The Passmint test certificate
Updated September 15, 2026
Every Apple Wallet pass must be signed. So that you can start without any setup, Passmint provides a built-in certificate that signs passes in test mode.
When it's used
- Always in test mode. Test passes are signed with Passmint's certificate so you can build and try the full flow, including installing on a real iPhone and pushing updates, before arranging your own. These passes carry a [TEST] watermark on the organization name.
- Never in live mode. A live pass must be signed with a certificate your organization owns. If a template has no certificate connected, live issuance for Apple Wallet is skipped and the response tells you to connect one.
Why it can't sign live passes
Apple's developer terms require each pass to be signed under the Pass Type ID of the brand issuing it, and forbid using a Pass Type ID to sign a third party's passes. Passes signed with Passmint's certificate would be signed under Passmint's Apple identity rather than yours, which is fine for a watermarked test pass and not allowed for a commercial one. See do I need an Apple Developer account?
Moving from the test certificate to your own doesn't require redesigning your templates. The certificate is connected at the account level, so your passes keep their look.