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Order an EV Code Signing certificate

Learn how to order an extended validation (EV) code signing certificate.

Before you begin

  • Organization validation

    Make sure the organization you’re including in your EV code signing (CS) certificate has been validated for EV CS-Code Signing Organization Extended Validation. See Submit an organization for prevalidation.

  • Hardware security module (HSM)

    Are you installing your EV code signing certificate on an HSM device?

    If yes, submit a certificate signing request (CSR) with your order. Generate the CSR and private key on the Common Criteria EAL4+ standard or Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 level 2 HSM on which you’re installing the certificate. To remain secure, certificates must use an Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) 3072-bit or Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) P-256-bit key size or larger.

Order your EV Code Signing certificate

  1. In CertCentral. in the left menu, hover over Request a Certificate and then under Code Signing Certificates, select EV Code Signing.

  2. On the Request EV Code Signing Certificate page, in the For menu, select the division to manage the certificate.

    The For menu appears if your account uses Divisions.

Certificate Settings

  1. Validity period

    Under Validity period, select a validity period for your certificate: 1 year, 2 years, or 3 years.

    If needed, customize the expiration date or certificate length. However, you can't exceed the 39-month maximum EV code signing certificate validity.

  2. Auto-renew

    To set up automatic renewal for this EV code signing certificate, check Auto-renew order 30 days before expiration.

    With auto-renew enabled, DigiCert automatically submits a request to renew the EV code signing order thirty days before it expires. Auto-renew isn’t available with credit card payments.

Important

If your certificate has time remaining before it expires, DigiCert adds the time from your current certificate to your new certificate (up to 39 months).

Organization

  1. Add an organization

    Select Add organization. The organization name appears on the EV code signing certificate.

    You can add an existing organization from your account or a new organization. The new organization is added to your account. Before we can issue your certificate, DigiCert must finish the EV code signing validation for the selected or new organization.

    In the Add organization window, do one of the following:

    • Add an existing organization.

      1. Select An existing organization.

        In the menu, select the organization and then select Add.

        If the organization is not validated for EV code signing certificates or has expired EV code signing validation, DigiCert must validate the organization before we can issue your certificate.

      2. Organization and technical contacts.

        DigiCert automatically adds the contacts assigned to the organization to the request form. To see the organization and technical contacts, select Show organization contacts.

      3. Verified contacts.

        • DigiCert automatically adds the assigned contacts to the request form if the organization has EV code signing verified contacts. To view, change selections, or add verified contacts, expand Verified contacts.

        • The Add contacts popup window opens if the organization doesn't have EV code signing verified contacts. In this window, you can add yourself, an individual in your account, or a new contact as a verified contact. See Verified contacts in step three.

    • Add a new organization.

      1. Select A new organization and select Next.

      2. Under Organization address details, enter your organization's legal name, assumed name (optional), address, and phone number.

        DigiCert must validate the organization for EV code signing validation before we can issue your certificate.

      3. When ready, select Add.

    • Add an organization contact.

      In the Add organization window, add yourself or someone else from your account, or create a new organization contact.

      Important

      The organization contact is whom we contact when validating the organization and verifying your authority to order a DigiCert certificate for the organization.

      They may also receive the following notifications:

      • Order status updates for certificates requested for their organization.

      • Domain status updates for domains assigned to their organization.

      • Add yourself as the organization contact.

        Select Add me as the organization contact and then select Add or Next.

        1. If we have all your information, you select Add.

        2. If we need more information, you select Next, enter the missing information, and then select Add.

      • Add someone else as the organization contact.

        Select Add someone else as the organization contact. Then in the Add contact menu, select the contact or user and then select Add or Next.

        1. If we have the needed user information, you select Add.

        2. If we need more user information, you select Next, enter the missing information, and then select Add.

      • Create new contact.

        1. Select Add someone else as the organization contact.

        2. In the Add contact menu, select Create new contact, then select Next.

        3. Enter the needed user information and then select Add.

  2. Technical contact for the organization (optional)

    We may contact a technical contact for inquiries regarding certificate orders for the organization. They may receive the certificate lifecycle-related emails: certificate issued, reissued, and expiring.

    • Add yourself as the technical contact.

      Select Add me as the technical contact for the organization and then select Add or Next.

      1. If we have all your information, you select Add.

      2. If we need more information, you select Next, enter the missing information, and then select Add.

    • Add someone else as the technical contact.

      Select Add someone else as the technical contact for the organization. Then in the Add contact menu, select the contact or user and then select Add or Next.

      1. If we have the needed user information, you select Add.

      2. If we need more user information, you select Next, enter the missing information, and then select Add.

    • Create new contact.

      1. Select Add someone else as the technical contact for the organization.

      2. In the Add contact menu, select Create new contact, then select Next.

      3. Enter the needed user information and then select Add.

  3. Verified contacts

    A verified contact must represent the organization included in your certificate request. At least one EV code signing verified contact is required.

    To view, change selections, or add verified contacts, expand Verified contacts.

    • Select verified contacts.

      If the organization has multiple EV code signing verified contacts, you can select who receives the EV code signing order approval email.

      DigiCert sends the approval email to all selected, verified contacts, but just one needs to approve your order. When the order is approved, DigiCert can issue your certificate. Selecting multiple verified contacts increases the likelihood of your order being approved quickly.

    • Add a verified contact.

      When adding a new verified contact, we contact the organization directly to verify the individual's name, email, phone number, job title, and authority. Only after DigiCert validates a verified contact can they approve EV code signing orders for the organization.

      • Add yourself as the verified contact.

        1. Select Add me as a verified contact for the organization and then select Add or Next.

        2. If we have all your information, you select Add.

        3. If we need more information, you select Next, enter the missing information, and then select Add.

      • Add someone else as the verified contact.

        Select Add someone else as the verified contact for the organization. Then in the Add contact menu, select the contact or user and then select Add or Next.

        1. If we have the needed user information, you select Add.

        2. If we need more user information, you select Next, enter the missing information, and then select Add.

      • Create new contact.

        1. Select Add someone else as the verified contact for the organization.

        2. In the Add contact menu, select Create new contact, then select Next.

        3. Enter the needed information and then select Add.

  4. Additional emails (optional)

    Enter the email addresses (comma separated) you want to receive the certificate notification emails, such as certificate issuance and expiring certificate notifications.

    Depending on your account settings, your administrator may require you to include at least one email.

Additional certificate options

The information in this section is optional. None of it’s required to issue your EV code signing certificate.

  • Organization unit (optional)

    Enter the organization unit (OU) with which you want to associate the certificate and signatures. If you include an OU in your order, DigiCert must validate it before we can issue your certificate with the OU field.

    An OU isn’t required to issue your certificate. You can leave this box empty. When the box is empty, the issued certificate doesn't have an OU value.

Order Settings

  • Provisioning options

    The provisioning method refers to where you store the private key and certificate. For the security of your EV code signing certificate, the certificate must be installed on and used from an approved device.

    Select the storage device for your EV code signing certificate and its' private key.

    • DigiCert-provided hardware token (nonrefundable)

      DigiCert sends a secure token with instructions for installing the certificate on your token.

      Then, under Shipping address, add your shipping information: your name and the address where you want us to send the hardware token.

    • Use existing token

      When DigiCert issues your EV code signing certificate, install the certificate on your token.

      In the Platform menu, select the type of hardware token on which you plan to install your EV code signing certificate:

      • SafeNet eToken 5110 CC (940) for RSA 4096-bit and ECC P-256-bit key certificates.

      • SafeNet eToken 5110 FIPS for ECC P-256-bit key certificates.

      • SafeNet eToken 5110+ FIPS for RSA 4096-bit and ECC P-256-bit key certificates.

      • SafeNet eToken 5110+ CC (940B) for ECC P-256-bit key certificates.

      • SafeNet eToken 5110+ CC (940C) for RSA 4096-bit and ECC P-256-bit key certificates.

      Important

      You must have a DigiCert-supported FIPS 140-2 Level 2 or Common Criteria EAL4+ compliant device. You can’t install the certificate on any device not on the list.

      Need an approved token?

      Select DigiCert-provided hardware token to have DigiCert send a token to you. If you have questions, contact DigiCert Support.

    • Install on HSM

      When DigiCert issues your EV code signing certificate, install it on the HSM where you generated the private key and CSR.

      Select Yes under Was the private key generated by a Common Criteria EAL4+ standard or FIPS 140-2 level 2 HSM?

      We send the certificate requester an agreement email. This email ensures the private key is stored on an HSM certified as FIPS 140 Level 2, Common Criteria EAL 4+, or equivalent. DigiCert issues the certificate only after the requester agrees to the private key protection requirement.

      Important

      You must have a FIPS 140-2 Level 2 or Common Criteria EAL4+, or equivalent hardware security module (HSM) that supports at least 3072-bit keys.

      Don't have a compatible HSM?

      Select a different provisioning method. If you have questions, contact DigiCert Support.

    • DigiCert KeyLocker (Cloud HSM)

      KeyLocker is an automated cloud storage service where you can store your private key and code signing certificate. Access them anytime from anywhere to sign your code. Learn more.

      DigiCert also offers Software Trust Manager, an enterprise-level code signing solution. Contact your account representative to determine if your organization could benefit from Software Trust Manager. Learn more.

Additional order options

The information in this section is optional. None of it’s required to issue your certificate.

  1. Comments to Administrator (optional)

    Enter any information your administrator might need for approving your request, about the purpose of the certificate, and so on.

  2. Additional Renewal Message (optional)

    To create a renewal message for this certificate, add a message with information relevant to the certificate's renewal.

Payment Information

  1. Select Payment Method

    Under Payment Information, select a payment method to pay for the certificate:

    1. Bill to Credit Card

      Don't have a contract or don't want to use the contract to pay for this certificate? Use a credit card to pay for the certificate.

      We authorize the card when the request is made. However, we don't finish the transaction until we issue your certificate.

      If you have a contract enabled, check Exclude from contract terms.

    2. Bill to Account Balance

      Don't have a contract or don't want to use the contract to pay for this certificate? Bill the cost to your account balance.

      To deposit funds, select the Deposit link. This link takes you to another page inside your CertCentral account. Any information entered in the request form isn't saved.

      If you have a contract enabled, check Exclude from contract terms.

    3. Pay with Contract Terms

      Have a contract and want to use it to pay for the certificate? When you have a contract, it is the default payment method.

  2. Master Services Agreement

    Select the Master Services Agreement link to read through the agreement.

  3. Select Submit Certificate Request.

    Selecting Submit Certificate Request also means you agree to all the terms and conditions in the Master Services Agreement.

What's next

DigiCert recommends that developers take precautions with the code signing process and protect the private key for their signing certificate. See Protect private keys: Code signing best practices.

In this section: