The Digital and Population Data Services Agency has updated its validation service to support the electronic signatures of Ukrainian citizens. In other words, the authenticity of documents signed electronically by Ukrainian authorities and citizens using their own devices can now be checked in the agency's validation service.
The validation service can be used to verify that the document has been signed using an eIDAS-qualified certificate. The authorities may also have other requirements for documents. For example, it may be necessary to have a document issued by a Ukrainian authority legalised. The Finnish authority must also verify that the right party has signed the document.
Not all of the documents submitted to the authorities need to be signed using an eIDAS-qualified certificate.
Electronic signatures can be validated free of charge on the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s website
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency's validation service can be used to verify electronic signatures from Finnish and all other EU countries' signature devices. The validation service for electronic signatures and seals is in line with the EU's eIDAS Regulation, and it can be used for free without a separate login at dvv.fi/en/validate-document.
The authenticity and trust of electronic signatures and seals can be traced mechanically and automatically from national trusted lists published by the European Commission. For example, the signature certificates of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency's organisation and identity cards can be found on the EU trusted list published by FinlandLink to an external website, Opens in a new tabyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab.
First EU-recognised electronic trust service for third countries
In 2023, the European Commission decided to support trusted lists for third countries. Third countries refer to countries outside the EU/EEA.
In the same year, the EU and Ukraine concluded an agreement on mutual recognition of electronic trust services, such as electronic signatures and electronic seals. This means that electronic signatures made with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency's organisation and identity cards are also legally valid in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian trusted list includes signature devices issued by the Ukrainian digital agency DIIA, State Tax Service and Armed Forces. The list of Ukrainian trust service providersLink to an external website, Opens in a new tabyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab can be found on the European Commission website.
