---
title: "Verify signers with an email code or an access code"
description: "Make signers prove who they are before they open the document: a one-time code emailed to them (every plan) or an access code you share (Pro, Business)."
url: https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/verify-signers-email-code-access-code/
collection: "eSignatures"
section: "Requesting signatures"
updated: 2026-10-18
publisher: "PDFBetter (AI Generated Inc.)"
---

# Verify signers with an email code or an access code

> In **Invite to sign**, open a recipient and tick **Verify with an email code** (every plan) or **Require an access code** (Pro and Business). A forwarded signing link alone then won't open the document.

- Available on: Pro, Business

By default, the personal link in the invitation email is what lets a signer in. If that link could be forwarded or the inbox is shared, add a second check. Each recipient can have one of two.

| Option | How it works | Plans |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Verify with an email code** | Before opening the document, the signer selects **Email me a code** and types the 6-digit code we email them. The code works once and expires after 10 minutes. | Every plan |
| **Require an access code** | You choose a code (4 to 32 characters) and tell the signer by phone or text. It's never emailed. | Pro and Business |

1. **Open the recipient**: In **Invite to sign**, expand the recipient's row under **1 · Recipients** (**Edit details**).
2. **Choose a check**: Tick **Verify with an email code**, or tick **Require an access code** and type the code. Turning one on turns the other off.
3. **Share an access code separately**: If you set an access code, send it to the signer by phone or text message before they open the link.
4. **Send**: **Review and send** shows **Email code required** or **Access code required** next to each recipient.

## What the signer sees

With an email code, the signer sees **Confirm it's you**, selects **Email me a code**, and enters it under **6-digit code**. They can choose **Send a new code** after a short wait. With an access code, they see **Enter your access code** and a reminder that the sender should have shared it separately.

Both are recorded in the audit trail: code sent, code confirmed and wrong codes entered. The Certificate of Completion lists each signer's authentication as **Email link**, **Email link + one-time code** or **Email link + access code**.

> **Note:** These checks confirm control of an email inbox, or knowledge of a code you shared. PDFBetter doesn't check ID documents and doesn't send codes by SMS.

### The signer never got the code.

Ask them to [check spam](https://help.pdfbetter.com/troubleshooting/emails-not-arriving/) and wait a minute, then use **Send a new code**. If the email address is wrong, use **New link / fix email** on the request in **Sent**.

### I'm on Free and can't tick Require an access code.

Access codes are included in [Pro and Business](https://help.pdfbetter.com/account-billing/compare-plans/). **Verify with an email code** is available on Free.

### Can CC recipients get a code?

No. People who only get a copy don't open a signing page, so the options are hidden for them.

## Related articles

- [Request signatures from other people](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/request-signatures.md): Open the document and switch to Invite to sign. Add each recipient's name, email and role, choose In order or All at once, place each person's fields, then choose Send, check the title, message, reminders and expiry, and select Send.
- [What signers see, and how to sign or decline](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/what-signers-see.md): Signers open Review and sign in the email, agree to use electronic records, fill the fields in their color and select Finish (approvers select Approve). No account or app is needed. They can also choose Decline or I'd rather use paper, which closes the request.
- [The signed PDF, Certificate of Completion and audit trail](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/signed-pdf-certificate-audit-trail.md): When everyone finishes, each person gets the signed PDF and a Certificate of Completion. Both are digitally sealed and, when the time-stamping service is reachable, independently time-stamped. The signed PDF carries the signing evidence inside it, so changing one byte makes PDF readers flag the file.
- [Compare the Free, Pro and Business plans](https://help.pdfbetter.com/account-billing/compare-plans.md): Free costs nothing and has no end date. Pro is $15 a month for one person, with unlimited downloads and signature requests. Business is $24 per seat a month and adds teams, branding, bulk send, the API and the largest spreadsheet-fill allowance.
- [Signing and notification emails aren't arriving](https://help.pdfbetter.com/troubleshooting/emails-not-arriving.md): Check spam, promotions and quarantine first; PDFBetter sends from no-reply@pdfbetter.com. If a signer didn't get an invitation, open the request under Sent, check Activity, and use New link / fix email to correct the address and send a new link.

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Source: https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/verify-signers-email-code-access-code/ · PDFBetter Help Center · Last checked against the product 2026-10-18. Questions: support@pdfbetter.com