In short
- Portal
- minimis.imm.gov.ro
- Signature type
- Qualified (QES)
- How it works
- Class A: you sign PDFs and upload them. Sign in the browser at app.simplifi.ro, no token. Works on the free plan.
- Simplifi plan required
- Free · details
- Eligible expense
- Yes, the electronic signature cost is an eligible expense in this program.
Who needs it
The shareholder/administrator who legally represents the newly founded company. The signature must be in their name, not a consultant's.
What exactly is signed
The registration form and sworn statements, documents uploaded at the administrative check, the funding contract (to be signed within the deadline from notification, usually 40 days) and, during implementation, payment/reimbursement requests and reports.
Legal basis
- MEDAT Order 328/2025 (Start-Up Nation procedure), art. 6.3.1 point 16
- Grants platform minimis.imm.gov.ro
Steps with Simplifi
- 01
Get the qualified certificate (free)
Create an account at app.simplifi.ro, complete video identification and enable 2FA. The qualified certificate is issued on the spot, no token, no subscription. If you sign for a company, the certificate is yours as a natural person (legal representative or proxy); that is what the portals require.
- 02
Prepare the documents as PDF
The portals accept PDF only. Convert Word/Excel documents before signing and check the portal's size limit.
- 03
Sign in the browser
In app.simplifi.ro, upload the PDF (or several at once), choose the signature position and confirm with your 2FA code. The signature is qualified (QES, PAdES format) and includes a timestamp.
- 04
Download and upload to the portal
Download the signed PDF and upload it at the required step. Do not edit, print or rescan it: the signature validates on the file exactly as downloaded.
Common errors
- "Signature not valid" or "unsigned document" after upload
- You uploaded a modified version (re-saved, printed and scanned, or compressed). Start again from the signed PDF downloaded from Simplifi, with no further processing.
- The portal wants the legal representative's signature but the certificate is in another name
- A qualified certificate is personal. The person the portal requires (legal representative or proxy with a power of attorney) opens their own Simplifi account and signs.
- I missed the contract signing deadline
- The contract is usually signed within 40 days of notification, otherwise the grant is lost. With a cloud certificate you sign within minutes from any device; do not wait for a token delivery.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the electronic signature cost an eligible Start-Up Nation expense?
- Yes, the procedure lists the electronic signature among eligible expenses. With Simplifi the certificate is free anyway; paid plans (from €12/year) remain eligible if you need volume.
- Do I need a USB token for the grants platform?
- No. The platform receives signed PDFs; it does not check the device you signed with. A qualified cloud signature is accepted.
- Can the consultant sign for me?
- No. The signature must belong to the applicant company's legal representative. The consultant can prepare the documents, but you sign them from your own account.