PVPO issues Certificates of Protection for new varieties of plants that are seed reproduced or tuber propagated. A Certificate of Protection is awarded to the owner of a Variety after an examination determines that it is new, distinct from other varieties, and genetically uniform and stable through successive generations and provided that the legal aspects associated with the creation and marketing (if desired by the applicant/customer) are valid.

The owner of a Variety submits an application describing the characteristics of the variety. The application contains confidential and sensitive information, such as descriptive characteristics of the new Variety or other similar varieties. A complete application includes technical information and fees.