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24 October 2026 · Updated at 07:47 GMT FR EN ES Member area Log in
Certification

By QR code

Scan the QR code of a certificate with a phone to check its authenticity in a few seconds.

Updated : October 28, 2026· 3 min read

Point, scan, verify

Fish or Seal Club (X’ús’) (late 1800s–early 1900s)
Fish or Seal Club (X’ús’) (late 1800s–early 1900s)

Every OIMAP certificate carries a QR code. By scanning it with a phone, you go directly to the document's verification page, without typing anything. It is the most used method: 56% of the checks in 2024.

The QR code encodes an address leading to the official service and the document number. It contains no personal data.

This page describes the gesture, the expected result and the precautions to take to avoid landing on a fake code.

  • Smartphone
  • Official address
  • Precautions

The QR code in figures

56%of checks
< 5 sfor a result
0personal data encoded
3security levels of the document

Scanning a certificate

  1. Open the camera

    No particular app is needed on a recent phone.

  2. Aim at the code

    Frame the code, well lit, at about 15 centimetres.

  3. Check the address

    It must begin with the official address of the OIMAP site.

  4. Read the result

    Status, description of the work, any alerts.

  5. Compare

    Compare the description with the work and the certificate.

Check the displayed address

TLV Mirror with Multiple Nipples (9–23 CE)
TLV Mirror with Multiple Nipples (9–23 CE)
The Judgment of Midas, Nicolaes Clock (1589)
The Judgment of Midas, Nicolaes Clock (1589)
Prayer Niche (Mihrab) (c. 1500s or mid-1900s)
Prayer Niche (Mihrab) (c. 1500s or mid-1900s)

The three security levels of a certificate

Defence in depth
LevelDeviceHow to check it
1. RegistryNumber and statusBy QR code or by number
2. DocumentSeal and security paperUnder raking light and by touch
3. DigitalFingerprint entered in the RegistryThrough digital verification

QR code or entering the number

Document Box (Ryōshibako) with Chrysanthemum and Plum (lid) (late 1800s-early 1900s)

QR code

Fast
  • No typing
  • Immediate result
  • Depends on print quality

Preferred for the paper document.

Mirror with Concentric Circles, an Immortal, and Auspicious Animals (25–100 CE)

Entering the number

Reliable
  • Usable without a camera
  • No risk of a fake code
  • Slower

Preferred at a distance.

Devices used for scanning in 2024

Smartphone88%
Counter reader8%
Tablet4%

Source: statistics of the verification service.

Case study: a customs check

A licence and a passport

Situation

A customs officer scans the QR code of an export licence.

Actions
  1. The result confirms the licence, the work and its validity.
  2. The officer compares the description with the opened crate.
  3. No alert is reported.
Outcome

The check takes two minutes and the transport continues on its way.

Evolution of the code

  1. First code

    Encoding of an address and a number.

  2. Signature

    Addition of a signature of the address.

  3. Integrity check

    Alert if the code is altered.

  4. Offline mode

    Reading basic information without a connection.

Good scanning practices

Taj Mahal, Back View of the Rest-House, with Figure, Dr. John Murray (c. 1858–1862)
Taj Mahal, Back View of the Rest-House, with Figure, Dr. John Murray (c. 1858–1862)
Historiated Initial (O) Excised from an Antiphonary: The Donor, Gorus Fucci, Kneels before Christ (c. 1300–1350)
Historiated Initial (O) Excised from an Antiphonary: The Donor, Gorus Fucci, Kneels before Christ (c. 1300–1350)
Teapot with Landscape and Imperial Poem, Chen Hanwen (1762–95)
Teapot with Landscape and Imperial Poem, Chen Hanwen (1762–95)

If the scan fails

A damaged, too small or poorly printed QR code may not be read. In that case, use the number printed under the code and go to verification by number.

If the code seems to have been covered or replaced by a sticker, treat the document as doubtful and report it: tampering with a QR code is a frequent sign of forgery.

A simple precaution

Jar with Design in Underglaze Iron (1800s–1900s)
« A QR code is a door. Look where it leads before going in. »
Certification Department, OIMAP

Vocabulary of the QR code

QR code
Two-dimensional barcode.
Encoding
Transformation of information into a machine-readable pattern.
Signature
Cryptographic guarantee that the code has not been modified.
Offline
Operation without an Internet connection.

Frequently asked questions

Is an app needed?

No, the camera of a recent phone is enough.

Is the code unique?

Yes, each certificate has its own code.

What if the code leads to another address?

Do not proceed and report the document.

Does the code work without a connection?

Basic information is readable offline; validity requires a connection.

Contacts

The Old Market, Cleveland, Frank Wilcox (1920)
The Old Market, Cleveland, Frank Wilcox (1920)
Certification DepartmentParis — Headquarters+33 1 00 00 00 00certification@oimap.exampleMonday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Report a fake

Mirror with Concentric Circles, an Immortal, and Auspicious Animals (100 BCE–100 CE)

Does a code or a document look doubtful to you?

Report a fake
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