> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nativeline.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Apple Developer Account

> Enroll in the Apple Developer Program

# Apple Developer Account

To distribute your app beyond your own device, you need an Apple Developer Program membership. Here's everything you need to know.

## Why You Need It

| Capability              | Free Apple ID   | Developer Account |
| ----------------------- | --------------- | ----------------- |
| Run on your iPhone      | ✓ (7-day limit) | ✓ (1 year)        |
| TestFlight distribution | ✗               | ✓                 |
| App Store distribution  | ✗               | ✓                 |
| Push notifications      | ✗               | ✓                 |
| Sign in with Apple      | ✗               | ✓                 |
| App Groups              | ✗               | ✓                 |

***

## Cost

**\$99 per year** (USD)

* Charged annually
* Can be cancelled anytime
* Price varies by country

<Note>
  The fee is per developer account, not per app. You can publish unlimited apps with one account.
</Note>

***

## Account Types

### Individual

**Best for:** Solo developers, personal projects

* Uses your personal name
* You appear as the seller on App Store
* Easier approval process

### Organization

**Best for:** Companies, teams, businesses

* Uses company/organization name
* Requires D-U-N-S number (free to obtain)
* Can add team members with different roles
* Longer approval process

***

## Enrollment Requirements

### For Individuals

* Apple ID with two-factor authentication
* Valid credit card
* Government-issued ID (for verification)
* 18 years or older

### For Organizations

* Everything above, plus:
* D-U-N-S number (takes 1-2 weeks to obtain)
* Legal entity information
* Authority to bind the organization

***

## How to Enroll

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign in to Apple ID">
    Go to [developer.apple.com](https://developer.apple.com) and sign in with your Apple ID
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start enrollment">
    Click "Account" then "Join the Apple Developer Program"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose account type">
    Select Individual or Organization
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify identity">
    Apple will verify your identity (may require ID upload or phone call)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pay the fee">
    Complete payment of \$99 (or local equivalent)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for activation">
    Usually 24-48 hours, sometimes faster
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Identity Verification

Apple verifies all developers to prevent fraud. This process varies:

### Automatic Verification

If your Apple ID has payment history and matches your ID, verification may be instant.

### Manual Verification

You may be asked to:

* Upload a photo of government-issued ID
* Take a selfie for comparison
* Have a phone or video call with Apple

<Tip>
  Use the same name on your Apple ID that appears on your government ID to speed up verification.
</Tip>

***

## D-U-N-S Number (Organizations Only)

A D-U-N-S number is a unique nine-digit identifier for businesses issued by Dun & Bradstreet.

### Checking for Existing Number

Many businesses already have one. Check at [dnb.com](https://www.dnb.com/duns-number.html)

### Requesting a New Number

1. Go to [Apple's D-U-N-S lookup](https://developer.apple.com/enroll/duns-lookup/)
2. Search for your organization
3. If not found, request a free D-U-N-S number
4. Takes 1-2 weeks to process

***

## After Enrollment

Once approved, you can:

### Access Developer Resources

* App Store Connect (manage apps)
* Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles
* Developer documentation
* Technical support incidents (2/year)

### Start Distributing

* Upload builds to TestFlight
* Submit apps to App Store
* Configure push notifications
* Use advanced capabilities

***

## Managing Your Account

### Renewal

* Apple sends reminders before expiration
* Auto-renewal available
* If expired, your apps remain on App Store but you can't submit updates

### Adding Team Members

Organizations can add team members with roles:

| Role        | Capabilities                    |
| ----------- | ------------------------------- |
| Admin       | Full access, manage team        |
| App Manager | Manage apps, TestFlight         |
| Developer   | Upload builds, access dev tools |
| Marketing   | App Store listing, analytics    |
| Finance     | Financial reports, agreements   |

***

## Common Issues

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Enrollment stuck in review" icon="hourglass">
    This can take up to 2 weeks for organizations. Ensure all documents are clear and information matches exactly.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Identity verification failing" icon="id-card">
    Make sure your Apple ID name exactly matches your government ID. Contact Apple Developer support if issues persist.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="D-U-N-S number not found" icon="building">
    Request a new one through Apple's portal. It's free but takes 1-2 weeks.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Wrong account type" icon="arrow-right-arrow-left">
    You cannot convert between Individual and Organization. You'd need to create a new account.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Enterprise Program

For large companies distributing internally only (not on App Store):

* **Apple Developer Enterprise Program**
* \$299/year
* Distribute to employees only
* Not for public apps

<Warning>
  Enterprise Program is strictly for internal distribution. Apple actively terminates accounts that misuse it for public distribution.
</Warning>

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Certificates & Profiles" icon="certificate" href="/publishing/certificates-profiles">
    Set up code signing
  </Card>

  <Card title="TestFlight" icon="paper-plane" href="/publishing/testflight/overview">
    Start beta testing
  </Card>
</CardGroup>