Expanding into Spain—or managing a subsidiary here—means working within one of Europe’s most regulated labour markets. Employment contracts, data protection and compliance requirements can slow down HR teams and add unnecessary complexity.
The good news: Spain fully recognises electronic signatures for employment contracts. This allows you to hire, onboard and manage employees entirely online, with the same legal certainty as traditional paper processes.
Spain has regulated eSignatures for more than 20 years. It began withRoyal Decree-Law 14/1999, later consolidated in Law 59/2003, and today is governed by the EU’s eIDAS Regulation (910/2014) together with Spanish Law 6/2020 on trusted electronic services.
This legal framework makes electronic signatures one of the most secure and efficient tools for digital HR. No wonder 83% of Spanish companies already use them in their internal processes. The same rules apply to international businesses.
At Lleida.net, a qualified trust service provider, we help companies worldwide manage their Spanish workforce with Click & Sign, our electronic signature platform that combines security, efficiency, and complete legal compliance.
Table of contents
The impact of electronic signatures on HR
Electronic signatures have become indispensable for HR departments, particularly in staffing agencies and consultancies. They simplify document management, automate repetitive tasks, reduce delays and ensure compliance with Spanish and EU law at every stage of the employee lifecycle.
Cloud-based services make it easier to design a smooth candidate and employee experience. They provide security, traceability, efficiency and legal validity. At Lleida.net, our solutions are updated seamlessly, so HR teams can always benefit from the latest features.
From data protection consent forms (required under Spain’s LOPDGDD and the EU GDPR) to employment contracts, settlement agreements and tax forms such as IRPF withholding certificates—all can be signed 100% digitally, with full legal standing and maximum convenience for both employer and employee.
Benefits of using electronic signatures in employment contracts
Electronic signatures, like handwritten ones, are legally valid and record the signatory’s consent. But they offer clear advantages for HR:
- Save time and reduce errors
No more printing, scanning or manual handling. Digital signing speeds up recruitment and cuts down on mistakes.
Insight: 78% of signatories using Lleida.net access the signing page within one hour.
- Legal certainty and stronger security
Electronic signatures provide better protection than handwritten ones. They generate documentary evidence, verify the signer’s identity and ensure the document cannot be altered.
- Improve employee satisfaction and employer branding
Adopting digital tools demonstrates innovation and efficiency, strengthening the company’s image.
- Smarter internal management
With Click & Sign, roles can be customised with different access levels, matching your team structure.
- Real-time tracking and secure storage
Processes are tracked live, ensuring compliance and accuracy. Documents are stored securely for at least five years (extendable if needed), alongside additional records such as IDs, passports or registered certificates. Editable PDFs automatically capture entered data, keeping HR files centralised in one secure repository.
Is it legal in Spain to sign employment contracts electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are entirely legal and binding in Spain and across the EU, provided they comply with the eIDAS Regulation (EU 910/2014)and Spanish Law 6/2020on trusted electronic services.
All Lleida.net services adhere strictly to this framework, ensuring every transaction meets the highest standards of security, interoperability and validity, locally and globally.
>> Get in touch for more details
Is electronic signing recognised worldwide?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legal in most countries, though rules differ by jurisdiction. Lleida.net solutions are recognised in over 100 countries, enabling international transactions with complete security and no legal barriers.
>> You can check the validity by country here
Types of electronic signature under eIDAS
The eIDAS Regulationdefines three levels of electronic signature, each with different degrees of security and evidential strength. Click & Sign supports all three, so you can choose the level that best fits your business needs.
Simple electronic signature (SES)
- Best for low-risk processes or internal documentation.
- Lower probative value.
Advanced electronic signature (AES)
- Ensures the signatory’s identity and link to the document.
- Adds an extra layer of protection with a one-time password (OTP), sent via Registered Email, Registered SMS or Registered WhatsApp. The signatory enters the unique code to finalise the process, ensuring authenticity.
Qualified electronic signature (QES)
- Legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.
- Requires a qualified registered certificate.
- Used in high-assurance legal contexts.
Strong security and probative evidence
Every signature completed with Lleida.net is supported by authentication, integrity and non-repudiation mechanisms. This ensures the document cannot be altered and the signatory’s identity is always clear.
Each transaction generates documentary evidence that records every event in the process. This file is digitally signed and timestamped, protecting its authenticity and integrity from creation through to secure storage.
The documentary evidence serves as registered proof, providing strong evidence that can be presented in court if required. Timestamping reinforces the long-term validity of the signature, even years after the signing took place.
Cloud-native security and automation
Companies are increasingly moving to 100% cloud-based solutions instead of on-premise systems. The cloud offers greater flexibility, lower costs and automatic updates, all without adding pressure on IT teams.
With Lleida.net, services can be activated the same day. Our APIsintegrate seamlessly with ERP, CRM or other HR platforms. New features are introduced continuously, based on client needs, without downtime or disruption for users.
How to sign an employment contract electronically
Employment contracts can be sent via Registered Email, Registered SMS or Registered WhatsApp. HR teams can issue them directly from the back office or set up automated workflows through our APIs.
How does the recipient sign?
The employee receives the contract via Registered Email, Registered SMS, or Registered WhatsApp and is redirected to the signing page.
No prior registration or software installation is required. The signing process can also be embedded into your company’s website.
The contract can be signed instantly from any device—mobile, tablet or desktop—making the experience simple and user-friendly.
Can multiple people sign at once?
Yes.
With Click & Sign, you can create sequential or parallel signing flows and assign each participant the required type of signature.
The platform also supports bulk sending, allowing the same contract to be distributed individually to multiple signatories.
Can I use forms and editable PDFs?
Yes.
Signatories can complete mandatory fields and sign directly. You can pre-fill fields in an editable PDF and mark them as required.
With Click & Automate, you can also design custom signing flows without any development work.
>> Ask for more details and start today
Customisation with Click & Sign
Click & Sign offers a high degree of customisation. You can adjust every aspect—from your email templates and corporate colours to sender verification, logos and even the sending domain.
Contact our sales team to explore all available options and make sure your signing process reflects your brand identity.
Beyond signatures: registered notifications for HR
Electronic signatures aren’t the only digital HR tool in Spain. With Lleida.net, you can also certify the delivery, receipt and opening of an email or SMS—providing the digital equivalent of Spain’s traditional burofax (registered post).
Key services for HR digitalisation
With Lleida.net, you can digitalise the entire HR lifecycle in Spain—from data collection and employee communication to secure document management and storage.