Remote signing has become routine for a lot of everyday agreements, but "can this be signed remotely" doesn't have one universal answer — it depends heavily on the type of contract and the jurisdiction involved.
What generally works fine remotely
Freelance and service agreements, NDAs, most commercial contracts between businesses, employment offer letters, and internal company agreements are commonly signed remotely with a simple electronic signature in most places.
What often still needs more than a simple signature
Real estate transfers, wills, certain court documents, and some government filings frequently require a wet-ink signature, in-person witnessing, or notarization — remote electronic signing alone often isn't sufficient for these.
Both parties should agree the method is acceptable
Even for contracts that legally permit remote signing, it's worth confirming with the other party that an electronic signature is acceptable to them, particularly for larger agreements — a quick line in the communication avoids any later dispute about the method used.
Keep a clear record of the signing process
Saving the email thread or message where the signed document was sent and received adds useful context if the signing process itself is ever questioned, beyond just the signature image on the document.