In 2026 a qualified electronic signature in Poland costs between roughly PLN 240 and PLN 600, depending on the variant (cloud vs smart card), validity period and whether you are buying a new set or renewing. Here is the full price breakdown — including the costs vendors rarely mention.
Qualified signature price list 2026
| Product | Price | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| SimplySign QES (cloud signature) | PLN 479 | 2 years |
| QES certificate renewal | PLN 249 | 1 year |
| Qualified seal QSeal (cloud) | PLN 599 | 1 year |
| Qualified seal QSeal (card + mini USB reader) | PLN 499 | 1 year |
Net prices from our pricing page for Certum certificates — Poland's largest trust service provider. Other operators (KIR Szafir, EuroCert, PWPW Sigillum) charge similar rates: a new set is typically PLN 250–400 per year.
What drives the price?
1. Cloud or cryptographic card. A cloud signature (SimplySign) needs no hardware — you sign from your phone or computer. A card set requires a reader (PLN 50–150), but works offline and is still required by some legacy systems.
2. Validity period. A 2-year certificate is clearly cheaper per year than an annual one — which is why we offer SimplySign as a 2-year package for PLN 479 (about PLN 20/month).
3. New purchase vs renewal. Renewal (no repeated identity verification, as long as the certificate is still valid) costs PLN 249. Miss the deadline and you go through the full first-purchase procedure again.
4. Identity verification method. Video verification is included in our price. Courier or in-person verification costs an extra PLN 50–150 with some operators.
Hidden costs worth asking about
- Card reader — PLN 50–150 (card variant only; SimplySign does not need one).
- Express issuance — a PLN 50–100 surcharge at some providers; our standard is one business day at no extra cost.
- Signature for a foreigner without a PESEL number — the certificate price is the same, but check that the operator supports online passport verification (we do).
- Mobile app and setup support — included with us; some providers bill technical assistance separately.
Qualified signature vs free alternatives
Poland's Trusted Profile is free but works only with Polish public offices — you cannot sign a B2B contract or a tender bid with it. A plain electronic signature (e.g. drawn in a PDF) carries no presumption of authenticity. Full comparison: Qualified signature vs Trusted Profile.
Is it a deductible business expense?
Yes — a qualified certificate bought for business purposes is a standard tax-deductible cost and the VAT invoice lets you reclaim VAT. At PLN 479 for two years, the real cost drops below PLN 20 a month.
How to buy without overpaying
- Choose the cloud variant unless you strictly need a card — you skip the reader cost.
- Go straight for the 2-year certificate.
- Renew before expiry — PLN 249 instead of the full procedure.
- Check what the price includes: verification, support, the app.
We handle the entire purchase and identity verification 100% remotely, usually within one business day. See the current pricing or contact us — we will help you pick the right variant.