Electronic Signatures and Trust Infrastructures (ESI); XAdES digital signatures; Part 1: Building blocks and XAdES baseline signatures

Note

ETSI standard specifying XAdES signatures, built on XML signatures, and the baseline XAdES signature formats, version 1.3.1.

Summary

Purpose

European standard ETSI EN 319 132-1 (version 1.3.1, July 2024) defines XAdES, a digital signature format built on XML signatures ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.3.1, § 1 Scope ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.3.1, History. Its scope begins as follows:

It sets the so-called qualifying properties, signed or unsigned, added to an XML signature, their XML schemas, and baseline signatures in four levels. The procedures for creation, augmentation and validation fall under ETSI EN 319 102-1 ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.3.1, § 1 Scope ETSI EN 319 102-1 V1.4.1.

Who it applies to

• Member States that require an advanced electronic signature or seal for an online service offered by, or on behalf of, a public sector body: they must recognise the formats in Annex I to Implementing Regulation 2026/248, including XAdES 1.3.1 Art. 1(1) Art. 3(1) Annex I Art. 27(1) Art. 37(1).
• Providers of qualified electronic ledgers, to establish the origin of data records List of technical specifications and reference standards for qualified distributed electronic ledgers.

Key points

• XML basis: XAdES adds to an XML signature properties that meet common needs, such as long-term validity ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.3.1, § 1 Scope.
• Four levels: B-B, B-T, B-LT and B-LTA, from the simplest to the most durable; each level incorporates the requirements of the lower levels ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.3.1, § 1 Scope ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.3.1, § 6.1 Signature levels.
• Changes since version 1.2.1: according to the history of the standard, an unsigned AnyValidationData property holds certificates, revocation data or both, and the computation of archive time stamps has been reworded ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.3.1, Annex E (informative): Change history.
• Framework targeted: the standard states that it targets in particular the simple, advanced or qualified electronic signatures and seals of Regulation 910/2014 ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.3.1, § 1 Scope.

What the acts apply, and how

• Implementing Regulation 2026/248: Member States that require an advanced electronic signature (or one based on a qualified certificate) recognise those that meet the specifications in Annex I; the same rule applies to seals Art. 1(1) Art. 3(1). Annex I names the whole standard, in version 1.3.1, without adaptation Annex I. These paragraphs apply from 23 February 2027 Art. 6. For signatures and seals created before 23 February 2028, Member States also recognise the former profile ETSI TS 103 171 v.2.1.1, with the exception of its clause 9 and at levels B, T or LT Art. 1(2) Art. 3(2) Annex II ETSI TS 103 171 V2.1.1.
• Implementing Regulation 2025/2531 (qualified electronic ledgers): the standard is reached through ETSI EN 319 401 version 3.1.1, which the annex adapts. Under requirement REQ-7.5-03, providers establish the origin of data records by means of advanced signatures or seals based on qualified certificates, created by the users of the service in accordance with CAdES 1.3.1, XAdES 1.3.1 or JAdES List of technical specifications and reference standards for qualified distributed electronic ledgers ETSI EN 319 401 V3.1.1. Under Regulation 910/2014, compliance of an electronic ledger with the requirements laid down in paragraph 1 of the article cited is presumed where it complies with the standards, specifications and procedures referred to in paragraph 3 Art. 45l(2).
• Implementing Regulation 2025/2162: Annex II cites EN 319 132-1, without a version, for the recording of electronic data in a qualified electronic ledger; scheme owners ensure that their conformity assessment schemes include at least these standards, as applicable, with their year and version number Annex II Art. 6(3).

Implementing Regulation 2024/2979 still cites version 1.2.1, as an optional format for the signature creation applications of wallets Annex IV ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.2.1.

Important clauses

• ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.3.1, § 1 Scope: scope.
• ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.3.1, § 5 Qualifying properties semantics and syntax: qualifying properties.
• ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.3.1, § 6 XAdES baseline signatures: baseline signatures and levels.
• ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.3.1, Annex E (informative): Change history: change history.

Links

• Version 1.2.1 of the same standard ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.2.1.
• Related standards: CAdES ETSI EN 319 122-1 V1.3.1, PAdES ETSI EN 319 142-1 V1.2.1, ASiC containers ETSI EN 319 162-1 V1.1.1.
• Learning path: step 4, trust services.

ETSI standard: the site reproduces only short extracts; the full text is available from ETSI ETSI EN 319 132-1 V1.3.1. Written by Asphalia.