VMC and CMC Certificates

Q: Do I need DMARC to use VMC or CMC?

Yes. DMARC with policy p=quarantine or p=reject is an absolute requirement for both VMC and CMC. This ensures that only verified senders can use your domain, protecting against spoofing.

Display your brand logo in the inbox with Verified Mark Certificates (VMC) or Common Mark Certificates (CMC) for BIMI. Strengthen your email identity, protect against phishing and improve open rates with visible branding in Gmail, Apple Mail and Yahoo.

What is BIMI?

BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) is an email standard that makes it possible to display your company logo in the recipient's inbox. When you send an email, supported email clients show your logo next to the message - so the recipient can immediately recognise the sender.

Gmail Apple Mail Yahoo Mail

VMC vs CMC

VMC (Verified Mark Certificate)

Maximum visibility and blue verified checkmark

✓ Shows your brand logo in the inbox
✓ Triggers the blue verified checkmark (e.g. in Gmail)
✓ Requires officially registered trademark (TMV)
✓ DMARC enforcement (p=quarantine/reject) required
✓ Issued by DigiCert and Entrust

CMC (Common Mark Certificate)

Displays logo without trademark requirement

✓ Shows your brand logo in the inbox (e.g. Gmail/Yahoo)
✗ Does NOT trigger the blue verified checkmark in Gmail
✓ Does NOT require trademark registration
✓ Requires proof of 12 months prior use (via Wayback Machine)
✓ DMARC enforcement (p=quarantine/reject) required

Requirements

Requirement	VMC	CMC
DMARC policy	p=quarantine or p=reject	p=quarantine or p=reject
Trademark registration	Required (approved office)	Not required
Proof of use (Prior Use)	No	Yes, 12+ months verified via Wayback Machine (archive.org)
Logo format	SVG Tiny PS (Portable/Secure)	SVG Tiny PS (Portable/Secure)
Result in inbox	Logo + Blue checkmark (Gmail)	Logo (no checkmark in Gmail)

Benefits

✓

Brand visibility

Your logo or checkmark visible directly in the inbox before the email is opened.

✓

Email trust

Recipients can immediately see that the email is from a verified sender.

✓

Phishing protection

DMARC enforcement and verified sender identity reduce the risk of spoofing.

✓

Better open rates

Brand logo in the inbox increases recognition and can improve open rates.

How to get started

Verify DMARC

Ensure your domain has DMARC with p=quarantine or p=reject.

Register trademark (VMC)

For VMC: ensure your logo is trademarked. For CMC: skip this step.

Order certificate

Order VMC or CMC and complete the validation process.

Publish BIMI DNS record

Add a BIMI TXT record to your domain's DNS pointing to the certificate.

VMC products

Verified Mark Certificate

DigiCert VMC. Display your logo in the email inbox with BIMI.

from €1,501 /year See details →

Common Mark Certificate

DigiCert CMC. Basic BIMI certificate.

from €1,105 /year See details →

See all products with prices →

Frequently asked questions about VMC and BIMI

Find answers to the most common questions about SSL certificates and FairSSL.

What is the difference between VMC and CMC?

VMC (Verified Mark Certificate) displays your unique brand logo in the inbox alongside an official blue checkmark (e.g. in Gmail) and requires a registered trademark. CMC (Common Mark Certificate) does not require trademark registration, but instead requires proof of prior logo use for at least 12 months (e.g. verified via the Wayback Machine). CMC displays your logo in the inbox, but typically does not trigger the blue "verified sender" checkmark.

Which email clients support BIMI?

Gmail, Apple Mail and Yahoo Mail support BIMI and display your logo. Note that Gmail recently added support for CMC, so your logo can now be displayed without a registered trademark, but the blue "verified sender" checkmark is still reserved for VMC certificates.

Do I need DMARC to use VMC or CMC?

Yes. DMARC with policy p=quarantine or p=reject is an absolute requirement for both VMC and CMC. This ensures that only verified senders can use your domain, protecting against spoofing.

How do I prove prior use for a CMC certificate?

To issue a CMC certificate, the Certificate Authority (e.g. DigiCert) validation team will use independent sources, primarily the Wayback Machine (archive.org), to confirm that your logo has been in continuous public use on your domain for at least the past 12 months.

How does VMC affect my email deliverability?

VMC and BIMI significantly increase brand recognition in the inbox and can improve open rates. It also signals to email providers that your domain is well-verified, strengthening your overall domain reputation.

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