Electronic Signatures

Electronic signatures are a digital version of a handwritten signature, they allow you to put your signature on a document without the hassles of scanning, printing, signing, and faxing. 

Click to expand:

 Certificate-based Digital Signature
  1. Open the PDF file with Adobe Reader 2020
  2. Click the spot needing a signature



  3. Sign Document window will appear
  4. Click Configure New Digital ID



  5. Click Create a new Digital ID then Continue



  6. Click Save to File then Continue 



  7. Type in your information and in the drop downs:
    1. Country: CA
    2. Key Algorithm: 2048-bit RSA
    3. Use Digital Signature for: Digital Signatures  



  8. Type in a memorable and secure password to protect your Digital ID then click Save

     

  9. You will now see it in the list of Digital ID's


  10. You can proceed to sign the document by selecting your Digital ID then clicking Continue 
  11. It will ask for your Digital ID password then click Sign 



  12. Save the document and your signature will be visible

 Informal Signature

Documents not needing a certificate-based digital signature.

  1. Open the PDF file with Adobe Reader 2020
  2. To sign your signature click Fill & Sign

     

  3. Click Sign > Add Signature

     

  4. Enter in your name by either clicking Type, Draw or Image (image of your written signature; you could take a photo of your written signature and save it to your computer then upload it)

     

  5. Click Apply
  6. You will now be able to move it around to where you’d like it and increase the font if desired  

Another alternative way to virtually sign documents is through ConsignO. This product has been selected by the University to ensure the integrity and authenticity of official documents for legally binding transactions between the University and other internal/external vendors and partners. For more information please see here: https://uwaterloo.ca/consigno-electronic-document-signing/