No. Password-protected, encrypted, or locked PDFs are not supported by BankID or the Verified platform.

If you attempt to upload a password-protected document, the signing process will fail, or the file will be unreadable by the system. To successfully sign the document, the transaction must be restarted using an unprotected version of the file.

Why Aren't Protected PDFs Allowed?

The restriction isn't arbitrary; it is a requirement for long-term legal validity. Any document processed for an official electronic signature should ideally adhere to the PDF/A standard.

The PDF/A Archiving Standard

• Designed for Longevity: PDF/A is a specialized, ISO-standardized version of the PDF format created specifically for the secure, long-term archiving of digital documents.

• No Encryption Allowed: The PDF/A standard explicitly bans password protection and encryption.

• Guaranteed Access: To remain legally binding over time, a document's content must be completely readable at any point in the future. It cannot rely on a password that might be forgotten, lost, or compromised years down the road.

What Should You Do If a Process Fails?

If you or your recipient tried to sign a password-protected file and the process stalled:

1. Cancel the Current Transaction: Terminate the failed or stuck envelope in your Verified dashboard.

2. Remove the Password: Open your original document creation tool (or a PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat) and turn off password security/encryption.

3. Save a Clean Copy: Save the document as a standard, unencrypted PDF.

4. Restart the Process: Upload the fresh, unprotected PDF into a new Verified transaction and send it out again.