Draw your signature with a mouse, finger or stylus, or type your name and have it set in a handwriting-style font. Then drag it to where it belongs on the page, set the size, and download the signed copy. The whole job takes about a minute and replaces the old routine of printing, signing and scanning.
The preview opens on the last page of the document, because that is where the signature line usually is. You can step back through the pages if the signature goes somewhere else, and tick a box to write today’s date underneath it.
What you get is an electronic signature: an image of your signature placed on the page. For leases, consent forms, quotes and most everyday paperwork in Australia that is what is being asked for. It is not a certificate-based digital signature, and a few kinds of document have stricter rules, which are covered below.
How to sign PDF
- Make your signature. Use the Draw tab to sign on the pad, with Clear to start again, or the Type tab to type your name in a handwriting font. Blank space around the signature is trimmed automatically.
- Add your PDF. One file at a time, up to 100 MB. A preview of the last page appears; use the ‹ › buttons to move to another page.
- Place and size it. Drag the signature into position, or tap the page to move it there. The Size slider sets its width from 10% to 70% of the page.
- Sign and download. Tick the date option first if you want today's date underneath. The signed file ends in <code>-signed.pdf</code>.
Drawing, typing and placing the signature
Draw gives you a signature pad. On a phone or tablet, signing with a finger or stylus produces something close to your pen signature; with a mouse it tends to come out shakier, so take it slowly or use a trackpad. If the first attempt is not right, press Clear and sign again. Type sets your name in Dancing Script, a handwriting-style font, which is tidy and consistent but plainly not your own hand.
Either way, the signature is cropped to the ink, so the empty space around it does not throw off the placement. On the page preview you can drag it into position or tap where it should go and it jumps there. The Size slider runs from 10% to 70% of the page width; around 25 to 30% suits a typical signature line on an A4 page.
Placement follows the page as you see it on screen. A landscape page, or one that has been rotated, is shown the right way up, and the signature lands where you put it rather than sideways. If a page is the wrong way round to begin with, fix it with Rotate PDF before signing.
Signing in more than one place
Each run places one signature on one page. Most documents only need that: a single signature at the end, usually with a date. Tick Add today’s date under the signature and the date is written in small text below it, in the form 9 October 2026. It is off by default.
If you need to sign in several places, or initial every page of a contract, sign once and download. Put the signed file back in, place the next signature, and repeat. The earlier signatures stay where they were each time. For initials, use the Type tab with your initials, or draw them, and keep the size slider low, around 10 to 15%.
OzPDF does not save your signature drawing. The next time you sign a document you draw or type it again, which takes a few seconds.
Is an electronic signature legally valid in Australia?
For a great deal of everyday paperwork, generally yes. The Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth) and the matching Acts in each state and territory recognise electronic signatures for many transactions, such as contracts, leases, employment paperwork and consent forms. Putting an image of your signature on a PDF is similar in nature to signing a printout and scanning it back.
Some documents have their own rules. Wills, and documents that must be witnessed, such as many statutory declarations and deeds, have requirements that vary by state and territory and may not be satisfied by a signature image. If you are unsure, ask whoever requested the signature how they want it done. This page is general information, not legal advice.
An electronic signature is not a certificate-based digital signature. It carries no cryptographic proof of who signed and does not reveal later changes to the file. If the form fields should no longer be editable after signing, run the file through Flatten PDF, and use Protect PDF if it needs a password before you send it.
Questions people actually ask
How do I sign a PDF online for free?
Draw your signature on the pad or type your name, add the PDF, then drag the signature onto the page and set its size. Optionally tick the box to add today’s date. Download the file ending in -signed.pdf. There is no account to create, and files can be up to 100 MB.
How do I add a signature to a PDF on my phone?
Open this page in your phone’s browser and use the Draw tab to sign with your finger. Choose the PDF, tap the page where the signature should go or drag it into place, and adjust the Size slider. Signing with a finger usually looks more natural than signing with a mouse.
Is an electronic signature on a PDF legally binding in Australia?
For many everyday documents, such as contracts, leases and consent forms, the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth) and the state equivalents generally recognise electronic signatures. Wills and documents that need a witness, like many statutory declarations and deeds, have their own rules. Check with whoever asked you to sign.
What is the difference between an electronic signature and a digital signature?
An electronic signature is any signature applied electronically; here it is an image of your signature placed on the page. A digital signature uses a certificate to prove the signer’s identity and show whether the file was changed afterwards. Sign PDF creates the first kind, not the second.
Can I sign a PDF in more than one place?
Yes, in several passes. Each run places one signature, so sign once, download the file, then add the signed copy again and place the next one. Repeat for each spot, such as initials on every page. Signatures from earlier passes stay exactly where you put them.