How to sign a PDF without printing it

Sign a PDF yourself

1. Open Sign PDF and add the document. It is free and needs no account.
2. Create your signature: draw it with your finger or mouse, type your name, or upload a photo of your signature.
3. Add a date or tick marks if the form asks for them.
4. Drag everything into place, resize it, and download the signed PDF.

With a free account you can save one signature to reuse next time; Premium saves up to twenty. If the document has form fields to fill in first, use Fill Forms before signing.

Ask other people to sign

When a document needs several signatures, use a signature request instead of passing the file around. Sign in (a free account is enough), open Sign PDF, choose Request signatures, and add up to ten signers with their names and email addresses. They can sign in any order, or one after another.

Each signer gets their own link. Papermint does not email them: you send each link yourself, by email or message. You can see who has opened and signed, get a fresh link to send as a reminder, and every step is kept in an audit trail. Requests and their documents are deleted after 30 days, or sooner if you cancel them.

Visible signature or digital signature?

• A visible signature (what Sign PDF adds) looks like signing on paper. It is what most forms, leases and permission slips ask for.
• A digital signature adds a certificate that proves the file has not been changed since it was signed. Use Digital signature (Premium) when the other side asks for one, or when you need to show the document was not altered afterwards.

Whether an electronic signature is accepted for a particular document depends on the document and where you are. Most everyday agreements accept one; some legal documents still need a signature on paper or in front of a witness.