A VMC or CMC provides third-party evidence about a mark and its association with an organisation and domain. Certificate eligibility and mailbox acceptance are separate questions.
- VMCs cover eligible registered or government marks.
- CMCs can support eligible prior-use or modified registered marks.
- Gmail accepts both types; its verification checkmark requires a VMC.
Three approaches at a glance
| Approach | Evidence | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| VMC | Eligible registered or government mark | Gmail’s checkmark route; issuer validation required |
| CMC | Eligible prior-use or modified registered mark | Gmail logo support without the VMC checkmark |
| Self-asserted | No mark certificate | Limited receiver support; not accepted for Gmail BIMI |
When a VMC is the right conversation
If your organisation has an eligible mark and wants the VMC experience at supporting providers, ask an issuer to assess it. A company name, domain registration, or trademark application is not automatically an eligible registration for the exact logo.
Prepare the mark details, final artwork, legal entity information, and the domains you want covered. Ask the issuer to confirm eligibility before planning a launch date.
When to explore a CMC
A CMC creates a path for some marks that do not qualify for a VMC. It is still a validated certificate, not a way to skip ownership and organisational checks.
Discuss the evidence the issuer needs for your specific mark. Do not assume that a newly created logo qualifies immediately or that every design variation is accepted.
Questions to ask before buying
- Is this exact artwork eligible for the certificate type?
- Which domains and subdomains will the certificate cover?
- What organisation, domain-control, and mark evidence is needed?
- What happens if the logo or company details change?
- What are the issuance, renewal, reissue, and hosting costs?
- Which target providers accept this certificate?
Explore our Certificate Authorities page for published VMC and CMC prices from Sectigo, SSL.com and GlobalSign. Prices and processing times vary; confirm the current quote, selected term and domain coverage with the issuer.
A mark certificate is not a website certificate
The TLS certificate on your website secures the connection to your hosting server. A BIMI mark certificate provides a different kind of evidence. You may need both, but renewing one does not renew the other.
After issuance, follow the issuer’s instructions for the public PEM file and required chain. Keep private account credentials and any private keys out of public asset folders.
Go to the source
Provider policies and specifications can change. These primary sources informed this guide, reviewed on 1 November 2026.