Gloucestershire IT-LAB
CERTUM ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE
Frequently asked questions about purchasing and activation of the CERTUM electronic signature.
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CERTUM ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE
Frequently asked questions about the use of the CERTUM electronic signature.

Most common technical problems with Certum Qualified Electronic Signature.
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CERTUM ELECTRONIC SEAL
Frequently asked questions about purchasing, activation and use of the CERTUM Electronic Seal.
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CERTUM QES Certificate

Frequently asked questions about purchasing and activation of the CERTUM electronic signature.

Yes, after purchasing the CERTUM Electronic Signature set or the SimplySign service, you will need to verify your identity. You can do this in one of three ways:

  • online,
  • in person during a meeting with our partner – this service is available only within the United Kingdom,
  • by correspondence way, by sending a notarized identity confirmation.


Once the verification process is complete, you’ll be able to activate your electronic signature and start using it.

After filling out the form, you will need to verify your identity. You can do this:
  • online,
  • in person with one of our partners (this service is available only within the United Kingdom),
  • by mail, sending a notarized identity confirmation.

Once the verification is complete, you will gain access to your electronic signature.
After filling out the form, you will need to verify your identity. You can do this:
  • online,
  • in person: you can visit us in our office in Gloucester, or we can visit you at your preferred location (this service is available only within the United Kingdom),
  • by mail, sending a notarized identity confirmation.

Once the verification is complete, you will gain access to your electronic signature.
Yes, the identity verification service is subject to a fee. CERTUM partners are not employees of CERTUM – they are independent operators who provide identity verification services to clients. They do not receive a regular salary from CERTUM, which is why they charge for services such as identity verification. The cost of the service may vary depending on the selected method.
The best identity verification method depends on your preferences, location, and how quickly you need the process completed.
  • Notarized identity confirmation – this is the most affordable option and is available worldwide. It requires a visit to a notary and sending the documents to us by post. The downside is that the process may take more time to complete.
  • Meeting with a partner – this option is available only within the United Kingdom. The entire identity verification process usually takes less than an hour, after which you can start using your certificate immediately.
  • Video verification with IDNow – a convenient remote method, especially popular among customers from the United States and Asian countries. The process is fully online and quick, though the cost is slightly higher than other options.

If speed is your priority, choose a partner meeting or video verification. If you’re looking for the lowest cost and are not in a rush, the notarized method is the best option.
The IDNow online identity verification service is available Monday through Friday during specific hours, based on the London (UK) time zone:
  • Monday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM – no reservation required,
  • Tuesday: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM – advance booking of a specific time is required,
  • Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM – no reservation required,
  • Thursday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM – advance booking of a specific time is required,
  • Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – no reservation required.

Please make sure to check reservation requirements in advance to avoid delays in the verification process.

You do not need to be a holder of a Polish PESEL number to apply for a CERTUM electronic signature. However, you may be required to have this number to be able to send certain documents to the servers of the Polish tax office. Contact with your representatives in Poland to precise information on this requirement.

If you are a member of the management board or a director of a Polish limited company, we recommend applying for a Polish PESEL number before you apply for an electronic signature certificate. This will avoid possible problems in the future and incurring additional costs for a new certificate.

Certum Electronic Signature Certificates are valid for one, two, or three years. In most cases, the certificate’s validity period is linked to the expiration date of your passport. Please contact us for detailed information.

The differences between Certum Standard, Certum Mini, and SimplySign mainly concern the method of use and the type of device used:

  • Certum Standard – includes a cryptographic card (the size of a payment card) and a desktop USB reader. It requires software installation and is used on computers. This is a classic hardware-based solution,
  • Certum Mini – includes a smaller USB device (the size of a flash drive) that functions as both the card and the reader. It is more compact and convenient to use. Like the Certum Standard set, it requires the installation of the proCertum CardManager software,
  • SimplySign – is the modern cloud-based signature platform, completely mobile, and does not require any physical device. Document signing is done via a mobile or desktop application with cloud access.
CERTUM Standard
CERTUM Mini
CERTUM SimplySign

The choice depends on your needs – if you mainly sign documents on a computer, a hardware set may be a better option. If you prefer a modern and mobile solution, SimplySign will be the best choice.

Certum Electronic Signature Certificate activation is the process during which you will be asked to review and confirm the data included in your certificate and to define two security codes: PIN and PUK.
  • The PIN code is used to authorize electronic signature operations – you will need to enter it each time you sign a document,
  • The PUK code is a recovery code used to unlock your certificate in case the PIN is blocked (for example, after three incorrect attempts).

It is extremely important to make a secure backup of both the PIN and PUK codes. Losing both codes will result in permanent blocking of access to your electronic signature certificate.

CERTUM QES Certificate

Frequently asked questions about the use of the CERTUM electronic signature.

You can download the SimplySign Mobile app directly from the Google Play Store (for Android devices) or the App Store (for Apple devices). You can also use the links below:
Once installed, activate app with your email address. For security purposes you need to answer for three security questions. You may be ask to enter login credentials to your CERTUM account too.

First, please check if there are any extra, invisible spaces at the end of the answers to the security questions. This is often the cause of the issue.

If the problem persists, please contact the Certum helpline. The operators can perform a SEED reset operation and allow you to activate SimplySign Mobile app using a QR code.

The Certum helpline phone number is +48 91 4801 340.

The latest versions of CERTUM software can be downloaded for free from the official CERTUM website:
👉 Polish Website: https://pomoc.certum.pl/pl/oprogramowanie/
👉 English Website: https://support.certum.eu/en/cert-offer-software-and-libraries/

You can also use the direct links below; however, please note that they are not updated daily, so they might not always point to the latest available versions.

proCertum CardManager:


proCertum SmartSign + SimplySign Desktop:


Please remember: to install CERTUM software You need local admin credentials. Ask Your IT department for help if it is not allowed to install 3rd party software without approval.

If you entered the wrong PIN code three times and your Certum electronic signature certificate was blocked, you can unblock it depending on the type of certificate you have:

For certificates installed on a physical cryptographic card (Certum Mini or Certum Standard):
Launch the proCertum CardManager application and use the “Reset PIN code” option. You will need your PUK code to complete this process.

For SimplySign mobile certificates:
Log in to your client account at https://cloudsign.webnotarius.pl/ccm and follow the instructions in the panel to reset your PIN. You will need your PUK code to complete this process.

Note: If both your PIN and PUK codes are lost (for hardware-based and mobile certificates), it is not possible to continue using the certificate.

If you used our services when applying for or renewing your Certum electronic signature, you’re welcome to take advantage of our free and unlimited technical support. You can find our contact details here.

If you received an email notifying you that your certificate is nearing the end of its validity period, we encourage you to contact us. We will check all available renewal options for your certificate – please note that not every certificate is eligible for renewal, and in some cases, a new certificate may be required.

Once you accept our renewal offer, we’ll guide you through the entire process – from documentation to the activation of your new certificate.

By using our services for the renewal process, you gain access to free, unlimited technical support for the entire validity period of your certificate.

Unfortunately, if your Certum electronic signature certificate has already expired, it cannot be renewed.

We strongly recommend not leaving the renewal process until the last moment – it’s best to complete the renewal at least 7 days before the expiration date.

If your certificate has expired, you will need to apply for a new one. The process is the same as for a first-time applicant.

It is not possible to sign .xml files using the SimplySign Mobile app – the app only supports signing PDF files.

To sign an .xml file, you will need the proCertum SmartSign application, which must be installed on a computer.

If you’re unable to install this software, you can activate an additional paid service called CertumSign, which allows you to sign .xml files directly in your web browser.

Electronic signature certificates from Certum are recognized by both the free Adobe Reader and the paid Adobe Acrobat versions.

To sign PDF files using the Adobe package, you must have the appropriate Certum software installed on your computer.

CERTUM Electronic Seal Certificate

Frequently asked questions about purchasing, activation and use of the CERTUM Electronic Seal.