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PDF Document Requirements for E-Signing
To ensure a smooth and successful signing process, your documents must meet specific size, formatting, and page requirements before being uploaded to the Verified platform.
Quick Reference: PDF Limitations
| Requirement | Limit / Rule | Why it matters |
| Global File Size | Max 10 MB per file | Enforced across the platform to accommodate all signing methods. |
| Norway BankID Size | Max 3 MB recommended (10 MB absolute cap) | Specifically required by BankID Norway; larger files will fail. |
| Recommended Size | Under 1 MB per file | Ensures optimal loading performance, especially on mobile devices. |
| Max Pages per File | 1,000 pages | Individual documents cannot exceed this length. |
| Max Pages per Transaction | 2,000 pages | The combined total of all uploaded PDFs in a single envelope. |
Detailed Requirements
1. File Size & Regional Restrictions
While certain signing methods (like Swedish BankID) handle larger files without issue, other digital ID networks impose strict data caps. To ensure platform-wide compatibility, Verified sets a baseline maximum of 10 MB per PDF.
2. Important Guidelines for Norwegian BankID
If your transaction utilizes Norwegian BankID, you should keep each document under 3 MB. While the absolute hard cap for the network is roughly 10 MB of raw file data, we enforce and recommend a 3 MB threshold due to how the BankID system handles data:
Base64 Inflation: When transmitted via the BankID Norway API, files are converted to Base64 strings. This process automatically inflates the file size by roughly 33%, pushing a large file past the network's maximum database limit.
Signature Overhead: Every Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) adds unique cryptographic metadata and a visual seal directly to the PDF. If a file is already right on the size limit, adding subsequent signatures will cause the transaction to fail mid-way through the flow.
Mobile Performance: Over 50% of recipients open their signing invitations directly on mobile devices. Larger files easily cause memory overloads on older smartphones, leading to the common BID-18a8d error.
3. Document Restrictions (No Forms or Passwords)
Documents uploaded for electronic signing must be static, non-editable, and ready for archiving. The platform cannot process files that have any of the following features:
Password protection or encryption
Interactive form fields (text inputs, digital checkboxes, or dropdowns)
Active digital rights management (DRM) restrictions
How to Make a PDF "Print-Ready" (Flattening)
If your PDF contains interactive forms or hidden restrictions, you can easily clean and "flatten" it by using your system's built-in virtual printer. This locks all elements into a completely static, non-editable format.
Open your PDF file in your preferred application or web browser.
Open the print menu by pressing Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac).
Select the appropriate "Print to PDF" option based on your app:
Google Chrome: Select Save as PDF from the destination list.
Microsoft Edge: Choose Save as PDF or Microsoft Print to PDF.
Adobe Reader: Choose Adobe PDF from your printer list.
Safari (Mac): Click the PDF dropdown menu at the very bottom of the print window and select Save as PDF.
Save the new file and upload this version to Verified.