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👤 Your verified legal identity in every signed email · IV S/MIME
Certificates › S/MIME › IV S/MIME
S/MIME · Individual Validation

Sign email with your verified legal name — not just your address

IV S/MIME: government-ID validated individual identity in every signed message.

An IV (Individual Validated) S/MIME certificate verifies your legal identity using government-issued ID and binds your real name to your email address. Recipients of signed messages see your verified legal name in the signature — a much stronger assurance than email-address validation alone. The right choice for professionals, regulated individuals, and anyone where personal identity matters.

✓ Government-ID validation ✓ Legal name in every signature ✓ Sign + encrypt email ✓ 1–3 day issuance
mailto://you@yourco.com
SIV
Email Security
SSL.com · S/MIME IV · Individual identity verified
Signing
✓ Included
Encryption
✓ S/MIME
Validation
Individual (IV)
Clients
Outlook · Apple Mail
ID verified
Email signing
S/MIME standard
Get IV S/MIME on ssl.com →
IV S/MIME (Individual Validated)
from $38/yr
Per email address · Individual identity verified
  • Government-ID validation
  • Verified legal name in certificate
  • Digitally sign and encrypt email
  • 1–3 business day issuance
  • Works with Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird
  • Reissues included for term
Get IV S/MIME → Compare S/MIME tiers
Secure checkout on SSL.com · 256-bit encrypted

What is an IV S/MIME Certificate?

An IV (Individual Validated) S/MIME certificate verifies your legal identity — not just your email address. The CA checks your government-issued ID (passport, national ID, or driver's license) and binds your verified legal name to your email address in the certificate. When you sign an email, the recipient's mail client shows your real legal name as the verified signer — providing strong personal identity assurance that Basic S/MIME cannot offer.

Why choose IV S/MIME

Your legal identity on every email

Verified legal name embedded in the certificate
Stronger identity assurance than email-only validation
Used by lawyers, doctors, accountants, and regulated professionals
Sign and encrypt email from any compatible client
Ideal for any individual where personal identity matters to recipients
Issuance in 1–3 business days
Who is it for

For professionals whose identity must be visible

Lawyers & attorneys

Legal name appears in signed email

Doctors & healthcare

Patient communication & prescriptions

Accountants & auditors

Financial documents & correspondence

Independent consultants

Regulated professions & advisory roles

Business impact

Professional accountability in every send

Your legal name in every signature

Recipients see your verified legal name next to the signature — professional accountability established in every email.

Protects against impersonation

Forgers can't reproduce your identity-verified signature — your name is cryptographically tied to your unique certificate.

Meets regulated-profession requirements

Lawyers, doctors, and accountants often need identity-verified email for client-facing communications and compliance.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What documents do I need for IV validation?
A government-issued photo ID: passport, national identity card, or driver's license. SSL.com will verify the ID during the application process.
Will my legal name appear to every recipient?
To recipients who inspect the digital signature, yes — your verified legal name is shown. In most Outlook and Apple Mail configurations, the signature indicator shows the verified name in the UI.
How long does issuance take?
Typically 1–3 business days for identity verification. This is longer than Basic S/MIME (minutes) because a real identity check is performed.
Is IV S/MIME right for a business role mailbox?
No — OV S/MIME is better for organizational role mailboxes (support@, billing@). IV is for individual identities. For dual person + organization coverage, choose Sponsor S/MIME.
Can I encrypt email with IV S/MIME?
Yes — IV S/MIME supports both signing and end-to-end encryption. Both you and your recipient need S/MIME certificates to exchange encrypted messages.

Your legal name in every signed email

IV S/MIME — individual identity verified, legal name in every signature.

Get IV S/MIME →Compare all plans