The envelope idea
When you sign a paper contract, the signature is on the paper. A digital file has no margin to sign in, so the signature has to be stored next to the document and tied to it mathematically. An ASiC-E file is the package that keeps the two together: the documents and, beside them, a signature for each person who signed.
The name is an abbreviation of Associated Signature Container Extended. "Extended" means it can hold many documents and many signatures. The file extension is .asice, sometimes .sce.
Who creates them
- People in Estonia signing contracts, applications and decisions with DigiDoc4.
- Banks, insurers and landlords sending agreements for signature.
- Public authorities issuing decisions.
- Companies in Latvia and Lithuania, whose national formats follow the same standard.
Why it matters legally
Under the EU's eIDAS regulation, a qualified electronic signature has the legal effect of a handwritten signature in every member state. An ASiC-E container signed with an Estonian ID-card is such a signature. That is why the file, not a printout, is the original.
What is inside
| Part | In envelope terms |
|---|---|
| The documents | The papers |
| The signatures | The signatures on the seal |
| A fingerprint of each document | The proof that no page was swapped |
| A time stamp | The postmark |
What you can do with one
- Read it in a viewer such as ASiCE Viewer.
- Check it: see who signed and whether the documents are unchanged.
- Keep it as your signed original.
- Sign it too, if you are a party, using signing software.
What you should not do
Do not edit the documents inside and do not re-save the container with a ZIP program: both break the seal. And do not confuse it with a .cdoc file, which is an encrypted envelope only the recipient can open.
On a phone, the ASiC-E Viewer app reads the same files. For the technical view, continue with ASiC-E file format.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ASiC-E file a PDF?
No. It is a container that often has a PDF inside. Open the container to reach the PDF.
Can anyone read an ASiC-E file?
Yes. It is signed, not encrypted. Anyone with the file can read the documents and see who signed.