What is the Time Taken for Code Signing Certificates Issuance?
The process of getting a code signing certificate takes between 1-5 business days for most organizations. Code signing certificates require specific validation steps that security providers must complete before issuance. Small businesses can receive their certificates in 1-3 days, while larger enterprises might need up to 5 days due to more extensive verification requirements.
The timeline depends on three main factors: the type of certificate requested, the speed of document submission, and the validation process complexity. Organizations can speed up the process by preparing all required documents in advance, including business registration papers, government IDs, and domain ownership proof. Quick responses to the Certificate Authority’s verification requests also help reduce waiting time.
Which Factors That You Determine for Code Signing Certificate Issuance Time
There are several key factors that influence the issuance time for code signing certificates:
- Validation Level: The ID verification requirements at different validation levels directly impact issuance time. Higher levels mean more extensive verification.
- Certificate Authority: Different CAs have different issuance times depending on their processes. Some CAs are faster than others.
- Type of Applicant: The type of applicant, whether an individual or business, plays a role in verification requirements. Businesses require more documentation.
- Manual Verification: Some applications may require additional manual verification, which takes more time. Automated issuance is faster.
- Order Volume: The total number of certificates ordered can affect queue times for certificate approvals. Larger orders take longer.
- Time of Year: Application volumes tend to be higher during certain periods of the year, resulting in longer issuance times.
- Provider Turnaround Time: The CA’s responsiveness and average turnaround time for certificate approval introduces delays.
Best Tips to Speed Up the Code Signing Certificate Issuance Process
Here are some tips to help speed up the issuance process when ordering code signing certificates:
- Use automated validation: Domain-validated certificates issue fastest since they use automated domain validation.
- Prepare required documents: Have business documents, identity documents, and proof of domain ownership ready.
- Provide accurate info: Double-check that all application information provided is accurate to avoid delays.
- Use certificate manager: Tools like GlobalSign’s Certificate Manager simplify re-issuance.
- Request well in advance: Order certificates with plenty of lead time before they are required.
- Check provider turnaround times: Compare CA issuance speeds before purchasing.
- Avoid peak periods: Request certificates during off-peak months to avoid queues.
- Opt for single orders: Placing fewer, larger certificate orders can mean a longer wait.
How to Check Issuance Time with Certificate Authorities?
When shopping for code signing certificates, it’s a good idea to check expected issuance times directly with potential certificate authorities.
Here are some ways to check issuance times:
- Published speed claims: Many CAs list expected issuance times on their website or in documentation. However, take these with a grain of salt.
- Status checker tool: Some CAs provide online tools that show real-time certificate issuance status during the validation process.
- Contact sales: Contact sales directly via phone, chat, or email to inquire about current issuance times.
- Read customer reviews: Reviews from verified customers often mention real-world experience with issuance times.
- Check with support: Contact technical support to ask about their issuance times for different certificate types.
- Check LAS/TAS: The License Agreement Specification (LAS) and Time to Approve SLA (TAS) disclose timelines.
- Issuance policies: Certificate Practice Statements and Certification Practice Statements outline issuance policies.
- Test order: Place a small test certificate order to gauge the provider’s issuance speed directly.
Checking issuance times upfront ensures you get code signing certificates issued quickly when needed. Avoid providers with delays over 5-7 days.
Why Code Signing Certificate Issuance is Not Immediate?
There are several reasons why the issuance process for code signing certificates cannot happen immediately, requiring a waiting period:
- Validation takes time. The CA needs time to manually verify the applicant’s identity and organization documents, which cannot happen instantly.
- Paperwork must be processed: Administrators need time to review applications and submit documentation for approval.
- Queues and wait times: During busy periods, queues form, which prevents immediate issuance.
- Generation time: Once approved, CAs technically generate the certificate, but automation speeds this up.
- Browser policies: Browsers mandate certificate lifetime and other policies that prevent instant issuance.
- Verification calls: Many CAs make verification phone calls, which add delays if applicants are unavailable.
- Manual review: Applications flagged as high risk undergo manual reviews by certificate analysts.
- Compliance requirements: Industry regulations like GDPR and CA/B Forum Baseline Requirements mandate processes that take time.
- Provider workload: Issuance speed is affected by the CA’s existing workload and resource capacity.
Troubleshooting Code Signing Certificate Issuance Delays
Despite the best efforts of CAs, sometimes code signing certificates can take longer than advertised to be issued.
Here is how to troubleshoot and resolve unexpected delays:
- Check application status: Login to see if documentation or actions are pending on your end.
- Contact support: Open a ticket inquiring about the reason for the delay.
- Review documents: Verify all required identity documents were submitted accurately.
- Confirm domain ownership: Double check you completed domain verification steps for OV & EV.
- Watch for emails: Check spam folders for any emails from the CA requesting additional information.
- Follow up on verification: If contacted for phone verification, call to complete it.
- Check system status: See if the CA website indicates any known system issues.
- Compare against SLAs: Check if the delay exceeds the CA’s contractual SLA and request expedited handling if so.
- Switch CAs if needed: For future purchases, consider switching to a different CA with a faster issuance record.
Final Thoughts
The issuance time for code signing certificates varies from 1-3 days for OV code signing to 1-5 days for EV code signing certificates, depending on the validation level. Key factors that influence speed include identity vetting requirements, CA workload, applicant responsiveness, and order volume.
While instant issuance is not possible, following best practices like ordering early, preparing documentation, and comparing CAs can help reduce wait times. Monitoring issuance progress and troubleshooting delays quickly is key to ensuring code signing certificates are issued on time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Code Signing Certificate Issuance Times
How long does EV code signing certificate issuance take?
Due to the highest levels of manual identity vetting, EV code signing certificates normally take 1-5 days to issue. Some CAs can complete EV validation in as little as 2-3 days.
Can I get same-day issuance of OV code signing certificates?
While possible in some cases, same-day issuance for OV code signing certificates is not guaranteed or typical. Full OV validation takes 1-3 days on average. Select CAs can be issued within 24 hours.
What causes the longest delays and wait times for code signing certificates?
Requirements for manual verification, such as EV vetting, larger order sizes, peak request volumes, and applicant unpreparedness, are common causes of longer issuance delays.
How can I make sure I get new certificates before my current ones expire?
Submit your Code Signing renewal application at least 7-14 days before expiration, and ensure your CA has automatic re-issuance enabled to avoid disruptions to your code signing process.
What information do I need to provide for the fastest code signing certificate validation?
Up-to-date government IDs, business registration documents, utility bills, domain ownership records, and quick responsiveness to any inquiries will enable the fastest validation.
Can I pay extra for priority issuance of code signing certificates?
Some CAs may offer priority validation or issuance services for an additional fee. However, validation steps must be completed to ensure security standards are upheld.
How much slower is issuance time for larger orders of multiple certificates?
Larger batch certificate orders generally add 1-3 days onto standard issuance times since more certificates must be generated, validated, and managed.
What should I do if my code signing certificate is delayed longer than expected?
Contact the CA’s support team to investigate the delay, check for pending actions on your end, and consider alternative CAs if issuance times are frequently excessive.
Where can I find the official issuance policies for a CA?
Issuance policies like guaranteed turnaround times are published in the CA’s Certification Practice Statement (CPS) and Certificate Policy (CP) documents, which are available on their website.
Priya Mervana
Verified Web Security Experts
Priya Mervana is working at SSLInsights.com as a web security expert with over 10 years of experience writing about encryption, SSL certificates, and online privacy. She aims to make complex security topics easily understandable for everyday internet users.
