How to obtain a VMC certificate?
Still have a question, spotted an error, or have a better explanation or a source we should cite?
Getting a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) is basically brand insurance for your BIMI logo. If you want the most reliable logo display across mailbox providers, you'll need one. Here's the path forward.
So Start with trademark registration. You've got to own a registered trademark for your logo. In the US, that means filing with the USPTO. In Europe, file with EUIPO. This isn't a quick box to check; registration can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years depending on your jurisdiction and any objections that come up.
And once your trademark is registered, you're ready to apply for the VMC itself. You'll work with a certificate authority like DigiCert or Entrust. They'll ask you to prove organizational identity and verify that you own the domain you're sending from. You'll submit legal documents (trademark registration, business registration, sometimes a letter from your legal team) and pay a certificate fee (typically $200-500 per year). See also: how BIMI works.
Once approved, the CA issues your VMC as a PEM file. You'll add that file path to your BIMI DNS record in the authority (a=) field. The whole process from trademark application to active VMC usually takes 12-24 months, so start early if you're serious about BIMI.
Contributors
Who worked on this answer
Every name links to their profile. Every company links to their site. Real people, real accountability.
