Mansi Sawant

Expert

Published on: Jun 24, 2026

Digitally Sign Documents; Benefits, Requirement, and How to use?

Digital Signature Certificate is issued by the certifying authorities for validating and certifying the identity for validating and certifying the identity of the person. The DSC establishes the digital identity of the person. A DSC contains information on the user's name, PIN Code, email address, Issuance date, and the name of the certifying authority

What documents are required for obtaining a Digitally Signature Certificate?

 To obtain the digital Signature Certificate following documents are required:
  • PAN card of the applicant
  • Aadhar Card of the applicant
  • Passport size photograph of the applicant
  • Email Address (Unique)
  • Phone Number (Unique)

What is digitally signing a document?

Digitally signing a document places the encrypted with the document. Do not confuse the DSC with the Electronic signature.  A digital signature certificate is embedded in electronic documents, emails, and other digitally transmitted documents. These signatures provide and enhance security using encryption technology. Sensitive information such as the signature is encrypted, after verification, the sensitive information is decrypted and is made available. Both Digital and electronic signatures are created online and are used to sign the documents.

 How to use a Digital Sign the documents?

The Digital Signature Certificate is obtained in the E-pass token, you can use the DSC to sign the documents digitally: Step 1: You can attach the USB E-Pass token to the USB Portal. Step 2: A popup will appear asking for a password, type the password, Click on approve and you can use the DSC.

Benefits of getting a DSC

As DSC is used extensively, here is what you need to know about them:

Cost-effective- Earlier you had to sign the hard copy documents physically and scan them later. But with the Digital Signature Certificate, you can sign the PDF files and send them quickly. While conducting or authorizing a business a DSC holder is not required to be present physically. On the click- As Signatures are in the virtual format the documents can be signed with one click, it saves a lot of time and is quicker and cheaper. High Security- A digital signature certificate reduces the chances of fraud and alteration of the document. A DSC makes sure that the signature is verified. Legal Validity- A digital Signatures Certificate also helps in creating the authenticity of the document which can be used in court as a shred of evidence. Time-Saving- The whole process happens at the click of a button saving a lot of time. 

Uses of Digitally Signature Certificate 

The Digital Signature Certificate can be used for: MCA e-filing, Income Tax e filing, LLP registration, GST application, IE Code registration, Form 16, e-tendering, Patent, and Trademark e filing, Custom e filing, e-procurement, e binding, e-Auction. To obtain you Digitial Signatures Certificate talk to our experts today!
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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Digital Signature Certificate for Secure Document Signing.

A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is an encrypted digital certificate that establishes the digital identity of an individual or organization. It contains information like the user's name, PIN code, email address, issuance date, and the certifying authority's name. DSCs are issued by authorized certifying authorities and are used to digitally sign electronic documents, ensuring their authenticity and integrity.
While both digital signatures and electronic signatures are used to sign documents online, a Digital Signature Certificate offers enhanced security through encryption technology. A digital signature is embedded in the electronic document and encrypts sensitive information, which can only be decrypted after verification. Electronic signatures, on the other hand, are simpler and do not involve the same level of encryption.
To obtain a Digital Signature Certificate, you typically need to provide the following documents: your PAN card, Aadhaar card, a passport-size photograph, a unique email address, and a unique phone number. These documents help establish and verify your identity with the certifying authority.
To digitally sign documents using a Digital Signature Certificate, you need to attach the USB e-pass token (containing the DSC) to your computer. When prompted, enter the password to access the DSC. Once approved, you can use the DSC to digitally sign PDF files or other electronic documents with a single click.
Using a Digital Signature Certificate offers several benefits, including cost-effectiveness (no need for physical document signing and scanning), time-saving (documents can be signed with a click), high security (reduced chances of fraud or document alteration), legal validity (digitally signed documents can be used as evidence in court), and convenience (no need for physical presence during business transactions).
Yes, Digital Signature Certificates are widely accepted and can be used for various official government filings and applications. Some examples include MCA e-filing, Income Tax e-filing, LLP registration, GST application, IE Code registration, Form 16, e-tendering, Patent and Trademark e-filing, Custom e-filing, e-procurement, e-binding, and e-Auction.
Digital Signature Certificates are highly secure as they use encryption technology to protect sensitive information. The signature is encrypted, and upon verification, the sensitive information is decrypted and made available. This process ensures the authenticity and integrity of the signed document, reducing the chances of fraud or alteration.
Yes, Digital Signature Certificates have legal validity and can be used as evidence in court proceedings. Digitally signed documents are recognized as legally binding and authentic, as long as they are issued by authorized certifying authorities.
The validity period of a Digital Signature Certificate varies depending on the certifying authority and the type of certificate. Typically, DSCs for individuals are valid for 1-3 years, while those for organizations or companies may have a longer validity period.
Yes, a Digital Signature Certificate can be revoked by the issuing certifying authority under certain circumstances, such as if the certificate is compromised, the user's information changes, or the certificate is no longer required. Revoked certificates are added to a Certificate Revocation List (CRL) and become invalid.