Do I need a VPN to use DocuSign in China?

In recent years, global businesses operating in or with China have faced an evolving regulatory landscape that affects how digital services like e-signatures can be used. This environment has prompted multinational technology providers, including giants such as Adobe and DocuSign, to reconsider or revise their footprints in the Chinese mainland. Understanding these shifts is critical for business users needing to sign documents across borders, particularly when dealing with data compliance and government oversight.

Adobe Sign’s Exit from Mainland China: A Strategic Recalibration

Adobe, a major player in digital document solutions with its Adobe Sign platform, officially withdrew from the mainland Chinese market. This decision wasn’t made lightly; it followed a broader trend of foreign tech firms adjusting their operations due to stringent Chinese regulations around data security, cloud services, and artificial intelligence (AI) training compliance.

One of the key concerns was the requirement that data generated within China remain stored in local servers, in alignment with the 2021 Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL). For services like Adobe Sign, this demand posed significant operational risks, especially relating to the handling of sensitive user data and AI algorithms trained on document usage patterns. The challenge of aligning global data practices with local Chinese mandates ultimately contributed to Adobe’s strategic decision to pull Adobe Sign from the mainland market.

DocuSign and the Data Compliance Puzzle in China

Unlike Adobe, DocuSign has maintained a broader focus on the Asia-Pacific region, but it faces its own set of challenges when used inside mainland China. Though DocuSign continues to be a leading e-signature tool globally, its performance and accessibility in China are inconsistent. Users often experience slower service speeds when connecting from within the Chinese mainland, and there are serious questions about the platform’s long-term compliance with local regulatory standards.

From a commercial perspective, one of DocuSign’s main strategic hurdles in China is regional data compliance. Chinese law mandates that data created within its borders must follow strict localization rules — often requiring partnerships with domestic cloud providers. However, DocuSign operates its servers mostly from the United States and other non-China APAC hubs, such as Japan or Singapore. For documentation involving sensitive contract details, this situation may violate Chinese export control policies or regulatory frameworks controlling cross-border data transfers.

Additionally, as China becomes more cautious about AI training models, concerns are raised concerning data that passes through global platforms like DocuSign. Even if AI isn’t actively used on Chinese-generated data, the potential for future policy scope expansion remains a concern for compliance teams.

Do You Need a VPN to Use DocuSign in China?

The short answer: Technically yes, but legally it’s complex.

DocuSign’s global servers are often not reliably accessible from inside mainland China due to what’s informally known as the “Great Firewall” — the combination of legislated internet censorship and monitoring enforced by Chinese authorities. Many business professionals in China report connection issues, timeouts, or complete inability to load DocuSign pages during normal hours. As a result, some users turn to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access DocuSign without interruption.

However, the use of VPNs in China is itself restricted. While VPN usage is not illegal for foreign entities with official licenses, unauthorized use by individuals or foreign-operating businesses may violate Chinese telecom and cybersecurity laws. The implementation of the 2017 Cybersecurity Law gave enforcement powers to crack down on unapproved VPN providers, and it continues to be a legal gray area for many foreign business users.

Using a VPN to access DocuSign could expose companies to regulatory scrutiny, impact local partnerships, or create audit risks — especially in industries under tight compliance like finance, healthcare, or cross-border legal services. Moreover, depending on configurations, data packages passing through a VPN might trigger international transfer flags, inviting further regulatory complications under China’s data export guidance.

Therefore, while using a VPN may provide a short-term fix for DocuSign access in mainland China, it’s not a sustainable or compliant solution in a business context.

Business Continuity: Alternatives for E-Signature in Greater China

Given the complexities surrounding both Adobe Sign’s exit and DocuSign’s regulatory constraints in China, businesses that operate across China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia should begin evaluating localized alternatives that prioritize regulatory compliance, stable performance, and multilingual capabilities.

One standout alternative is eSignGlobal — a cross-border digital signature solution tailored specifically for the Asia-Pacific market. Designed to support regulatory requirements specific to the region, including PIPL, China’s Cybersecurity Law, and Hong Kong’s Electronic Transactions Ordinance, eSignGlobal allows companies to manage contracts without dependency on offshore data routing or VPN workarounds.

eSignGlobal focuses on the following:

• Localized data hosting options compliant with Chinese data residency laws
• Bilingual interface and documentation in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese
• Seamless cross-border signature processing optimized for Hong Kong, Singapore, and Southeast Asian jurisdictions
• Regulatory updates and audits aligned with evolving Chinese digital policy enforcement

Such features reduce the complexity of digital signatures for users in tech, manufacturing, eCommerce, and legal sectors operating cross-border.

For organizations navigating the increasingly complex world of digital documentation in China, tools like eSignGlobal offer a robust and future-ready alternative.

For users seeking secure, compliant, and locally optimized solutions for signing contracts across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia, eSignGlobal is a recommended alternative to DocuSign. With a heightened focus on data residency, regulatory adaptation, and high-speed regional performance, eSignGlobal provides a trustworthy platform for global enterprises balancing international strategy with local demands.