Authentication modes available

We offer several methods to authenticate your signers, depending on the Signature Level you choose, your documents' security requirements and the availability of the Signers phone number.

Three methods are available when it comes to authentication:

One-time-Password (OTP) sent by SMS
One-time-Password sent by Email
No One-time-Password

The availability of these different methods depends on the Signature Level, as shown in the table below.

Signature Level	Available authentication modes	Comment
Simple eSignature	`no_otp` `otp_email` `otp_sms`	Signers authentication only (no identification). Ideal for most signature requests. Those options are available: One-time-Password sent by SMS One-time-Password sent by Email One-time-password by email or SMS should only be used for documents requiring a higher level of security.
Advanced eSignature	`otp_sms`	Signers will be identified by an identity check (ID document). The One-time-Password sent by SMS is mandatory.
Qualified eSignature	`null`	Signers are identified by a double identity check (ID document and video face verification) or with their saved identity registered after their first identification. Authentication with an OTP code is not relevant for this level of signature, as we perform a video verification of the face. However, this verification will require a mobile phone with a camera. Please ensure that the signer has one with them.

Signature Level

Available authentication modes

Comment

Simple eSignature

no_otp
otp_email
otp_sms

Signers authentication only (no identification). Ideal for most signature requests.

Those options are available:

One-time-Password sent by SMS
One-time-Password sent by Email
One-time-password by email or SMS should only be used for documents requiring a higher level of security.

Advanced eSignature

otp_sms

Signers will be identified by an identity check (ID document).

The One-time-Password sent by SMS is mandatory.

Qualified eSignature

null

Signers are identified by a double identity check (ID document and video face verification) or with their saved identity registered after their first identification.

Authentication with an OTP code is not relevant for this level of signature, as we perform a video verification of the face. However, this verification will require a mobile phone with a camera. Please ensure that the signer has one with them.

The authentication mode is set at the signers level, in the signature_authentication_mode property in the signer payload.
It can be different for each signer.

Mode	signature_authentication_mode	Comment
One-time-Password sent by SMS	`otp_sms`	Signer `phone_number` is required. Not available for Signers in China 🇨🇳
One-time-Password sent by Email	`otp_email`	Signer `phone_number` is optional
No One-time-Password	`no_otp`	Signer `phone_number` is optional

⚠️ Limited list of authorised countries during free trial period

During the free trial period, one-time-Password sent by SMS (otp_sms) are restricted to phone numbers from the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Guadeloupe, Italy, Luxembourg, Martinique, New Caledonia, Portugal, Reunion, Spain, Switzerland, United-Kingdom.

SMS OTP delivery to all other countries is not supported during the free trial period.

Example of Signer creation with the 3 authentication methods

In the following example, we have added 3 Signers, each with a different signature_authentication_mode.

POST /signature_requests/{signatureRequestId}/signers

{
    "info": {
        "first_name": "John",
        "last_name": "Doe",
        "email": "[email protected]",
        "phone_number": "+33700000000",
        "locale": "en"
    },
  	"signature_level": "electronic_signature",
    "signature_authentication_mode": "otp_sms"
}

{
    "info": {
        "first_name": "Jane",
        "last_name": "Doe",
        "email": "[email protected]",
        "locale": "en"
    },
  	"signature_level": "electronic_signature",
    "signature_authentication_mode": "otp_email"
}

{
    "info": {
        "first_name": "Jane",
        "last_name": "Doe",
        "email": "[email protected]",
        "phone_number": "+33700000000",
        "locale": "en"
    },
  	"signature_level": "electronic_signature",
    "signature_authentication_mode": "no_otp"
}

Updating the authentication mode

Updating the authentication with PATCH /signature_requests/{signatureRequestId}/signers is only available for the Simple eSignature (SES) as long as the Signer has not signed the Signature Request.

Updating the authentication for AES and QES is not permitted as the AES requires an OTP by SMS, and the QES requires no OTP.

💡
If you change the authentication mode while the Signer is on the signature step in the signing flow, the old mode is immediately invalidated and the new mode applies.