Introduction

A Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) allows your brand logo to appear in customer inboxes, but not every company can qualify right away. To meet the strict standards set by certificate authorities (CAs) like DigiCert, you must prepare both your domain settings and your logo assets in advance.

This article breaks down the key technical requirements your business needs before applying for a VMC.

1. Domain Authentication Requirements

Your domain must have proper email authentication protocols configured:

• SPF (Sender Policy Framework):
  Specifies which servers are authorized to send email for your domain.

• DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail):
  Digitally signs your emails to confirm authenticity.

• DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance):
  Must be set to either:

  • p=quarantine

  • p=reject
    ➝ A “none” policy does not qualify for VMC.

✅ These records must be valid and correctly published in your DNS.

2. BIMI DNS Record

To support BIMI and VMC, you need to publish a BIMI record in your DNS.

• Example BIMI record:

  default._bimi IN TXT "v=BIMI1; l=https://example.com/logo.svg; a=https://example.com/vmc.pem"


• l= points to your logo file (SVG Tiny PS 1.2).

• a= points to your VMC certificate.

3. Logo Requirements

Your brand logo must meet strict technical guidelines to qualify:

• File format: SVG Tiny PS 1.2 (other formats will fail).

• Trademarked: Logo must be registered as a trademark with an official authority.

• Design:

  • Square aspect ratio recommended

  • Transparent or solid background only

  • Avoid gradients or complex patterns that do not render well

✅ Tip: Logos that are not trademarked or not in SVG Tiny PS format will be rejected.

4. Trademark Requirement

A VMC requires proof that your logo is a registered trademark.

• Accepted documents include trademark certificates from recognized authorities.

• The logo on the trademark must exactly match the logo submitted for VMC.

• Pending trademarks are usually not accepted.

This requirement ensures only legitimate brand owners can display logos.

5. Certificate Authority Validation

When applying for a VMC, DigiCert will validate:

• Your organization details (legal entity verification)

• Your domain ownership

• Your trademarked logo

This thorough process prevents fraud and ensures that only verified businesses are issued certificates.

Why Choose PLiKhost for VMC Setup?

At PLiKhost, we make sure your application meets all technical requirements:

• Guidance on SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration

• Assistance in preparing SVG Tiny PS logo format

• Help with BIMI record publishing

• Local billing and trusted DigiCert partnership

Conclusion

Before applying for a Verified Mark Certificate, your domain, DNS, and logo must meet specific requirements. By preparing correctly, you’ll ensure a smooth application process and faster approval.

👉 Need help setting everything up?
Order your DigiCert VMC from PLiKhost today and let us handle the technical details.