe electronic signatures and qualified certificates which function in practice. Among others these are:

• Filling Social Insurance Company (ZUS) statements,
• Submitting tax returns to Polish Inland Revenue,
• Contacting government bodies,
• Issuing electronic invoices,
• Signing binding contracts with business partners,
• Submitting applications to National Court Register (KRS),
• Updating data at the Bureau of Inspector General for Personal Data Protection,
• Sending reports to General Inspector of Financial Information,
• Taking part in electronic auctions,
• Signing Electronic Medical Documentation,
• Issuing Electronic Student Documentation.

How to obtain electronic signature?

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