Extended validation (ev) ssl certificate validation guide
Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate Validation: Step-by-Step Guide for Organizations
An Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate is the highest trust level available for public TLS certificates. Before issuing an EV certificate, Certificate Authorities (CAs) such as DigiCert must thoroughly verify that your organization is legally registered, operational, and authorized to request the certificate.
This guide explains how EV SSL validation works, what documentation is required, and how organizations can avoid delays during DigiCert EV validation and similar CA processes.
What Is an Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate?
An EV SSL certificate proves not only domain ownership, but also the verified legal identity of the organization behind a website or service. EV certificates are commonly used by:
- Banks and financial institutions
- SaaS platforms handling sensitive data
- Enterprise APIs and internal services
- E-commerce and payment platforms
EV certificates follow the CA/Browser Forum EV Guidelines, which define strict verification rules that all trusted CAs must follow.
Step 1: Verify Legal Existence of the Organization
The first step in EV certificate validation is confirming that your organization legally exists and is currently active.
What the Certificate Authority verifies
- Legal organization name
- Registration or incorporation number
- Country and jurisdiction
- Active registration status
Accepted verification sources
- Government business registries
- Chambers of commerce
- Trusted commercial databases
Documents you may need
- Articles of Incorporation
- Certificate of Formation
- Business registry extract
CertificateManager tip: The legal name used in your EV certificate request must exactly match the official registry record–– character for character.
Step 2: Confirm Physical Address and Operational Presence
EV SSL validation requires proof that your organization has a real, verifiable physical address.
Address requirements
- Must be a physical street address
- PO boxes are not accepted
- Address must match public records
If the address cannot be independently verified, the CA may request:
- Utility bills
- Lease or rental agreements
- Bank statements
Step 3: Verify a Publicly Listed Phone Number
A verified organizational phone number is a mandatory EV requirement.
Phone number rules
- Must be publicly listed
- Must be associated with the legal entity
- VoIP or mobile-only numbers may be rejected
The CA will later use this number for the mandatory EV verification callback.
Step 4: Domain Ownership Verification
Even though EV certificates focus on organizational identity, domain control validation (DCV) is still required.
Common DCV methods
- DNS TXT record
- HTTP file upload
- Email challenge (admin@, hostmaster@, etc.)
This step is usually fast and automated certainly in our Certificate Manager
Step 5: Confirm Certificate Requester Authorization
The Certificate Authority must verify that the person requesting the EV certificate is authorized to act on behalf of the organization.
Accepted authorizing roles
- Executive officer
- Director
- Authorized employee (with approval)
If the requester is not a listed executive, the CA may require:
- A signed authorization letter
- Direct confirmation from a verified officer
Step 6: EV Verification Callback (Final Approval Call)
A live verification call is required for every EV SSL certificate issuance.
During the call, the CA confirms
- Organization name
- Certificate request details
- Authority of the requester
Failure to complete this call is one of the most common causes of EV certificate delays.
Step 7: EV SSL Certificate Issuance
Once all validation steps are complete, the EV certificate is issued.
Typical timelines
- First-time EV certificate: 3––10 business days
- EV renewals: 1––5 business days
Any changes to your:
- Legal name
- Address
- Phone number
will usually require full revalidation.
Common Causes of EV SSL Validation Delays
- Organization not listed in trusted databases
- Legal name mismatches
- Unverifiable phone numbers
- Missing authorization documentation
- Poor visibility into certificate ownership
How to Speed Up EV Certificate Validation
Organizations managing multiple domains or frequent renewals often struggle with EV requirements. Best practices include:
- Keeping legal and contact records up to date
- Using consistent organization naming across certificates
- Pre-approving certificate requesters
- Tracking validation status and expirations centrally
This is where platforms like CertificateManager.net become especially useful## Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate Validation: Step-by-Step Guide for Organizations ##
An Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate is the highest trust level available for public TLS certificates. Before issuing an EV certificate, Certificate Authorities (CAs) such as DigiCert must thoroughly verify that your organization is legally registered, operational, and authorized to request the certificate.
This guide explains how EV SSL validation works, what documentation is required, and how organizations can avoid delays during DigiCert EV validation and similar CA processes.
What Is an Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate?
An EV SSL certificate proves not only domain ownership, but also the verified legal identity of the organization behind a website or service. EV certificates are commonly used by:
- Banks and financial institutions
- SaaS platforms handling sensitive data
- Enterprise APIs and internal services
- E-commerce and payment platforms
EV certificates follow the CA/Browser Forum EV Guidelines, which define strict verification rules that all trusted CAs must follow.
Step 1: Verify Legal Existence of the Organization
The first step in EV certificate validation is confirming that your organization legally exists and is currently active.
What the Certificate Authority verifies
- Legal organization name
- Registration or incorporation number
- Country and jurisdiction
- Active registration status
Accepted verification sources
- Government business registries
- Chambers of commerce
- Trusted commercial databases
Documents you may need
- Articles of Incorporation
- Certificate of Formation
- Business registry extract
CertificateManager tip: The legal name used in your EV certificate request must exactly match the official registry record–– character for character.
Step 2: Confirm Physical Address and Operational Presence
EV SSL validation requires proof that your organization has a real, verifiable physical address.
Address requirements
- Must be a physical street address
- PO boxes are not accepted
- Address must match public records
If the address cannot be independently verified, the CA may request:
- Utility bills
- Lease or rental agreements
- Bank statements
Step 3: Verify a Publicly Listed Phone Number
A verified organizational phone number is a mandatory EV requirement.
Phone number rules
- Must be publicly listed
- Must be associated with the legal entity
- VoIP or mobile-only numbers may be rejected
The CA will later use this number for the mandatory EV verification callback.
Step 4: Domain Ownership Verification
Even though EV certificates focus on organizational identity, domain control validation (DCV) is still required.
Common DCV methods
- DNS TXT record
- HTTP file upload
- Email challenge (admin@, hostmaster@, etc.)
This step is usually fast and automated certainly in our Certificate Manager
Step 5: Confirm Certificate Requester Authorization
The Certificate Authority must verify that the person requesting the EV certificate is authorized to act on behalf of the organization.
Accepted authorizing roles
- Executive officer
- Director
- Authorized employee (with approval)
If the requester is not a listed executive, the CA may require:
- A signed authorization letter
- Direct confirmation from a verified officer
Step 6: EV Verification Callback (Final Approval Call)
A live verification call is required for every EV SSL certificate issuance.
During the call, the CA confirms
- Organization name
- Certificate request details
- Authority of the requester
Failure to complete this call is one of the most common causes of EV certificate delays.
Step 7: EV SSL Certificate Issuance
Once all validation steps are complete, the EV certificate is issued.
Typical timelines
- First-time EV certificate: 3––10 business days
- EV renewals: 1––5 business days
Any changes to your:
- Legal name
- Address
- Phone number
will usually require full revalidation.
Common Causes of EV SSL Validation Delays
- Organization not listed in trusted databases
- Legal name mismatches
- Unverifiable phone numbers
- Missing authorization documentation
- Poor visibility into certificate ownership
How to Speed Up EV Certificate Validation
Organizations managing multiple domains or frequent renewals often struggle with EV requirements. Best practices include:
- Keeping legal and contact records up to date
- Using consistent organization naming across certificates
- Pre-approving certificate requesters
- Tracking validation status and expirations centrally
This is where platforms like CertificateManager.net become especially useful ––by helping teams centralize certificate inventory, track EV validation status, and prevent last-minute renewal issues across environments.
Final Thoughts
The EV SSL certificate validation process is intentionally strict --but with the right preparation, it doesn't have to be slow or painful. Understanding DigiCert EV validation and similar CA workflows allows organizations to issue certificates faster, reduce operational risk, and maintain uninterrupted trust.
For SaaS platforms, enterprises, and security teams managing certificates at scale, visibility and automation are critical to keeping EV certificates compliant and on time.