Introduction

Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) requirements involve several technical and branding preparations before a business can display its verified logo in customer inboxes. From DNS authentication records to trademark validation and SVG logo formatting, businesses must meet strict standards set by certificate authorities (CAs) like DigiCert.

To ensure a smooth approval process, businesses should prepare their domain settings, logo assets, and authentication records 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

In addition to email authentication records, businesses also need to publish a BIMI record in their DNS to support VMC implementation.

• 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

Furthermore, your brand logo must meet strict technical guidelines before it can qualify for a Verified Mark Certificate.

• 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 overly complex patterns because they may not render properly across all supported inbox providers.

✅ 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.

Because of this requirement, only legitimate brand owners can display verified logos in customer inboxes.

5. Certificate Authority Validation

Finally, 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, businesses should ensure their DNS records, trademark documents, and logo assets meet all technical requirements. By preparing everything correctly in advance, the approval process becomes faster and much smoother.

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