How do I sign and verify PDFs online in Tanzania?
Sign the PDF in Sealique from any phone: the sealed file carries a PAdES digital signature that meets Tanzania's Electronic Transactions Act 2015 secure-signature test, plus a QR code.
Tanzania's Electronic Transactions Act, 2015 (Act No. 13 of 2015) states that a legal requirement for a signature is met by a secure electronic signature and defines what makes a signature secure. Sealique produces exactly that kind of signature, and because the interface, the signing page and the verification page exist in Kiswahili, a signer in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma or Arusha can use it in their own language.
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Key facts
- Section 6 of the Electronic Transactions Act, 2015 provides that where a law requires a signature, the requirement is met by a secure electronic signature made under the Act.
- Section 7 defines a secure electronic signature: unique to its purpose, identifies the signer, created and affixed by the signer under their control, and linked to the communication so that changes are revealed.
- The Act also governs the admissibility of electronic evidence in Tanzanian proceedings.
- A Sealique seal is a PAdES digital signature with a hash-chained audit trail, consent records and optional e-mail one-time code.
- Signing works on any phone in the browser, in Kiswahili or English, with no card and no trial clock; signers need no account.
Is an electronic signature legal in Tanzania?
Yes. The Electronic Transactions Act, 2015 (Act No. 13 of 2015) provides in section 6 that where a law requires the signature of a person, the requirement is met by a secure electronic signature made under the Act. Section 7 defines a secure electronic signature as one that is unique to the person using it, capable of identifying that person, created and affixed under their sole control and linked to the electronic communication in a way that reveals any change. The Act further governs electronic contracts, records and the admissibility of electronic evidence. Primary text: e-Government Authority of Tanzania (PDF); the Act follows the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures.
Documents such as wills, negotiable instruments and transfers of immovable property are commonly excluded or specially regulated; confirm the current exclusions before signing those electronically.
What do Tanzanian organisations sign with Sealique?
Supply and service contracts, employment letters, NGO and donor agreements, cooperative and SACCOS resolutions, board minutes, training attendance registers and approval letters. Each sealed PDF carries a verification ID that a partner in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar or abroad can check without an account.
Is Sealique available in Kiswahili?
Yes. The whole interface, the signing page a recipient opens, the e-mails and the public verification page exist in Kiswahili at the /sw/ address, next to English, French, German and Kinyarwanda. The person who sends the document and the person who signs it can each use a different language.
How is a signed PDF verified in Tanzania?
Every signature block prints a verification ID and a QR code. Scanning the code, typing the ID or uploading the PDF on the public verification page shows who signed, when, and whether the file changed since it was sealed, with nothing to install.
What E-signature in Tanzania includes
- PAdES digital signature per signer
- Kiswahili and English interface, e-mails and verification page
- Signers need no account; works on any phone
- Audit trail with time, IP address and device
- Public verification by QR code or ID
Questions people ask
Is a secure electronic signature required for every contract in Tanzania?
No. Parties may agree on any electronic signature; a secure electronic signature is what satisfies a statutory signature requirement under section 6 of the 2015 Act.
Can I sign documents in Kiswahili with Sealique?
Yes. The interface, signing page and verification page exist in Kiswahili; the document itself can be in any language.
Does a Tanzanian signer need an account on Sealique?
No. Signers open a personal link in the browser; only the sender has an account, and no card is needed to create one.
Will a Kenyan partner be able to verify a PDF sealed in Tanzania?
Yes. Verification is a public web page: scan the QR code or type the verification ID from anywhere in the world.
Sources
- Electronic Transactions Act, 2015, Tanzania (e-Government Authority PDF)
- UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures (2001)
This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice; check the current text of the law for your document type.