Pre-Validation Reference Information

A pre-validation reference lets you validate your organization in advance, before you place an order. Once your organization has been validated, the same pre-validation reference can be used on future Organization Validation (OV) and Extended Validation (EV) orders, so the organization checks do not have to be repeated each time.

It is designed for regular purchasers who order these products often, and it makes each later order quicker to complete. Learn About The Validation Procedure 🔗

What Pre-Validation Provides

When a pre-validation reference is issued, your organization details have already been verified. On a later Organization Validation (OV) or Extended Validation (EV) order, that verification is reused, so the organization stage is skipped and issuance is faster.

A pre-validation reference remains valid for 398 days from the date it becomes active. While it is valid, the same validated details can be reused across multiple eligible orders, which removes the repeated organization checks that would otherwise apply to every one. Learn About Organization Validation (OV) 🔗

Domain Control Validation Still Applies

Pre-validation covers your organization, not your domain. Domain Control Validation (DCV) is a separate step that proves you control the domain names on the order, and it is different from Organization Validation (OV) and Extended Validation (EV).

Domain Control Validation (DCV) still has to be completed on each order, and on most reissues, even where a pre-validation reference is in place. The two are checked independently, so a pre-validation reference removes the organization stage while domain control continues as normal. Learn About Completing Domain Control Validation 🔗

Matching Your Product Range

A pre-validation reference is tied to the Certificate Authority (CA) partner that issued it, so it works only with products from the matching range. A pre-validation reference for the Sectigo® range applies to Sectigo® products, and a pre-validation reference for the Trustico® range applies to Trustico® products.

The two do not cross over. If you order across both ranges, you will hold a separate pre-validation reference for each, and each is used only with its own products.

Using Your Pre-Validation Reference

Our order forms include a field for your pre-validation reference. On a traditional Organization Validation (OV) or Extended Validation (EV) order, entering a valid pre-validation reference lets the organization stage be skipped, so issuance is faster.

On a Certificate as a Service (CaaS) Organization Validation (OV) order, a pre-validation reference is a prerequisite, and the order cannot be submitted without one. Explore Certificate as a Service (CaaS) 🔗

It is important to leave the field blank where a pre-validation reference has not been issued, is no longer valid, or does not match the brand of the product being purchased. Only enter a pre-validation reference that matches the product you are ordering.

Obtaining Your Pre-Validation Reference

You do not deal with the Certificate Authority (CA) directly. Trustico® handles the pre-validation, and you use the resulting pre-validation reference on our order forms.

Two tools are launching soon. One lets you search an entity to check whether a valid pre-validation reference already exists, and the other is a form you complete to request one.

We also apply for pre-validation automatically, on occasion, for regular purchasers of Organization Validation (OV) and Extended Validation (EV) products, so a valid pre-validation reference may already be held against your organization. Until the tools are available, assistance and further information are available on request.

Keeping Your Pre-Validation Current

A pre-validation reference is valid for 398 days from activation. Within that period it can be reused on eligible orders without repeating the organization checks.

If the 398 days pass, or if your organization details change, the organization must be validated again before the pre-validation reference can be used. A fresh pre-validation reference is issued once that new validation is complete.