Validate a domain using Email DCV
Add a domain to CertCentral and validate it using the Email DCV method.
Use these instructions to add a domain to your CertCentral account and demonstrate control over the domain with the Email DCV method.
Warning
End of life for the WHOIS-based Email
On May 8, 2025, DigiCert ended support for the WHOIS-based DCV email method. DigiCert systems have stopped querying WHOIS entirely to find email addresses for domain validations. To learn more about this change, see our knowledge base article, End of life for WHOIS-based DCV methods.
What should I do?
You must update your domain validation process to use one of the other supported DCV methods. If you still want to use the Email DCV method, use the DNS TXT record email contacts or the Constructed email method.
Before you begin
Add the domain's organization to your CertCentral account
Before you can add and validate a domain in CertCentral, you must first add its organization to your CertCentral account so that the organization appears in the Organization menu when adding a new domain to CertCentral. See Add an organization to your CertCentral account.
Email DCV method
With the Email domain control validation (DCV) method, DigiCert sends two sets of DCV emails: DNS TXT-based and constructed. To demonstrate control over the domain, an email recipient follows the instructions in a confirmation email sent for the domain:
DigiCert sends this email from no-reply@digitalcertvalidation.com. If using allowlist, make sure to include digitalcertvalidation.com.
The confirmation process consists of visiting the link in the email and following the instructions on the page.
To learn more about the different email DCV methods, such as email to DNS TXT contact and constructed, see Domain pre-validation: Domain control validation (DCV) methods.
Add domain and select the Verification email DCV method
In CertCentral, in the left menu, go to Certificates > Domains.
For CertCentral Subscription accounts, in the left menu, go to Validation > Domains.
On the Domains page, select New Domain.
On the New Domain page, under Domain details, enter the following information:
Domain name: Enter the domain name your certificates will secure, for example,yourdomain.com.
Organization: In the menu, select the organization you want to assign the domain to.
Under Domain Control Validation (DCV) Method, select Verification Email.
In the DCV Email Language menu, select the language for the confirmation email sent for the domain.
Select Choose address.
In the Choose address window, do the following:
Select the email addresses you want the confirmation email sent to.
Select Submit for validation.
What's next
DigiCert sends the verification email from no-reply@digitalcertvalidation.com to the addresses you selected.