Extended Validation (EV) Certificates
Extended Validation (EV) certificates represent the highest level of SSL certificate validation, providing the most rigorous identity verification process and the strongest visual trust indicators. They offer premium security assurance for organizations that handle sensitive customer data or require maximum credibility.
See our EV Certificates at https://mysslpro.com/e-commerce-and-high-trust-ssl-certificates/
What is Extended Validation?
EV certificates require the most comprehensive validation process, where Certificate Authorities perform extensive verification of your organization’s legal, physical, and operational existence. This thorough vetting process ensures that only legitimate, verified organizations can obtain EV certificates.
Validation Process
The EV validation process is the most stringent and includes:
Complete Legal Verification. The CA verifies your organization’s legal registration, articles of incorporation, and good standing with government authorities.
Physical Presence Confirmation. Your organization’s physical address is verified through multiple sources, including site visits in some cases.
Operational Verification. The CA confirms your business has been actively operating and verifies key personnel authorized to request certificates.
Domain Rights Verification. Standard domain control validation is performed to confirm ownership or legal right to use the domain.
Attorney Opinion Letters. Some cases may require legal opinions confirming the organization’s legitimacy and authority to obtain the certificate.
Key Features
Enhanced Browser Display. EV certificates display your organization name prominently in the browser address bar, providing immediate visual confirmation of your identity.
Maximum Trust Indicators. Users see the strongest possible visual security indicators, including the company name and sometimes a green address bar.
Premium Encryption. EV certificates provide the same high-level encryption as other certificate types but with the added benefit of maximum organizational verification.
Issuance Timeline
EV certificates typically require 7-14 business days for issuance due to the extensive manual verification process. Some complex cases may take longer depending on the organization’s structure and documentation requirements.
Best Use Cases
EV certificates are essential for:
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- E-commerce websites processing online payments
- Financial institutions and banking websites
- Healthcare organizations handling patient data
- Government and municipal websites
- Large corporations requiring maximum trust indicators
- Any organization where customer confidence is critical
Visual Indicators
Company Name Display. The organization’s verified name appears in the browser address bar or certificate information.
Enhanced Security Indicators. Some browsers show additional visual cues like green highlighting or special badges for EV certificates.
Certificate Details. Clicking the security indicator shows comprehensive organizational information verified by the CA.
Cost and Requirements
EV certificates are the most expensive SSL option, typically costing $200-1500+ per year. The higher cost reflects the extensive validation work, manual verification processes, and enhanced trust benefits they provide.
Limitations
Longest Issuance Time. The comprehensive validation process makes EV certificates the slowest to obtain.
Strict Requirements. Organizations must meet specific legal and operational criteria, which may exclude some smaller businesses or certain entity types.
For organizations where maximum customer trust and credibility are essential, EV certificates provide unparalleled verification and the strongest possible visual trust indicators available in SSL certificates.


Extended Validation (EV) Certificates