Use Email verification to validate a domain on a pending DV TLS certificate
Demonstrate domain control with the. Email verification domain control validation (DCV) method
Use these instructions to demonstrate control over the domains on a pending DV TLS certificate order using the Email domain control validation (DCV) method. When validating domains on a pending DV TLS certificate, you can only use one DCV method to validate all the domains on the certificate.
Warning
End of life for the WHOIS-based Email
On May 8, 2025, DigiCert ended support for the WHOIS-based domain control validation method (DCV) email method. DigiCert systems have stopped querying WHOIS entirely to find email addresses for domain validations. To learn more about this change, see our knowledge base article, End of life for WHOIS-based DCV methods.
What should I do?
Update your domain validation process to use one of the other supported DCV methods. To continue using the Email DCV method, use the DNS TXT record email contacts or the Constructed email method.
Before you begin
With the Email domain control validation (DCV) method, DigiCert sends two sets of DCV emails: DNS TXT-based and constructed.
To demonstrate control over the domain, an email recipient follows the instructions in a confirmation email sent for the domain:
DigiCert sends this email from no-reply@digitalcertvalidation.com. If using allowlist, make sure to include digitalcertvalidation.com.
The confirmation process consists of visiting the link in the email and following the instructions on the page.
To learn more about the different email DCV methods, such as email to DNS TXT contact and constructed, see Domain Control Validation (DCV) Methods.
Use Email verification to demonstrate control over a domain on a DV TLS certificate
In CertCentral, go to the certificate's Order # details page.
In the left menu, go to Certificate > Orders.
On the Orders page, in the Order # column, select the DV TLS certificate's order number link.
For CertCentral Subscription accounts, the steps to access the Order # detail page are different.
In the left menu go to My Digital Trust Products > Certificates.
On the Certificates page, in the Order # column, select the DV TLS certificate's order number link.
On the Order # details page, in the Certificate status section, review the certificate's status to see if issuance is waiting for domain validation to be completed.
After validation is completed, the Certificate status section no longer appears on the Order # details page.
Under What do you need to do, select the Prove control over domains link.
In the Prove control over domain window, in the Domain control validation (DCV) method menu, select Verification email and then select Save.
In the Select the email language menu, select the language for the confirmation email sent for the domain.
In the Select the authorization email recipient menu, select the email address you want the confirmation email sent to.
Select Send email.
What's next
DigiCert sends the verification email from no-reply@digitalcertvalidation.com to the addresses you selected. The email subject line is [Action Required] Approve Certificate Request for [yourdomain] {Order #}.