Qualified Time Stamps
Accredited conformity assessment of qualified electronic time stamp services under eIDAS and the applicable ETSI standards.
Who needs this — and why
If a time stamp is to count as qualified, the service issuing it must demonstrate conformity first — in an accredited assessment against the requirements of eIDAS.
Qualified time stamps provide trusted evidence that electronic data existed at a specific moment and has not changed since. They support electronic signatures, seals, long-term preservation, financial transactions and other regulated processes where time must be independently verifiable.
Trust depends on the integrity of the time source, cryptographic processing and the controls governing issuance. The assessment therefore covers the service as a whole, not only the resulting time stamp token.
Because every service differs in architecture and intended use, every assessment begins by defining the appropriate scope.
Trusted evidence of time
Qualified time stamping relies on accurate time sources, secure cryptographic processing and resilient operations. Our auditors combine accredited assessment with practical security expertise to verify that time stamp tokens remain trustworthy and that the supporting controls operate consistently in practice.
What the certification covers
Our assessment covers the complete lifecycle of a qualified electronic time stamp service, from trusted time sources and cryptographic processing to token issuance, validation and ongoing operation. We examine how the service maintains accurate time, protects signing keys and ensures the integrity and reliability of the evidence it produces.
The assessment also includes the wider governance and security framework supporting the service, including operational procedures, incident handling, cryptographic controls, supplier relationships and change management. Rather than reviewing individual controls in isolation, we evaluate how the service functions as a whole and whether objective evidence demonstrates that it operates consistently in practice.
Standards & articles
Qualified electronic time stamp services are assessed against the applicable requirements of the eIDAS framework and its supporting ETSI standards.
This may include:
- Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (Articles 41–42)
- ETSI EN 319 421
- ETSI EN 319 401
- Applicable national supervisory requirements
The exact assessment scope depends on the characteristics of the qualified time stamp service and is agreed with you during scoping, before the assessment begins.
Where we've done it
Our experience includes accredited assessments involving organisations such as those below — the full list is on our references page:
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Incode
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MISA
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monobank
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Scrive
More broadly, TAYLLORCOX has certified more than 30 trust services across 11 countries.
Our references include qualified trust service providers operating time stamping and related trust services across Europe and international markets.
Explore the full eIDAS scope
We assess every trust service and identity scheme the Regulation defines — not only the one on this page.
Request an assessment
If you are planning a new qualified time stamp service, preparing for supervisory assessment or reviewing an existing service, we can help define the assessment scope and explain what evidence will be required before the conformity assessment begins.
Your first conversation will be with an experienced eIDAS auditor who will discuss your service, its technical architecture and the most appropriate assessment path.
