For Citizens - Service Finder
Operating a Certification Service Provider Display
Certification service providers issue qualified certificates or qualified time stamps within the meaning of the Signature Act (SigG).
There is no need to obtain a permit for the operation of such a certification service, but the activity must be notified to the competent body and demonstrated that the conditions for operation are met.
If you want to receive a quality mark for your certification services, you can voluntarily be accredited as a certification service provider.
The responsibility lies with the Federal Network Agency.
This procedure can also be carried out through a "single point of contact". The "Single Contact Person" is a special service offered by the municipalities and the country for service providers.
- A certification service may only be operated by those who have the necessary
- Reliability
- Specialist and
- financial security.
- Furthermore, it must be ensured that the requirements of the Signature Act (SigG) and The Signature Ordinance (SigV) will be met in the following areas:
- Fulfilling the obligations of certification providers,
- design of the content of qualified certificates,
- validity period of qualified certificates,
- scope, amount and design of the permitted guarantees.
Other requirements or obligations of a certification service provider that have not been implemented in this short list or have not been detailed (e.g. identity verification, documentation, blocking, obligation to provide information, keeping a certificate directory, products to be used), can be found in the Signature Act (SigG) and the Signature Ordinance (SigV).
- written or electronically signed advertisement with the name and addresses of the certification provider and the name of the legal verter
- Certificate of Leadership pursuant to Section 30 paragraph 5 of the Federal Central Register Act (BZRG)
- current commercial register extract or a comparable document
- Evidence to prove the required technical, administrative and legal expertise in accordance with Section 4 paragraph 2 sentence 3 Signature Act (SigG)
- Safety concept with implementation presentation
- Proof of financial security in accordance with Section 12 SigG
There are fees. These depend on the time required and the expenses.
The display of the operation of a certification service must be made at the latest when the certification provider is operational. Otherwise, under Section 21 No. 2 of the Signature Act (SigG), a fine of up to EUR 10,000.00 may be imposed.
If circumstances arise which no longer meet the conditions for the operation of a certification service, this must be notified to the competent authority without delay.
Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior and Sport
Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)