Use a reliable e-signature process with identifiable signers — a pasted PNG of a signature is not the statutory safe harbour.
China’s Electronic Signature Law recognises electronic signatures that meet reliability conditions, enabling paperless execution for many civil/commercial contracts, with exclusions for personal-status documents and other restricted categories. Parties should control identity, integrity and audit trails. Company chops remain common alongside or instead of e-sign. This wiki fills the map gap for `/electronic-signatures-in-china`. Chops legal-effect is the wet-seal twin.
4 questions before you choose the route.
This page identifies the right question and evidence. It does not determine the legal outcome on a reader’s facts.
Is the document e-sign eligible?
Exclusions.
ScopeReliable platform/process?
Identity+integrity.
PlatformAuthority of signer proven?
POA/role.
AuthorityChop still expected by counterparty?
Culture.
ChopWorking rule: Map the regulated role before marketing or launch in China.
The signal ledger.
These facts move the question beyond a label and into a product, money-flow and control analysis.
Bring a compact evidence docket—not a pitch deck.
Give a compliance team or counsel the operating facts that reveal the perimeter.
Questions people ask before they build.
Short answers for orientation. The right result can change with the service model and current rules.
Can we e-sign an employment contract?
Often yes in practice with compliant tools — confirm current labour/local practice.
Where are chops?
Primary authorities
Reviewed sources support orientation, not a fact-specific assessment.