Skip to main content

Order an OV wildcard TLS/SSL certificate

Important

End of issuance for individual validation TLS certificates

On September 5, 2023, DigiCert stopped issuing individual validation TLS certificates. Therefore, you can no longer get an organization validation (OV) TLS certificate with a person's name in the subject field. See End of issuance for individual validation TLS certificates.

If you need a TLS certificate for an individual, we recommend purchasing a domain validation (DV) TLS certificate instead.

These instructions can be used for ordering these certificates: Secure Site Wildcard TLS/SSL or Wildcard TLS/SSL.

Before you begin

After submitting your order, you'll need to complete domain validation for the domain on the order (demonstrate control over the domain) before we can issue your certificate. See Demonstrate control over domains on your certificate order.

Order you wildcard certificate

  1. Create your certificate signing request (CSR)

    To remain secure, certificates must use at least a 2048-bit key size. For more information and instructions about creating a CSR, see Create a CSR.

  2. Select the wildcard SSL/TLS certificate you want to order

    1. In your CertCentral account, in the left main menu, click Request a Certificate. Then, under All Products, click Product Summary.

    2. On the Request a Certificate page, look over the certificate options and select the certificate you want to order.

  3. Add your CSR

    We use the information in your CSR to auto-populate corresponding values in the order form: Common Name, Other Hostnames (SANs), and Organization. If you leave any of this information out of the CSR, the corresponding field in the form is left blank.

    If the organization in the CSR already exists in your account, we auto-populate the Organization Contact card with the contact assigned to that organization.

    On the Request page, under Certificate Settings, upload your CSR to or Paste it into the Add Your CSR box.

    Notice

    When copying the text from the CSR file, make sure to include the -----BEGIN NEW CERTIFICATE REQUEST----- and -----END NEW CERTIFICATE REQUEST----- tags.

  4. Common name

    After adding your CSR to the form, we auto-populate the Common Name field with the common name from the CSR.

    To add the common name yourself, type the common name in the box, or under Common Name, expand Show Recently Created Domains and select the domain from the list.

    Notice

    Make sure to format the common name correctly (*.example.com).

  5. Other hostnames (SANs)

    After adding your CSR, we populate the Other Hostnames (SANs) box with the SANs included in the CSR. You can still remove or add additional SANs as needed.

    1. Single wildcard domain certificateIn the Other Hostnames (SANs) box, enter the subdomain(s) that you want your Wildcard Certificate to secure. Note that the SANs names must be a based on the wildcard domain entered in common name field.

      For example, if *.yourdomain.com is the common name, you can add www.yourdomain.com, app.yourdomain.com, and mail.yourdomain.com as SANs.

    2. Multiple-wildcard-domain certificate

      Adding wildcard domains (*.yourdomain.com, *.anotherdomain.com, etc.) increases the cost of the certificate.

      In the Other Hostnames (SANs) box, enter the wildcard domains and the domains based on those wildcard domains that you want to secure. The SANs must be a wildcard domain (for example, *.yourdomain.com) or based on your listed wildcard domains.

      For example, if one of your wildcard domains is *.yourdomain.com, then you can add the SANs www.yourdomain.com and app.yourdomain.com to your certificate order.

    3. Same-level domains

      Wildcard domains only secure the same-level domains without charge. If your certificate secures *.yourdomain.com, it will also secure domains of the same level automatically. This means, under most circumstances, you won't need to enter in secure.yourdomain.com to use the certificate for that FQDN.

  6. How long do you need to protect your site?

    1. Click Select a coverage length.

    2. In the How long do you need to protect your site window, select your coverage.

      • With a 1-year plan, you get a 1-year certificate by default.

      • With longer plans, your first certificate has a 397-day validity by default.

      • For more information about these plans, see Multi-year Plans.

    3. Select Save.

    4. To modify your SSL/TLS certificate coverage, under Plan details, click the pencil.

  7. Certificate validity

    Select the validity period for the first SSL/TLS certificate in your order: 1 year, Custom expiration date, or Custom length.

    • For a certificate with a shorter validity than the order, you will need to reissue your certificate to use the remaining validity on the order.

    • Certificate validity determines the length of the first certificate issued for the plan. If needed, you can change the validity period each time you reissue your certificate.

  8. Select a DCV method to prove control over your domains

    Before DigiCert can issue your certificate, you must demonstrate control over the domains on your certificate order. To learn more about the available domain control validation (DCV) methods, see Demonstrate control over domains on a pending certificate order.

    In the DCV verification method dropdown, choose the DCV method you want to use to demonstrate control over the domain on the certificate order.

    You must use the selected DCV method to prove control over every domain on the order. Choose between the following options:

    • Verification Email

      The email recipient demonstrates control over the domain by following the instructions in a confirmation email sent for the domain.

    • DNS CNAME

      Demonstrate control over your domain by creating a DNS CNAME record containing a randomly generated value.

    • DNS TXT

      Demonstrate control over the domain on your order by creating a DNS TXT record containing a randomly generated value.

    • HTTP Practical Demonstration

      Demonstrate control over your domain by hosting a .txt file containing a randomly generated value at a predetermined location on your website.

    Notice

    After submitting the certificate order, you can change the DCV method per domain from the certificate's Order details page, if needed. (In the sidebar menu, click Certificates > Orders. On the Orders page, click the certificate's order number link.)

  9. Additional Certificate Options

    The information in this section is optional.

    Expand Additional Certificate Options and provide information as needed.

    • Signature Hash

      Unless you have a specific reason for choosing a different signature hash, DigiCert recommends using the default signature hash: SHA-256.

    • Server Platform

      Select the server or system you generated the CSR on.

    • Auto-Renew

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

      With auto renew enabled, a new certificate order will be automatically submitted when this certificate nears its expiration date. If your certificate still has time remaining before it expires, DigiCert adds the remaining time from your current certificate to your new certificate (up to 397 days – approximately 13 months).

    Notice

    Auto Renew can't be used with credit card payments.

    To automatically renew a certificate, the order must be charged to the account balance. You can configure the finance settings for your account on the Finance Settings page (in the sidebar menu, click Finances > Settings).

  10. Organization

    If your CSR includes an organization currently used in your account, we auto-populate the Organization field in the order form with that organization's information.

    To add an organization, click Add Organization.

    • Add an existing organization

      In the Add Organization window, select Existing Organization. In the Organization dropdown, select an organization. Then click Add.

    • Add a new organization

      If you add a new organization, we will need to validate the organization before we can issue your certificate.

      In the Add Organization window, select New Organization, fill out the form (add the organization's legal name, address, etc.) and click Add.

    Notice

    Unless you update the Organization Contact, we will use you as the primary contact to validate this certificate order.

  11. Organization Contact (required)

    The Organization Contact is someone who works for the organization included in the certificate order. We contact them to validate the organization and verify the request for OV TLS/SSL certificates.

    We populate the Organization Contact card for you.

    • When adding a CSR that includes an existing organization in your account, we populate the Organization Contact card with the contact assigned to that organization.

    • When manually adding an existing organization, we populate the Organization Contact card with the contact assigned to that organization.

    • When adding a new organization, we populate the Organization Contact card with your contact information.

    To use a different organization contact:

    1. Delete the organization contact populated automatically for you by clicking the trashcan icon.

    2. Click Add Contact.

    3. In the Add Contact window, in the Contact Type dropdown, select Organization Contact.

    4. Add the contact:

      1. Add an existing contact

        Select Existing Contact, in the Contactsdropdown, select a contact, and click Add.

      2. Add a new contact

        Select New Contact, fill out the form (add the person's first and last name, Job Title, etc.), and click Add.

    Technical Contact (optional)

    In addition to yourself, this person will receive order emails including the one with the certificate attached, as well as renewal notifications.

    To add a technical contact:

    1. Click Add Technical Contact.

      If you have not added an organization contact, click Add Contact.

    2. In the Add Contact window, in the Contact Type dropdown, select Technical Contact.

    3. Add the contact

      1. Add an existing contact

        Select Existing Contact. In the Contacts dropdown, select a contact, and click Add.

      2. Add a new contact

        Select New Contact, fill out the form (add the person's first and last name, job title, etc.), and click Add.

  12. Additional Order Options

    In information in this section is not required to issue your certificate. Adding comments and messaging are optional.

    Expand Additional Order Options and add information as needed.

    1. Comments to AdministratorEnter any information that your administrator might need for approving your request, about the purpose of the certificate, etc.

    2. Order Specific Renewal MessageTo create a renewal message for this certificate, type a renewal message with information that might be relevant to the certificate’s renewal.

    Notice

    Comments and renewal messages are not included in the certificate.

  13. Additional Emails

    Enter the email addresses (comma separated) for the people you want to receive the certificate notification emails with information such as certificate issuance, duplicate certificate, certificate renewals, etc.

    Notice

    These recipients can't manage the order. However they will receive all the certificate related emails.

  14. Select Payment Method

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

    1. Pay with 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.

      Note: We authorize the card when the request is made. However, we only complete the transaction once we issue your certificate.

    2. Pay with Contract Terms Have a contract and want to use it to pay for the certificate? If you do, you may use it.

      Note: When you have a contract, it is the default payment method.

    3. Pay with 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, click the Deposit link.

      Note: The Deposit link takes you to another page inside your CertCentral account. Any information entered in the request form will not be saved.

  15. Certificate Services Agreement

    Read through the agreement and check I agree to the Certificate Services Agreement.

  16. Select Submit Certificate Request.

What's next

Before we can issue your certificate, these tasks must be completed:

  1. Demonstrate control over the domains on your order

    Complete domain validation for the domains on the order (demonstrate control over the domain). See Demonstrate control over domains on your SSL certificate order.

  2. Complete organization validation

    DigiCert must validate and authenticate your authority to order a certificate for the organization on your certificate order. To do this, we will call a verified phone number to speak with someone who represents you, the certificate requestor, such as the organization or technical contact.

    To get organization consent for your certificate order:

    • Answer the organization/validation phone call (preferred method)*

      • After you submit your certificate order, make sure that the organization contact, technical contact, and company receptionist are aware that you’ve ordered an SSL/TLS certificate.

      • Let them know that DigiCert will call a verified phone number to speak with one of them to complete organization validation/authentication.

      • This phone call usually takes place within 24 hours of the order being placed.

    • Respond to the organization consent message

      • If the DigiCert validation agent can’t reach someone who represents you at the verified phone number, they will leave a message that includes a call-back phone number and a verification code.

      • Make sure that organization or technical contact responds to the message and provides the verification code.

In this section: