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🍏 App Store Procedure: Creating the Application and Store Listing

Guide to create and configure your iOS application for its white-label delivery by Edusign.

Written by Lucas Minarro-Rey

Introduction

This procedure is intended for new Edusign clients who wish to publish their mobile application as a white label on the Apple App Store. It should only be carried out once. It includes:

  • Apple's official requirements

  • The detailed mobile procedure

  • Essential complements: GDPR compliance, App Store Connect, Taxation and legal distinctions

⚠️ Apple regularly updates the aesthetics and navigation of its developer console. Some steps or titles may vary slightly according to versions. If a step seems missing or inconsistent, consult Apple's developer documentation and contact us via chat.

1. Creating a developer account for a legal person

A. Prerequisites before starting

Legal identity

  • You must be a recognized legal entity (active SIREN/SIRET)

  • You must have the legal authority to represent the organization:

    • Owner, manager, senior executive or any officially mandated person

Information to provide

  • Legal name of your entity (no trade name, subsidiary, or 'DBA')

  • Active D‑U‑N‑S® number (assigned by Dun & Bradstreet – See procedure to obtain it)

  • Head office address and phone number

  • Public website linked to your domain (example: www.votreetablissement.fr)

  • Professional email address with corresponding domain name

Apple Account

  • Create an Apple account (if necessary) via appleid.apple.com

  • Activate two-factor authentication (2FA)

  • Ensure account information (name, phone, address) is up-to-date

B. Enrolling via the Apple Developer app

This procedure is recommended by Apple for smoother verification. It requires either an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Detailed registration steps:

  1. Download the Apple Developer app on the chosen device

  2. Login with the created and configured Apple account

  3. Go to the Account tab

  4. Accept the Apple Developer agreement

  5. Click on Enroll Now

  6. Read the program benefits, then click on Continue

  7. Enter account holder information:

    • First and last legal name (no pseudonyms)

    • Phone number

    • Photo of an ID document (passport or license)

  8. Enter organization information:

    • Entity type

    • Legal entity name

    • D‑U‑N‑S® number

    • Head office address and phone number

    • Website

    • Confirmation of signing authority + HR contact details if requested

  9. Submit the registration → Apple verifies the data (1 to 3 business days)

  10. You will receive an email inviting you to finalize the membership

B Bis. Enrollment via the Apple Developer website

This method requires only a browser if you do not have a compatible Apple device.

  1. Go to developer.apple.com/programs/enroll

  2. Login with your Apple ID with 2FA

  3. Click on Start your Enrollment

  4. Follow the same steps as the app enrollment

  5. Proceed to the credit card payment for your App Store Connect subscription

C. Payment and validation

  1. Return to the Apple Developer app or site

  2. Login with the same Apple account

  3. Click on Continue your enrollment

  4. Accept the general terms

  5. Proceed with the annual payment of 99 USD/year (credit card only – Apple Gift Card not accepted)

  6. A receipt is sent to your email. The subscription is automatically renewed, unless canceled

D. Additional obligations after account creation

Once the account is activated, you will have access to App Store Connect, the application management interface. Here's what you'll need to do:

Acceptance of agreements

  • "Paid Apps Agreement" if you plan to sell apps or in-app purchases

Tax & Banking

  • Report your tax status (W-9 or W-8BEN form)

  • Add a bank account (IBAN + SWIFT) in the organization's name

Legal app metadata

  • Add a privacy policy (mandatory link)

  • Add a support contact

  • Declare all personal data collected via the App Privacy form

E. Creating a notification key

1. Go to the configuration area

  • Sign in to your Apple Developer portal.

  • Go to the Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles section, then click on the Keys tab in the left-hand menu.

  • Click the blue "Create a key" button (or the "+" button at the top next to "Keys").

Creating a new application Save the new key

  • In the " Key Name" field, give your key a clear name (for example: Edusign Notification).

  • In the list of services below, check the box next to " Apple Push Notifications service (APNs)."

  • Next, click the " Configure " button to the right of the APNs row.

3. Configure the key settings.

On the configuration screen, select the following options:

  • Environment: Select Sandbox & Production (recommended to cover all use cases).

  • Key Restriction: Select " Team Scoped (All Topics)."

  • Click " Save " in the upper-right corner, then confirm by clicking " Continue " and finally " Register."

4. Download and send the key

  • Once the key has been created, download it immediately (the file will be in .p8 format).

⚠️ Important: Apple only allows you to download this file once. Keep it safe.

  • Next, send this .p8 file, along with your Key ID (displayed on the screen) and your Team ID (visible in the upper-right corner of your portal), to your dedicated contact at Edusign.
    ​

Apple compliance: what you need to follow

📄 App Privacy

  • Declare all collected data, including via third-party SDKs

  • Publish a readable privacy policy with accessible URL

  • If you use sensitive APIs (e.g., camera, microphone, geolocation), you must justify their use (Privacy Manifest) 🕵️ App Tracking Transparency (ATT)

If you collect IDFA (advertising or tracking), you must request explicit user consent through ATT

  • Design

Follow the Human Interface Guidelines from Apple for iOS apps

  • Specific points of vigilance

Cases

Specificity of Apple

Universities / Public institutions

Eligible for a fee waiver request

Personal account vs. Organization

The seller name displayed on the App Store will be the account name (either "Jean Dupont" or "Université ABC")

Multiple entities attached to the same SIREN

Require separate developer accounts if legal ownership differs

No official web domain

Likely registration or publication rejection

Missing or incorrect DUNS

Registration block or verification rejection

2.

🛑 Crucial step: Don't build the app yourself

Once your Apple Developer account has been approved by Apple, do not attempt to create the app or the Bundle ID in your App Store Connect dashboard.

The technical configuration (certificates, credentials, provisioning profiles) is complex and must match the settings of our application engine exactly in order to work.

What you need to do:

  1. Simply invite the technical email address provided by your Edusign account manager as an Admin on your Apple account.

  2. Please let us know when access is available.

Our team will then take care of:

  • Create the app in your account.

  • Configure the Bundle ID and security certificates.

  • Fill out the Store form (Description, images) with the information you provide us.

  • Submit the app for Apple approval.

2. Add an Edusign User on Apple Connect

Access to App Store Connect will allow Edusign to publish versions via the TestFlight application and to publish the final application on the App Store to make it available to users.

Access to Developer (linked to App Store Connect access) will allow management of certificates and provisioning profiles necessary for the functionality and publication of the application.

Create a new application on App Store Connect Create App Store Connect Access

  • Go to your App Store Connect account in the Users and Access section.

  • Click the (+) button next to Users to add an App Store Connect user.

  • Provide the following information

  • In the role list, select:

    • App Manager (App Manager)

    • Sales

  • In the list of Additional Resources, check:

    • Access to reports

    • Access to certificates, identifiers, and profiles

      • Access to the "Cloud Managed Distribution" certificate

Visual configuration and metadata Generating a Team API Key and Assigning a Role

Team API keys provide access to App Store Connect APIs and thus manage signing certificates and app deployment.

Prerequisites

An Administrator account in App Store Connect is required to generate team API keys.

Generation Steps

  1. Log in to App Store Connect

  2. Go to Users and Access > Integrations tab > App Store Connect API

  3. Click Generate an API Key

  4. Name the key (internal name only)

  5. Select the App Manager role

  6. Click Generate then download the private key

Then transmit it to your Edusign contact:

  • API Key ID (e.g.: 2F7HJ34KAB)

  • Issuer ID (e.g.: e6d7c12d-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx)

  • Private Key (.p8)

Summary of the information to be provided to your Edusign contact:

  • API Key ID (e.g.: 2F7HJ34KAB)

  • Team ID

  • Apple Team Name (which can be found along with the Team ID in the Account tab on the Apple Developer website)

  • Issuer ID (e.g.: e6d7c12d-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx)

  • Private Key (.p8)

  • The notification key (.p8) and its Key ID

📥 Useful Links

✅ Need Help?

If you need:

  • support:

    • in account creation

    • following a procedure blockage

  • a privacy policy template

Feel free to contact our team or refer to your IT / legal department with this guide.

💡 What's Next?

Your application is now ready to be integrated and published by the Edusign teams. For any questions, contact us through your main contact or support.

📌 Tip: In case of blockage or doubt, come back to this guide or ask for a check by our support team.

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