Understanding ISO 22376: The Standard Behind Visible Digital Seals
ISO 22376 is the international standard that defines the trust environment for Visible Digital Seals (VDS). Published by the International Organization for Standardization, this standard provides the framework for creating, managing, and verifying digital seals that can be embedded in physical and digital documents.
Why ISO 22376 Matters
Traditional document security often relies on physical features — watermarks, holograms, special inks — that are increasingly difficult to verify and easy to counterfeit. ISO 22376 introduces a fundamentally different approach: embedding cryptographically signed data directly into documents using 2D barcodes.
This approach offers several advantages:
- Universal verifiability — Anyone with a compliant reader can verify a seal, without special equipment.
- Offline capability — Verification can be performed without an internet connection using cached trust data.
- Tamper evidence — Any alteration to the sealed data is immediately detectable through cryptographic verification.
- Interoperability — Seals created by different issuers in different countries can be verified using the same infrastructure.
Key Components
The standard defines several critical components:
Scheme Operators
Organizations like TSO OTENTIK that manage the operational trust environment, including trust lists, provider onboarding, and compliance monitoring.
Certificate Authorities
Trusted entities that issue digital certificates to seal issuers, establishing the chain of trust necessary for verification.
Manifests
Technical specifications that define how data should be structured and encoded for specific use cases — from travel documents to product authentication.
Trust Lists
Published directories of authorized entities (CAs, issuers, operators) that verifiers use to establish the legitimacy of a seal.
Real-World Applications
ISO 22376 VDS technology is already being used for:
- Travel documents — Visas and travel permits with embedded verification data
- Health certificates — COVID-19 vaccination certificates using VDS-NC format
- Product authentication — Protecting luxury goods, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products
- Official documents — Government certificates, permits, and attestations
Getting Started
Organizations interested in implementing VDS technology should begin by understanding the standard’s requirements and identifying their specific use case. TSO OTENTIK provides guidance and support throughout the implementation process — from initial consultation to full deployment.
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