Do you need to document that a specific version of a file existed on a particular date? A file certificate allows you to identify its contents and preserve a verifiable record of when it was certified.
The file certificate with an eIDAS qualified electronic timestamp that we offer at SaveTheProof includes the file’s SHA-256 hash, information about the certified file, an advanced electronic signature and a qualified electronic timestamp.
In this guide, we explain how to certify a file online, what documentation you receive, how to verify it and what it can help establish in a legal claim, without confusing certification with proof of authorship.
What Is a File Certificate with an eIDAS Qualified Electronic Timestamp?
A File Certificate documents a specific version of a file and its existence at the time of certification. It can be used for documents, photographs, audio recordings and videos.
Certifying a file does not prove its original creation date. The certificate date refers to when the certification was issued, even if the file was created or prepared earlier.
The documentation relies on several technical mechanisms, each serving a different purpose:
- Original file: the specific data submitted for certification.
- SHA-256 hash: a cryptographic value used to compare the contents of two copies of a file.
- Advanced electronic signature: a mechanism applied to the PDF to identify the signatory and verify the integrity of the signed document.
- Qualified electronic timestamp: links data to a specific date and time through a trust service regulated under the EU eIDAS framework.
- File information: the PDF certificate includes the file name, size, certification date and certificate identifier.
The SHA-256 algorithm produces a 256-bit hash, typically represented by 64 hexadecimal characters.
Two identical SHA-256 hashes provide strong cryptographic evidence that the compared data matches. However, matching hashes do not, by themselves, establish who created a file or whether its contents are accurate.
How to Certify a File Online with SaveTheProof: Steps and Pricing
At SaveTheProof, you can certify files of up to 100 MB in various formats, including PDF, DOC, JPG, ZIP, audio and video files. You do not need to install any additional software.
Before starting, choose the version you want to certify, make sure you are authorised to process its contents and preserve the original without editing it. If you modify the file beforehand, you will be certifying the modified version.
- 1. Create an account: visit https://secure.savetheproof.com/signup and sign in to your private account area.
- 2. Select the service: choose the File Certificate service from your account.
- 3. Upload your file: select the specific file you need to identify and timestamp.
- 4. Review your request: confirm that you have selected the correct original file and check the current price.
- 5. Request certification: use an available payment option to purchase and issue the certificate.
- 6. Download your evidence: preserve the electronically signed PDF and the original certified file included in the ZIP package.
The price of a File Certificate at SaveTheProof is €0.95 per file, including VAT. The certificate is generated within minutes.
We offer a seven-day free educational trial. Free certificates include a watermark and have no evidential value under our terms and conditions.
A certificate issued during the educational trial cannot be converted into a paid certificate. If you need a paid certification, you must purchase the service and repeat the certification process for the relevant file.
What Does the PDF Certificate Include and How Can You Verify Its SHA-256 Hash?
After certification, we provide a ZIP file containing the electronically signed PDF certificate and the original certified file. Keeping both files makes subsequent verification easier.
If you would like to see what the document looks like before purchasing, you can download a sample File Certificate from our service page.
- Certificate identifier: a reference identifying the issued certification.
- Date and applicant: the time of issuance and the email address associated with the account that requested the certificate.
- File name and size: details of the certified file, including its size in bytes.
- SHA-256 hash: a cryptographic fingerprint of the original content that allows it to be compared with another copy.
- Electronic signature and timestamp: mechanisms incorporated into the PDF to verify its integrity and the associated timestamp information.
Verifying the PDF certificate and checking the certified file are two separate operations. The first examines the issued certificate, while the second compares the available file against its recorded cryptographic hash.
- 1. Verify the PDF: visit https://secure.savetheproof.com/verify and upload the original certificate.
- 2. Review the result: check whether the platform recognises the certificate as valid and confirms that it has not been tampered with.
- 3. Calculate the SHA-256 hash: if you still have the certified file, use the “Calculate SHA256” feature in the same verification tool.
- 4. Compare the values: check whether the calculated hash matches the value recorded in the File Certificate.
- 5. Preserve both files: keep the PDF certificate and the original certified file unchanged for future verification.
If the hashes do not match, check whether you have selected a different file or an edited version. Renaming a file does not change its SHA-256 hash as long as its internal data remains identical.
Our free certificate verification tool is designed for certificates issued by SaveTheProof. It is not a standalone certification service and does not validate certificates from other platforms.
What Legal Validity Does an eIDAS Qualified Electronic Timestamp Have?
Article 41 of the EU eIDAS Regulation grants qualified electronic timestamps a legal presumption of accuracy regarding the indicated date and time, as well as the integrity of the data to which they are linked.
Article 42 establishes technical requirements for this temporal link, including the use of a time source linked to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Consult the consolidated EU eIDAS Regulation.
At SaveTheProof, we are not a qualified trust service provider. For qualified electronic timestamping, we work with external providers that hold this status.
We explain this distinction in our article on qualified trust service providers and digital certification. The qualified status applies to the timestamping service, not automatically to the entire certification service.
- What it provides: documentation identifying the certified version, its cryptographic hash and the time of timestamping.
- What it does not establish: the author’s identity, an earlier creation date or the truthfulness of the content.
- What it does not rule out: changes made before certification was requested.
- What it does not guarantee: that a court will admit the certificate as evidence or give it favourable evidential weight.
Article 326 of the Spanish Civil Procedure Act (Ley de Enjuiciamiento Civil) regulates certain evidential aspects of electronic documents. Its application depends on the issues in dispute and the relevant proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions About File Certificates and Electronic Timestamping (FAQs)
Can I Certify a ZIP File Containing Multiple Documents?
Yes, provided the ZIP file does not exceed the 100 MB limit. The SHA-256 hash identifies the entire compressed file, but it does not, by itself, establish the origin of each document inside it.
Do I Need to Certify a File Again if I Modify It?
Yes, if you want to document the new version. Changing a file’s data will generally change its SHA-256 hash. The previous certificate will continue to refer to the version originally certified.
Can a File Certificate Prove Who Created a Photograph?
Not on its own. It can identify a particular version of the image and its certification date, but establishing authorship and when the photograph was taken may require additional information or evidence.
When Should You Certify a File Instead of a Web Page?
Choose the appropriate service based on what you need to document: the contents of a file, information published at a public URL or the steps involved in an interactive browsing session.
- Contract or PDF report: use a File Certificate to preserve a specific version without claiming that third parties have accepted it.
- Photograph, audio recording or video: use a File Certificate to make subsequent file integrity checks easier.
- Content published at a URL: use a Website Certificate to document the content accessible at the specified web address.
- Content requiring sign-in or interaction: use a Browsing Session Certificate to document the steps performed during the session.
At SaveTheProof, we help you choose the appropriate certification service and preserve the resulting documentation. The key is to certify the correct version, verify the evidence and retain the original files.
Get your File Certificate with SaveTheProof and document your file’s integrity and certification date using verifiable technical mechanisms.
