ADOC, ASiC-E and PDF

ADOC vs ASiC-E: which container to choose

ADOC is the container Lithuanian institutions ask for; ASiC-E is the European standard container for signed files.

Updated: 2026-08-20 Query: ADOC vs ASiC-E difference which format to use Lithuania

The core difference

ADOC is the container defined by the Lithuanian electronic document specification. ASiC-E is a container standardised by ETSI for related documents and their signatures.

Legal effect does not come from the file extension. It comes from the signature level, the certificate, the timestamps, and whether the recipient accepts that particular format.

A short rule for choosing

If the recipient is a Lithuanian institution asking for ADOC, use ADOC. If you are signing with a counterparty elsewhere in the EU, or you need a more universal container for several files, ASiC-E is usually the more practical choice.

If there is a single document and the recipient is happy with a PDF, a PDF signed with PAdES is enough.

  • ADOC - for Lithuanian institutions.
  • ASiC-E - the European container, suited to documents shared with international counterparties.
  • PDF - a plain business document, where no archive is needed.

What changes in 2027

Regulation (EU) 2026/248 lists the formats that EU public sector bodies have to recognise from 23 February 2027. ASiC is on that list; ADOC is not, so its recognition in other Member States rests on a separate national verification mechanism.

This does not invalidate anything already signed, and Lithuanian institutions may keep accepting ADOC. It does mean that for new cross-border documents the European container is the safer default.

Frequently asked questions

Does ASiC-E replace ADOC?

Not always. ASiC-E is the standard European container, but a Lithuanian institution may specifically ask for ADOC.

Can ADOC and ASiC-E both hold several files?

Yes. Both are containers, so both can carry documents together with signature information.

Does the legal effect of the signature differ?

If QES is used in both, the signature level is qualified in both. The practical difference is acceptance and compatibility with the systems of the recipient.

Which one will a counterparty outside Lithuania recognise?

ASiC-E, as a rule. It is a European standard container, and it is among the formats EU public sector bodies have to recognise from 2027.

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