The board expects my signature on the final [document=financial statements] tomorrow morning, but I'm still waiting on…
Open the PDF document you want to certify in Adobe Acrobat.
Go to the Tools pane and select Protect.
In the Protect toolbar, click Certify with Visible Signature or Certify with Invisible Signature depending on your preference.
Drag to draw the signature field on the page if prompted for a visible signature, or confirm placement for an invisible signature.
In the dialog that appears, select your digital ID from the list or add a new one if necessary.
Set the Permissions options to control what changes are allowed after certifying (e.g., no changes, form fill-in only, or comments only).
Optionally, enter a reason for certifying the document.
Click Sign to apply the certifying signature.
Save the PDF when prompted to complete the certification process.
Best practiceIf you need to allow others to fill forms or add comments after certification, choose the appropriate restriction option before signing.
After certifying a PDF, Acrobat will display a blue ribbon in the document’s toolbar to indicate the document is certified and show any allowed changes.
This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.
| Feature | Purpose | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Signature | To sign a document as an individual, like signing a paper contract. | Can be applied to a PDF with other signatures. |
| Certify PDF | To declare a document as final and official, preventing changes. | Can only be applied to a PDF with no other signatures. |
Certifying a regulatory certification document is important because it officially locks the document. It shows that the document is final and has not been changed since it was certified. This helps ensure trust and compliance for important regulatory information, making it clear that the content is authoritative.
A Digital ID is your personal electronic proof of identity. When you certify a PDF, you use your Digital ID. It acts like a private key to sign the document, and a public key allows others to verify that it was truly you who certified it. This ensures the certification is authentic and linked to you.
If you need to update a PDF that has already been certified, you cannot simply edit it and keep the original certification. The certification is designed to show the document is final and unchanged. You would need to create a new version of the PDF, make your updates, and then certify the new version. This ensures the integrity of each certified document.