{"id":3094,"date":"2026-02-03T18:39:39","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T21:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wai.global\/?p=3094"},"modified":"2026-02-03T18:41:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T21:41:31","slug":"firma-digital-vs-firma-electronica-cual-elijo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wai.global\/en\/firma-digital-vs-firma-electronica-cual-elijo\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Signature vs. Electronic Signature: which one do I choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In recent years, with the expansion of the <strong>digital records<\/strong> and the <strong>municipal digital procedures<\/strong>, two concepts have become commonplace in Argentine public management: <strong>Electronic Signature<\/strong> y <strong>Digital Signature<\/strong>. Although in everyday language they are often used as synonyms, legally they are not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both are recognized by Argentine law and can be valid to sign documents, but they have <strong>different scopes, technical requirements and evidentiary effects<\/strong>. The choice of one or the other depends on the level of security required and the legal risk of the administrative act to be formalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article explains their differences on the basis of the current legal framework, mainly the <strong>Digital Signature Law 25.506<\/strong> and its regulations, with a focus on <strong>municipal use cases<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/firma-electronica-vs-firma-digital-2.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"597\" src=\"https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/firma-electronica-vs-firma-digital-2-1024x597.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3096\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/firma-electronica-vs-firma-digital-2-1024x597.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/firma-electronica-vs-firma-digital-2-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/firma-electronica-vs-firma-digital-2-768x448.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/firma-electronica-vs-firma-digital-2-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/firma-electronica-vs-firma-digital-2.jpg 1050w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">General legal framework<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In Argentina, the regime of electronic and digital signatures is regulated by the <strong>Law 25,506<\/strong>, The new law was enacted in 2001, together with its regulatory decrees and complementary rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The law recognizes two different figures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Electronic Signature<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Digital Signature<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Both allow to express will and grant validity to electronic documents, but with different levels of guarantee and evidentiary burden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the Electronic Signature?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Electronic Signature<\/strong> is any set of data in digital format that allows the signer to be identified and linked to the signed document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the municipal level, typical examples of electronic signatures include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A municipal inspector approving a record within a digital file system with his or her user name and password.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An official validating an inspection by means of an OTP code sent by SMS or email.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The acceptance of a procedure by a citizen through a municipal portal with authentication.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Signing in document management platforms that do not use digital certificates issued by a licensed Certificate Authority.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Main features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>It is 100% legally valid.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If someone is unaware of having signed with an electronic signature, <strong>whoever invokes this signature must prove its validity<\/strong> (e.g., through system logs, authentication logs, access auditing, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It is flexible and agile for day-to-day management.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is widely used in administrative procedures of <strong>low or medium risk<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/criptografia-firma-digital-electronica.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"597\" src=\"https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/criptografia-firma-digital-electronica-1024x597.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3097\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/criptografia-firma-digital-electronica-1024x597.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/criptografia-firma-digital-electronica-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/criptografia-firma-digital-electronica-768x448.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/criptografia-firma-digital-electronica-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/wai.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/criptografia-firma-digital-electronica.jpg 1050w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Digital Signature?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Digital Signature<\/strong> is a specific, more robust form of electronic signature, based on <strong>asymmetric cryptography<\/strong> and in the use of a <strong>digital certificate issued by a Certifying Authority licensed by the Argentine State<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It works with two keys:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>private key<\/strong>, which is owned only by the signatory.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <strong>public key<\/strong>, contained in its digital certificate and verifiable by third parties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Main features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>It has legal presumption of authorship and integrity.<\/strong><br>If someone does not know a document signed with digital signature, <strong>it is up to the signatory to prove that the signature does not belong to him or her<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Requires a certificate issued by a Certification Authority.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key difference: burden of proof<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the most relevant difference in administrative practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let's assume a conflict:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A neighbor contests a commercial closure and argues that he never signed the infraction notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the minutes have <strong>Electronic Signature<\/strong>:<br>The municipality must prove that the neighbor actually signed and received the notification (system records, geolocation, traceability, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the minutes have <strong>Digital Signature<\/strong>:<br>In principle, it is presumed that the neighbor signed it. If he denies it, it is up to the neighbor to prove that his certificate was compromised or misused.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, the digital signature provides <strong>greater legal certainty<\/strong> in administrative acts of a more critical nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Municipal examples: when to use each one<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Procedures where the Electronic Signature is usually sufficient<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In local governments, electronic signatures are often suitable for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Qualification certificates<\/strong> (construction sites, stores, etc).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Routine inspection reports<\/strong> (commerce, urban hygiene, minor works).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Internal authorizations between municipal areas<\/strong> (e.g., transfer of files between areas).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Management of low or medium-risk citizen applications<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technical reports <\/strong> within digital files.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Validations of digital in-desks<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In these cases, the key thing is that the system has <strong>traceability, auditing and access control<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Procedures where the Digital Signature is advisable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The digital signature is usually recommended in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Formal administrative resolutions<\/strong> (decrees, provisions, resolutions, ordinances).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bids<\/strong> of very high amounts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Contracts signed by the municipality with concession companies<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Electronic notifications with full legal effects<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Documentation that may end up in court<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>All these cases could also be handled with an electronic signature, but the presumption of authorship and integrity of the digital signature provides greater legal protection to the agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does one replace the other?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not exactly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Digital Signature is a species within the genus \u201cElectronic Signature\u201d.<br>That is to say, <strong>all digital signatures are electronic signatures, but not all electronic signatures are digital signatures<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In practical terms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The electronic signature is more agile for the daily management of municipal procedures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The digital signature is more secure for high impact administrative acts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So, do I choose digital signature or electronic signature?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DUTxbAQEjFs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">choose between electronic signature and digital signature<\/a>, municipalities should evaluate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>legal risk<\/strong> of the procedure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>impact of the administrative act<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The possibility of future challenges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The need to interoperate with other agencies (provincial or national).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As a general rule:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For <strong>operational management and low- or medium-risk procedures<\/strong>, electronic signature is usually sufficient.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For <strong>formal decisions, sanctions or contracts of high amounts<\/strong>, digital signature is the most solid option.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>En los \u00faltimos a\u00f1os, con la expansi\u00f3n de los expedientes digitales y los tr\u00e1mites digitales municipales, dos conceptos se volvieron habituales en la gesti\u00f3n p\u00fablica argentina: Firma Electr\u00f3nica y Firma Digital. Aunque en el lenguaje cotidiano suelen usarse como sin\u00f3nimos, jur\u00eddicamente no lo son. Ambas est\u00e1n reconocidas por la ley argentina y pueden ser v\u00e1lidas [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3095,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[39,49,40],"class_list":["post-3094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digitalizacion","tag-expedientes-digitales","tag-normativa","tag-sistema-de-expedientes-digitales"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wai.global\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wai.global\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wai.global\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wai.global\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wai.global\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3094"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wai.global\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3094\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3100,"href":"https:\/\/wai.global\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3094\/revisions\/3100"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wai.global\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wai.global\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wai.global\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wai.global\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}