How do I onboard a client as a partner?

Partners onboard clients through the Partner Console by creating a client workspace or sharing a partner signup link. Client onboarding includes account activation, billing selection, consultant access checks, document review, and a handover to the client administrator.

Key takeaways

• The client administrator owns the client workspace.
• The partner can create a workspace or let the client register through the partner signup link.
• The client must activate the account before the public disclosure portal opens.
• The partner must check the client name before each change or document dispatch.
• Uploaded documents require review in the client workspace after dispatch.

Last updated 5 October 2026.

Partner manuals · Manual 1 · Client onboarding

Before you start

Use an ADMIN account for the company that owns the partner account. Confirm that the CVD Portal team has enabled the partner account.

Prepare the following information with the client.

• The client company name.
• The work email of the person who will own the client workspace.
• The agreed billing mode and plan.
• The products covered by the work.
• The documents that the client has approved for upload.
• The person who will review the product information and evidence.

Use the client's work email for the client administrator. The email domain determines the disclosure portal address. Check the email before you create the workspace.

Screenshots use test data captured on 4 and 5 October 2026. Follow the control names in the steps. Click a screenshot to open the full image.

Step 1. Open the client list

1. Sign in to your partner account.
2. Open the Partner Console.
3. Click Clients in the top menu.
4. Check the partner name in the header.

The client list shows the plan, billing mode, readiness, and workspace controls for each linked client.

Figure 1. Use the top menu to open Clients. Use the Workspace column to enter a client workspace.

If the console sends you to your dashboard, check that you use an ADMIN account for the partner company. Ask CVD Portal support to check partner setup if the account is correct.

Step 2. Select the account creation method

Select one method for each new client.

Method	Use when	Partner action	Client action
Create a client workspace	You have the approved company name and administrator email.	Enter the client details in the console.	Set a password through the activation email.
Partner signup link	The client wants to create the account.	Copy the link from the console.	Open the link and complete registration.

For a client with an existing account, ask the client to sign in. Ask CVD Portal support to check the partner link if the workspace is missing from your client list.

Method A. Create a client workspace

1. Find Create a client workspace below the client list.
2. Enter the approved name in Client company name.
3. Enter the client's administrator email in Founder work email.
4. Check both fields with the client.
5. Click Create client workspace.
6. Wait for the workspace creation message.
7. Find the new client in the client list.

Figure 2. Enter the client details in the creation form. The values shown are test data.

The system creates a client workspace and an ADMIN account for the client. The system sends an activation email to the address you entered. The new workspace uses the billing default set for your partner account. Check the billing mode in Step 4.

If the email already has an account, the system rejects creation. Follow the existing account procedure above. Use a work email if the system rejects a public email provider.

Method B. Share the partner signup link

1. Find Your signup link below the client list.
2. Select the full link.
3. Copy the link.
4. Give the link to the client administrator.
5. Ask the client to open the link.
6. Ask the client to check the partner name on the signup page.
7. Ask the client to click Create your account.
8. Ask the client to complete registration and any email verification step.
9. Open Clients to check that the client workspace appears.

Figure 3. Copy the link from your own console. The link in the screenshot belongs to the test partner.

Use the full partner link for registration. The partner signup page connects the new client account to your partner account. If the client uses the general registration page, check the partner link with support before you create another account.

Step 3. Check client activation

For a workspace created through Method A, ask the client administrator to open the activation email and set a password. Ask the administrator to sign in to the client workspace.

The client row shows Activation pending until activation is complete. The public disclosure portal stays closed during that period. You can use Work in to prepare the workspace while activation is pending.

If the email is missing or the link has expired, use the following steps.

1. Ask the client to check the spam folder.
2. Open Clients.
3. Find the correct client row.
4. Click Resend activation email.
5. Wait for the sent message.
6. Ask the client to use the most recent email.
7. Reload Clients after the client sets a password.
8. Check that Activation pending has cleared.

Each activation link is valid for 7 days. A resend cancels the earlier link. The system permits 3 resends per client per hour.

The resend control is available while the client workspace is unverified and the administrator has no password. If the administrator already has a password, ask the administrator to sign in or use the password reset option on the sign-in page.

Step 4. Set the billing mode and plan

Agree the billing mode before you assign a paid plan. Find the correct client row in Clients.

Billing mode	Who pays CVD Portal	Who selects a paid plan
Client direct	The client.	The client administrator uses the client billing page.
Partner invoiced	The partner.	The partner selects the client tier in the console.

1. Open the selector in the Billing column.
2. Select the agreed billing mode.
3. Wait for the change to complete.
4. Check for an error below the selector.
5. For Partner invoiced, select the agreed Client tier.
6. Check the plan shown in the client row.

The tier selector offers Free, Reporting, and Compliance. Partner invoicing and paid tier assignment require configured wholesale pricing. Contact CVD Portal support if the system reports that wholesale pricing is unavailable.

For Client direct, ask the client administrator to select the agreed plan from the client billing page. A partner seat cannot manage client billing.

Changing from Partner invoiced to Client direct can return the client to Free when the client has no active subscription. Check the plan after any billing change. If the system reports that billing or a plan was saved but the wholesale update failed, reload the client list and contact support with the message.

Step 5. Check your access to the client workspace

Select the control that matches the task.

Control	Access	Use
Work in	A partner seat with write access.	Prepare products and client evidence.
Look	Read-only access for 30 minutes.	Check client information.

1. Click Work in in the correct client row.
2. Find the Partner seat banner.
3. Check the client name in the banner.
4. Check your signed-in identity.

Figure 4. Check the client name and signed-in identity before you make a change.

The client audit log records your changes under your name. The client can revoke your seat. A partner seat cannot change client billing, delete the client account, or change the client's partner access settings.

If the client name is wrong, click Return to your own workspace. Select the correct client before you continue.

If the console shows Access disabled by client, ask the client administrator to review Settings and Partner Access. Resume work after the client authorizes access.

Step 6. Add client documents when required

Use Bulk intake when the client has documents ready for review. Complete account creation and billing checks before you dispatch documents to the client.

1. Click Return to your own workspace if a partner seat is active.
2. Click Bulk intake in the Partner Console.
3. Click the file selection control under Step 1.
4. Select the approved client documents.
5. Wait for upload and document reading to complete.

Figure 5. Upload documents in Step 1. Review the suggested destinations in Step 2.

A batch accepts up to 20 files. The upload service accepts PDF, supported image files, and text files up to 15 MB each. The current screen text and the screenshot still state 5 MB. Use files of 5 MB or less when possible to avoid confusion.

Review each group before dispatch.

1. Find the group under Step 2.
2. Select the correct client in Client.
3. Select the correct existing product in Product.
4. If a new product is required, select the new product option.
5. Enter the approved name in New product name when required.
6. Check every file name in the group.
7. Use the file's move selector if the file belongs to another group.
8. Click Remove for a file that must stay out of the batch.
9. Click Dispatch group after you confirm the destination.
10. Check the result under Filed this session.
11. Click Open workspace for the filed group.
12. Check the client banner again.
13. Review and confirm the draft evidence in the client product.

Selecting a client resets the product selection to a new product. Select the existing product again if required. A high confidence label still requires your review.

Dispatch requires access to technical documentation, such as an active Compliance plan or trial. The system shows a plan error if access is unavailable. Set the agreed plan through the correct billing mode before you retry.

Documents remain in the partner batch until dispatch. Dispatch places documents in the client workspace as draft evidence. Confirm the evidence after review before you use the evidence in the client's technical file.

For the first client, use Dispatch group for each checked group. Use the batch dispatch control only after you have checked all ready groups. If the result reports failed files, check which files were filed before you retry.

Step 7. Set partner notifications

Set notification preferences once for your partner account. The preferences apply across your clients.

1. Return to the Partner Console.
2. Click Notifications.
3. Check the button beside each notification.
4. Click Off to enable a required notification.
5. Check that the button shows On.

Figure 6. The button shows the current notification setting.

Keep export request and document intake notifications enabled when your team handles those tasks. Use the daily digest to plan work across clients. Notification emails go to partner company administrators. Email links require sign-in.

Common problems and corrective actions

Problem	Corrective action
The client email already has an account.	Ask the client to sign in. Ask support to check the partner link.
The client uses a public email provider.	Get the approved client work email.
Creation succeeds but no activation email arrives.	Check the spam folder. Use Resend activation email in the client row.
An old activation link fails.	Ask the client to use the most recent email.
The public portal is closed.	Check whether the client row shows Activation pending. Complete activation.
Partner invoicing or tier assignment fails.	Ask support to check wholesale pricing.
Work in fails or access is disabled.	Ask the client administrator to check Partner Access.
Changes are unavailable after you click Look.	Return to Clients. Use Work in for approved changes.
A document points to the wrong client or product.	Correct the destination before dispatch. Check the product again after changing the client.
Dispatch reports a plan error.	Check technical documentation access and the agreed client plan.
Dispatch reports some failed files.	Review Filed this session. Identify the failed files before you retry.

Contact CVD Portal support with the screen name and error message if the corrective action fails. Include the affected client workspace name in the private support request. Keep passwords, activation links, and client documents out of the request.

Recommended practices

• Record the approved client administrator email before account creation.
• Agree billing, product scope, and review responsibilities before work starts.
• Use one active client workspace at a time.
• Check the client banner before each change.
• Check the client and product before each document dispatch.
• Use file names that identify the client, product, and document version.
• Ask the client to confirm product information and evidence decisions.
• Record open tasks and the person responsible for each task at handover.

Client handover checklist

Complete the following checks before you close onboarding.

• The client workspace appears under the correct partner account.
• The client administrator has activated the account.
• The client administrator can sign in.
• The billing mode matches the agreement.
• The client plan matches the agreed work.
• The partner has tested Work in and checked the client banner.
• The client knows that changes appear in the audit log.
• The client knows how to revoke partner access in Settings.
• Uploaded documents are in the correct client and product, when applicable.
• Draft evidence has a named reviewer, when applicable.
• The client and partner have agreed the next task and its owner.

After onboarding, follow the partner product compliance manual. The full product procedure is Taking a Product Through CRA Compliance.

Short walkthrough

The existing silent video shows the client list, signup link, and Bulk intake screen. Use the steps above for activation, billing, and handover.

Silent walkthrough. Follow the numbered steps above for the full procedure.

Related guides

• Partner manuals.
• Partner program.
• Onboarding a Client and Running Their CRA Compliance.
• Setting up your workspace.