Digital signature

One of the perks of the new accreditations I obtained in 2025, is that I can digitally sign my deliverables. However, having zero knowledge of the subject, I had to learn a thing or two.

In Europe, eIDAS Regulation regulates digital signature across the EU. In Spain (only for citizens and residents), you can get a digital signature for just 4 Euros at the civil registry office. In Italy, the cheapest provider is €57 for 3 year, so I went for that since I could use my Italian passport/ID to verify my identity.

However, the Spanish tool to verify my signature, recognizes it as valid but it doesn't extract my name. This is because my Italian provider is not on the list of the Spanish providers. Nice.

Now, I have to get one in Argentina, where I have the same issue. My European digital signature is not valid here.

On top of that, there are two ways to digitally sign: you can use a token, which is a USB pendrive, or a digital token (OTP app installed on your phone).

The cost of the physical token is over 100,000 ARS... I guess it costs cents to produce.

Today, I am going to visit the Polo Científico Tecnológico on Godoy Cruz 2370, near Plaza Italia, to get a digital signature. I have an appointment at 11 AM, and there is plenty of spots. For now, just with a eToken since the Translators Association has them for a special price for their associates (75k) but I won't be able to get one for a month or more. The whole thing is free (good!), but to sign files, you have to use the Firmador on the government's platform MiArgentina, of which I am not very fond.

I am also going to inquire why I can't just have one digital signature for Europe and Argentina, since I am the same person.

Lastly, I'll ask if the Argentinian signature is eIDAS compliant... it would be nice NOT having to pay an annual fee to maintain my European signature.

UK Man , I don't really have much alternative if I want to keep working. While most of my client base is abroad, law changes can kill my main business in a heartbeat, so I am trying to cover as many bases as I can.

I moved up my appointment to 10:15 as we have a ML delivery for today - as usual, no timeframe was provided so I wanted to be home in the most likely time 11 am to 9 pm.

The building complex of Polo Científico Tecnológico is modern and just a few years old (I think 2-3). After finding the correct building, I announced myself, the security guard checked I had an appointment on her computer and told me to sit in the waiting area, where there were 4 large and modern couches. I was impressed, as it looked very professional. However, since only one person was actually at the Digital Signature desk, the appointments were delayed of 45'.

Also, the security guards (2) were privately hired, not public employees. It wasn't Prosegur but a different company.

I had arrived there 15' earlier and my appointment was at 10:15, as the website said the tolerance was minimum. My husband had plenty of time to park a few blocks away. While we were waiting, I told him why didn't he get one while at it. He scheduled an appointment on the fly, announced himself at the reception and at 10.40 we were both seen.

I didn't think they'd let the both of us step in as there were other 5 people waiting. However, it soon became apparent why. There are about 10+ steps to follow and the clerk was gladly explaining them once to the both of us, instead of individually for the 10th time in the morning.

As the lady was doing this all day, every day, she spoke very quickly and I was glad my husband was there with me to repeat instructions.

First, I was asked to sit across the lady's desk. Then, to hand over my DNI. She asked for my personal email address, which was the same used to book my appointment. She said I'd be receiving a link to Confirm I was about to start the identification process with her.

Once confirmed, she took a picture of me with her webcam and asked if I had an OTP generator installed on my phone. I told her I have Google Authenticator installed. Luckily, that's was fine. I wasn't able to find out which authenticator apps they were accepting beforehand.

She asked me to pick a password for my account. It must be 8 characters long with at least one capital letter and can't be all numbers. No special characters, either.

At that point, I realized there was a computer keyboard in front of me. I didn't understand it was meant to be used, at first, as it seemed forgotten there.

She asked to me type my password of choice twice on that lone keyboard. I didn't have a screen to check I had typed correctly. As long as the two passwords matched, she was okay. However, this is the same password you have to use at home to access the Firmador website to sign your files. I noted it down on my phone to make sure I didn't forgot it by the time I was home.

At that point, she asked me to open Google Authenticator and to click on the + sign to add a new OTP service. I had to choose "Add using QR code" and handed over my mobile phone to her. She then read a QR code on her computer using my phone. This added the OTP code for Firmar Digital, which should be another name for the Firmador.

I have to say it is pretty anonymous and, unfortunately, it can't be renamed to make it at least Argentina-specific.

Subsequently, I was asked to pick a PIN code. It follows the same rule as the password and CAN be identical to the password.

At that point, we checked that everything was working correctly.

She asked me to type my OTP on the spare keyboard, then I had to type again my password, twice. Then again the OTP code, which had changed in the meanwhile.

At that point, I received a confirmation email with my unique revocation code to use in case my password and PIN are compromised. The procedure was complete and the lady returned my DNI. She said the signature is valid for 2 years.

I asked if it is valid in Europe, and she said there is mutual recognition within the Mercosur, but nothing specific with Europe. Likewise, she wasn't able to say if my European signature was valid to sign here.

Yesterday, I had uploaded a eIDAS-compliant signed PDF on Argentina's validation page (Validador de firmas) and it said it was invalid.

Likewise, today I uploaded my first Argentinian digitally signed PDF on the Spanish validation tool VALIDe and it is invalid.

Then, my husband went through the same steps and we were out. overall, I left home at 9:30 am and was back at 11 am.

It may be free but it is a waste of time. For my Italian/European digital signature, I had to pay but I was able to do it from home and in 30'.

It may seems a little effort for those of us living near Capital, but a colleague of mine, who lives somewhere in Entre Rios, told me she would have to travel to the Capital city of Entre Rios to be able to get a digital signature. This means money and time. And also less work opportunities until you have a digital signature. Yes, you can hand sign, but if you live somewhere away from the Capital, you have to physically mail the document to the Translators Association (again, money and time wasted) for the handwritten signature legalization vs. uploading your digitally signed file on the Translators Association's platform for the legalization.

It is unthinkable to me to fathom life away from CABA.