Introduction

One-liner: send yourself a contract

To send yourself a test contract replace the EMAIL_ADDRESS:

curl -X POST -H 'Content-type:application/json' https://c21bc7:@esignatures.io/api/contracts -d '{"template_id": "20ac76c9","signers":[{"name":"Sam Signer","email":"EMAIL_ADDRESS"}]}'

Curl send contract

Requests, responses

The API calls are organized around REST. Our API is predictable, uses HTTP response codes (2xx, 4xx, 5xx) to indicate API results/errors. We use built-in HTTP features, like HTTP authentication and HTTP verbs, which are understood by off-the-shelf HTTP clients. JSON is returned by all API responses, including errors.

Basic Authentication

POST https://<secret-token>:@esignatures.io/api/<action> HTTP/1.1

curl -X POST -H 'Content-type:application/json' https://<secret-token>:@esignatures.io/api/<action>

Authenticate your account when using the API by including your secret API token in the request.

Authentication to the API is performed via HTTP Basic Auth. Provide your API key as the basic auth username value. You do not need to provide a password. API requests without authentication will fail.

All API requests must be made over HTTPS. Calls made over plain HTTP will fail.

Basic auth	Description
username	Your API secret token, displayed on your API dashboard page, when logged in

Zapier integration

eSignatures.io currently has the following Zapier triggers and actions:

action: send contract
trigger: contract sent to signer
trigger: contract signed by signer
trigger: contract signed by everyone

Find us on this Zapier page...

Contracts

Contracts can be fully managed via the API. Sending a contract can be done with a single API call, and after that signatures are collected, and notifications are provided at every stage of the contract’s lifecycle via webhooks.

Sending a contract

POST /api/contracts HTTP/1.1

JSON request parameters

{
  "template_id": "4templ44-6666-3333-4444-555555555555",
  "title": "Loan Agreement - Saver package",
  "metadata": "ID0001",
  "locale": "en",
  "test": "no",
  "signers": [
    {
      "name": "Benny Bell",
      "email": "benny@me.com",
      "mobile": "+12481234567",
      "company_name": "ACME Corp",
      "redirect_url": "https://your-website.com/aftersign",
      "signing_order": "1",
      "auto_sign": "no",
      "embedded_sign_page": "no",
      "embedded_redirect_iframe_only": "no",
      "skip_signature_request": "no",
      "skip_signer_identification": "no"
    }
  ],
  "api_fields": [
      {
        "api_key": "interest_rate",
        "value": "3.2%"
      }
  ],
  "signer_fields": [
      {
        "api_key": "preferred_term",
        "default_value": "15 years"
      }
  ],
  "emails": {
    "signature_request_subject": "Your document is ready to sign",
    "signature_request_text": "Hi __FULL_NAME__, \n\n To review and sign the contract please press the button below \n\n Kind Regards",
    "final_contract_subject": "Your document is signed",
    "final_contract_text": "Hi __FULL_NAME__, \n\n Your document is signed.\n\nKind Regards",
    "cc_email_addresses": ["tom@email.com", "francis@email.com"],
    "reply_to": "support@customdomain.com"
  },
  "custom_branding": {
    "company_name": "WhiteLabel LLC",
    "logo_url": "https://online-logo-store.com/yourclient-logo.png"
  }
}

JSON response

{
  "status": "queued",
  "data": {
    "contract": {
      "id": "1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555",
      "status": "sent",
      "title": "Loan Agreement - Saver package",
      "metadata": "ID0001",
      "source": "api",
      "test": "no",
      "signers": [
        {
          "id": "6signer6-9999-2222-4444-111111111111",
          "name": "Benny Bell",
          "email": "benny@me.com",
          "mobile": "+12481234567",
          "company_name": "ACME Corp",
          "sign_page_url": "https://esignatures.io/sign/6signer6-9999-2222-4444-111111111111"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

Example request

curl -X POST -H 'Content-type:application/json' https://<secret-token>:@esignatures.io/api/contracts -d '{"template_id": "4templ44-6666-3333-4444-555555555555","signers":[{"name":"Sam Signer","email":"sam@tenants.com","mobile":"+12481234567"}],"api_fields":[{"api_key":"preferred_term","value":"24 months"}], "test": "yes"}'

This request creates the contract and sends the emails to the signers to collect the signatures. At every step of the process, for every action, a webhook notification is triggered.

Parameter	Required	Description
template_id	yes	Specifies the template to be used for the contract (the template_id is shown when editing the template)
title	no	The unique title of the contract (Template name when not specified). It appears in emails, generated documents, and on dashboard pages
metadata	no	Custom information
locale	no	Setting the signer page/emails language. Currently available locales: `nl de fr no hu ja sv en it pl sk pt en-GB es`
test	no	The sent contract is marked as 'demonstration only', and no fee is deducted for sending the contract.
signers		List of signers
signers:name	yes	Name of the signer
signers:email	cond	Email address of the signer - for identification. Either email or mobile is required
signers:mobile	cond	Mobile number of the signer - for identification. Either email or mobile is required
signers:company_name	no	Company name for the signer
signers:redirect_url	no	The signer will be redirected to that URL after signing the contract.
signers:signing_order	no	The order of signers. When the same number is used for two or more signers they will receive the signature request at the same time
signers:auto_sign	no	When `yes`, the signer's signature will automatically be added to the contract
signers:embedded_sign_page	no	The signing page can be embedded within an iframe when set to `yes`, and no signature requests will be delivered.
signers:embedded_redirect_iframe_only	no	When the signing page is embedded within an iframe, setting this flag to `yes` prevents redirecting the entire page.
signers:skip_signature_request	no	When `yes`, the signer will not receive the signature request email/SMS
signers:skip_signer_identification	no	When `yes`, the signer won't receive the email/SMS verification code. Note: it is a legal requirement to identify the signers. If the `skip_signer_identification` is `yes` you will need to identify the signer via email, SMS or other means to form legally binding contracts.
api_fields	no	API fields in the templates can be replaced with custom text
api_fields:api_key		The "api_key" is specified by you in the template editor when a new API field is added
api_fields:value		The text to be inserted in the contract. Line break character: `\n`
signer_fields	no	List of default values for Signer inputs
signer_fields:api_key		The "api_key" is specified by you in the template editor, for the given Signer input field
signer_fields:default_value		The initial (default) value for the input field (Use '1' to tick checkboxes)
signer_fields:select_position		For Select fields only - The index of the pre-selected option (starting from 0)
emails:signature_request_subject	no	The subject in the email that will be sent to the signers when collecting their signatures
emails:signature_request_text	no	The text in the email that will be sent to the signers. __FULL_NAME__ constant is replaced with the name of the signer.
emails:final_contract_subject	no	The subject in the email that will be sent to the signers with the final PDF contract
emails:final_contract_text	no	The text in the email that will be sent to the signers with the final PDF contract. __FULL_NAME__ constant is replaced with the name of the signer.
emails:cc_email_addresses	no	List of email addresses to CC the signed PDF contract
emails:reply_to	no	Custom reply_to email address (your API support email when not specified)
custom_branding:company_name	no	Custom sender company name
custom_branding:logo_url	no	Custom logo (PNG x400 recommended)

Response field	Description
status	queued
contract:id	Id of the contract
contract:title	The unique title of the contract
contract:metadata	The metadata provided in the original request
contract:source	The source of the contract being `api`, `ui` or `zapier`
contract:test	`yes` means test contract, `no` means live contract
contract:signers:id	Id of the signer
contract:signers:name	Name of the signer
contract:signers:email	Email of the signer
contract:signers:mobile	Mobile of the signer
contract:signers:company_name	Company name for the signer
contract:signers:sign_page_url	Unique sign page URL for the given signer. It can be embedded in an iframe or used standalone. Note: As part of the json response, this string will be encoded.

Querying contract details

GET /api/contracts/<contract_id> HTTP/1.1

JSON response

{
  "data": {
    "id": "1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555",
    "status": "sent",
    "title": "Tenancy Agreement",
    "metadata": "ID0001",
    "source": "api",
    "test": "no",
    "contract_pdf_url": "https://aws.com/contracts/1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555?secret_token=x123y",
    "signers": [
      {
        "id": "6signer6-9999-2222-4444-111111111111",
        "name": "Sam Signer",
        "email": "sam@tenants.com",
        "mobile": "+12481234567",
        "company_name": "ACME Corp",
        "sign_page_url": "https://esignatures.io/sign/6signer6-9999-2222-4444-111111111111",
        "events": [
          {
            "event": "sign_contract",
            "timestamp": "2015-10-22T18:19:35.979"
          }
        ],
        "signer_fields": [
          {
            "api_key": "city",
            "value": "Boston"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Example request

curl -X GET https://<secret-token>:@esignatures.io/api/contracts/1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555

Returns the details of a contract, the details of the signers, including the contract events, the signer events, and the values the signers entered.

Response field	Description
id	Id of the contract
status	'sent' / 'signed' / 'withdrawn'
title	The unique title of the contract
metadata	The metadata provided in the original request
source	The source of the contract being `api`, `ui` or `zapier`
test	`yes` means test contract, `no` means live contract
contract_pdf_url	When the contract is signed, the finalized PDF can be accessed via this url. Expires in 7 days following the request. (as part of the json response, this string might be encoded)
signers	List of signers
signers:id	Id of the signer
signers:name	Name of the signer
signers:email	Email of the signer
signers:mobile	Mobile of the signer
signers:company_name	Company name for the signer
signers:sign_page_url	Unique sign page URL for the given signer. It can be embedded in an iframe or used standalone. Note: As part of the json response, this string will be encoded.
signers:events	Events of the signer
signers:events:event	'contract_sent' / 'reminder_emailed' / 'reminder_sms_sent' / 'contract_viewed' / 'delivering_contract_email_failure' / 'email_spam_complaint' / 'delivering_contract_sms_failure' / 'sign_contract' / 'final_contract_sent'/ 'signature_declined' / 'disable_reminders'
signers:events:timestamp	Time of the event
signers:signer_fields	Information provided by the signer for Text fields, Dropdowns and Checkboxes.
signers:signer_fields:api_key	The "api_key" specified by you in the template editor for a given custom field
signers:signer_fields:value	The value the signer entered/selected for that field (Checkbox is '1' when ticked)

Withdrawing a contract

Withdrawn contracts can't be signed any more, and signed contracts can't be withdrawn.

Withdrawing the contract doesn't result in deletion of the contract related information, the contract details can still be queried.

POST /api/contracts/<contract_id>/withdraw HTTP/1.1

JSON response

{
  "status": "queued"
}

Example request

curl -X POST https://<secret-token>:@esignatures.io/api/contracts/1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555/withdraw

Response field	Description
status	'queued'

Templates

Templates can be created and maintained using the built-in editor. You can import/export template via the UI.

List of templates

GET /api/templates HTTP/1.1

JSON response

{
  "data": [
    {
      "template_id": "4templ44-6666-3333-4444-555555555555",
      "template_name": "Residential Tenancy Agreement"
    }
  ]
}

Example request

curl -X GET https://<secret-token>:@esignatures.io/api/templates

Returns the list of templates you can send.

Response field	Description
template_id	Id of the template
template_name	Name of the template

Query template details

GET /api/templates/<template_id> HTTP/1.1

JSON response

{
  "data": {
    "template_id": "4templ44-6666-3333-4444-555555555555",
    "template_name": "Residential Tenancy Agreement",
    "created_at": "2015-10-24T15:15:35.979",
    "api_field_keys": ["interest_rate"]
  }
}

Example request

curl -X GET https://<secret-token>:@esignatures.io/api/templates/4templ44-6666-3333-4444-555555555555

Returns the details of the template. The custom field keys are specified with the template editor.

Response field	Description
template_id	Id of the template
template_name	Name of the template
created_at	Date of creation
api_field_keys	List of `api_key`s in the template

Signers

Updating signer details

POST /api/contracts/<contract_id>/signers/<signer_id> HTTP/1.1

JSON request parameters

{
  "name": "Sam Signer",
  "email": "sam@tenants.com",
  "mobile": "+1 541 754 3010"
}

JSON response

{
  "status": "queued"
}

Example request

curl -X POST -H 'Content-type:application/json' https://<secret-token>:@esignatures.io/api/contracts/1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555/signers/6signer6-9999-2222-4444-111111111111 -d '{"email":"sam@tenants.com", "name":"Sam Signer-Smith"}'

The contact details of a signer can be updated via this API request. Note: The contract is not emailed automatically when updating signer.

Parameter	Required	Description
name	no	Name of the signer
email	no	Email to identify the signer
mobile	no	Mobile number to identify the signer

Response field	Description
status	'queued'

(Re-)Sending contract to signer

POST /api/contracts/<contract_id>/signers/<signer_id>/send_contract HTTP/1.1

JSON response

{
  "status": "queued"
}

Example request

curl -X POST https://<secret-token>:@esignatures.io/api/contracts/1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555/signers/6signer6-9999-2222-4444-111111111111/send_contract

Response field	Description
status	'queued'

Embedded signing

Iframe code

<iframe src="SIGN_PAGE_URL">
</iframe>

Iframe code with auto-resize

<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.4.1.min.js"></script>
<script src="https://cdncf.esignatures.io/assets/iframeResizer.4.2.10.min.js"></script>
<iframe
    src="SIGN_PAGE_URL"
    id="eSignaturesIOIframe"
    onload="iFrameResize({heightCalculationMethod: 'bodyScroll'}, '#eSignaturesIOIframe')"
    style="width: 1px;min-width: 100%;">
</iframe>

Example POST#contracts request to create the contract

curl -X POST -H 'Content-type:application/json' https://<secret-token>:@esignatures.io/api/contracts -d '{"template_id": "4templ44-6666-3333-4444-555555555555","signers":[{"name":"Sam Signer","email":"sam@tenants.com","embedded_sign_page":"yes"}]}'

The sign page can be embedded into an iframe. Steps:

Create a contract with POST#contracts, and specify embedded_sign_page=yes for the signer.
The response json will include a data:contract:signers:sign_page_url for that signer.
In the 'iframe code' (see example), replace the SIGN_PAGE_URL with the sign_page_url.

Optional:

Specify the redirect_url when creating a contract, and the signers will be redirected to that URL after signing the docuemnt.
Set the skip_signer_identification to yes to skip the identification process. Note: it is a legal requirement to identify the signers. If the skip_signer_identification is yes you will need to identify the signer via email, SMS or other means to form legally binding contracts.
Set the embedded_redirect_iframe_only to yes to prevent the entire page being redirected. Only the iframe will load the redirect page when set to yes.

Webhooks

Use webhooks to be notified about events that happen real-time. For example, when a contract gets signed, a request is triggered to the Webhook URL specified by you on the API dashboard page. Creating a webhoook endpoint on your server means simply accepting POST requests at a given URL. Webhook data is sent as JSON in the POST request body.

If a webhook is not successfully received (not 2xx response code), eSignatures.io will continue trying to send the webhook once an hour for up to six times.

All Webhook requests we trigger use BASIC auth. You can enforce or ignore that. The username is your API secret token, without password.

Contract sent to signer

JSON body

{
  "status": "contract-sent-to-signer",
  "data": {
    "id": "6signer6-9999-2222-4444-111111111111",
    "name": "Sam Signer",
    "email": "sam@tenants.com",
    "mobile": "+12481234567",
    "company_name": "ACME Corp",
    "signing_order": "1",
    "auto_sign": "no",
    "embedded_sign_page": "no",
    "redirect_url": "",
    "contract": {
      "id": "1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555",
      "title": "Sample NDA",
      "metadata": "ID0001",
      "source": "api",
      "test": "no"
    }
  }
}

This webhook notification is triggered, when the contract is sent to the signer for signature.

Signer viewed the contract

JSON body

{
  "status": "signer-viewed-the-contract",
  "data": {
    "id": "6signer6-9999-2222-4444-111111111111",
    "name": "Sam Signer",
    "email": "sam@tenants.com",
    "mobile": "+12481234567",
    "company_name": "ACME Corp",
    "signing_order": "1",
    "auto_sign": "no",
    "embedded_sign_page": "no",
    "redirect_url": "",
    "contract": {
      "id": "mobile1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555",
      "title": "Sample NDA",
      "metadata": "ID0001",
      "source": "api",
      "test": "no"
    },
    "events": [
      {
        "event": "contract_viewed",
        "timestamp": "2015-10-22T18:19:35.979"
      }
    ]
  }
}

This webhook notification is triggered, when the signer views the contract the first time.

Signer signed the contract

JSON body

{
  "status": "signer-signed",
  "data": {
    "id": "6signer6-9999-2222-4444-111111111111",
    "name": "Sam Signer",
    "email": "sam@tenants.com",
    "mobile": "+12481234567",
    "company_name": "ACME Corp",
    "signing_order": "1",
    "auto_sign": "no",
    "embedded_sign_page": "no",
    "redirect_url": "",
    "contract": {
      "id": "1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555",
      "title": "Sample NDA",
      "metadata": "ID0001",
      "source": "api",
      "test": "no"
    },
    "signer_fields": [
      {
        "api_key": "city",
        "value": "Boston"
      }
    ]
  }
}

This webhook notification is triggered when a signer signs the contract. It includes the details of the signer, and the texts for the custom fields, if the signer entered any.

Field	Description
status	'signer-signed'
contract_id	Id of the contract
timestamp	Time of the event
signer	Details of the signer
signer:id	Id of the signer
signer:name	Name of the signer
signer:email	Email of the signer
signer:mobile	Mobile of the signer
signer:company_name	Company name for the signer
signer:signer_fields	Information provided by the signer (Text field, List)
signer:signer_fields:api_key	The "api_key" specified by you in the template editor for a given custom field
signer:signer_fields:value	The value the signer entered/selected for that field

Contract signed

JSON body

{
  "status": "contract-signed",
  "data": {
    "id": "1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555",
    "title": "Sample NDA",
    "metadata": "ID0001",
    "source": "api",
    "test": "no",
    "contract_pdf_url": "https://aws.com/contracts/1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555?secret_token=x123y",
    "signers": [
      {
        "id": "6signer6-9999-2222-4444-111111111111",
        "name": "Sam Signer",
        "email": "sam@tenants.com",
        "mobile": "+12481234567",
        "company_name": "ACME Corp",
        "sign_page_url": "https://esignatures.io/sign/6signer6-9999-2222-4444-111111111111",
        "events": [
          {
            "event": "sign_contract",
            "timestamp": "2015-10-22T18:19:35.979"
          }
        ],
        "signer_fields": [
          {
            "api_key": "city",
            "value": "Boston"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

This webhook notification is triggered once every signer has signed the contract. It returns the generatede PDF file.

Field	Description
status	'contract-signed'
id	Id of the contract
title	The unique title of the contract
metadata	The metadata provided in the original request
source	The source of the contract being `api`, `ui` or `zapier`
test	`yes` means test contract, `no` means live contract
contract_pdf_url	The finalized PDF can be accessed via this url. Expires in 7 days following the request. (as part of the json response, this string will be encoded)
signers	List of signers
signers:id	Id of the signer
signers:name	Name of the signer
signers:email	Email of the signer
signers:mobile	Mobile of the signer
signers:company_name	Company name for the signer
signers:sign_page_url	Unique sign page URL for the given signer. It can be embedded in an iframe or used standalone. Note: As part of the json response, this string will be encoded.
signers:events	Events of the signer
signers:events:event	'contract_sent' / 'reminder_emailed' / 'reminder_sms_sent' / 'contract_viewed' / 'delivering_contract_email_failure' / 'email_spam_complaint' / 'delivering_contract_sms_failure' / 'sign_contract' / 'final_contract_sent'/ 'signature_declined' / 'disable_reminders'
signers:events:timestamp	Time of the event
signers:signer_fields	Information provided by the signer (Text field, List)
signers:signer_fields:api_key	The "api_key" specified by you in the template editor for a given custom field
signers:signer_fields:value	The value the signer entered for this field

Contract withdrawn

JSON body

{
  "status": "contract-withdrawn",
  "data": {
    "contract_id": "1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555"
  }
}

This webhook notification is triggered, when the contract is withdrawn.

Signer declined the signature

JSON body

{
  "status": "signer-declined",
  "data": {
    "id": "6signer6-9999-2222-4444-111111111111",
    "name": "Sam Signer",
    "email": "sam@tenants.com",
    "mobile": "+12481234567",
    "company_name": "ACME Corp",
    "signing_order": "1",
    "auto_sign": "no",
    "embedded_sign_page": "no",
    "redirect_url": "",
    "contract": {
      "id": "1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555",
      "title": "Sample NDA",
      "metadata": "ID0001",
      "source": "api",
      "test": "no"
    },
    "events": [
      {
        "event": "signature_declined",
        "reason_for_decline": "Commencement date is 5th of June",
        "timestamp": "2015-10-22T18:19:35.979"
      }
    ]
  }
}

This webhook notification is triggered, when the signer declined signing the contract.

Signer requested a Mobile Number update

JSON body

{
  "status": "signer-mobile-number-update",
  "data": {
    "id": "6signer6-9999-2222-4444-111111111111",
    "name": "Sam Signer",
    "email": "sam@tenants.com",
    "mobile": "+12481234567",
    "mobile_new": "+16789123456",
    "company_name": "ACME Corp",
    "signing_order": "1",
    "embedded_sign_page": "no",
    "auto_sign": "no",
    "redirect_url": "",
    "contract": {
      "id": "1contr11-2222-3333-4444-555555555555",
      "title": "Sample NDA",
      "metadata": "ID0001"
    }
  }
}

This webhook notification is triggered, when the signer requested a Mobile Number update.

Field	Description
id	Id of the signer
mobile	Mobile of the signer
mobile_new	The requested Mobile number
contract:id	Id of the contract

Webhook error notifications

JSON body

{
  "status": "error",
  "data": {
    "error_code": "email-delivery-failed"
  }
}

error_code	Description
email-delivery-failed	Sending the contract to the signer has failed
sms-delivery-failed	Sending the sms to the signer has failed
custom-branding-logo-error	An error occurred while downloading the custom_branding:logo_url

Introduction

One-liner: send yourself a contract

Requests, responses

Basic Authentication

Zapier integration

Contracts

Sending a contract

Querying contract details

Withdrawing a contract

Templates

List of templates

Query template details

Signers

Updating signer details

(Re-)Sending contract to signer

Embedded signing

Webhooks

Contract sent to signer

Signer viewed the contract

Signer signed the contract

Contract signed

Contract withdrawn

Signer declined the signature

Signer requested a Mobile Number update

Webhook error notifications

Have a question?