# Greenhouse security code: why you get one and what to do

> Greenhouse asked for a security code? Find the email, enter the code and submit again. Why it is sent, where it lands and what to do when it fails.

- Canonical URL: https://jobbie.bot/blog/greenhouse-security-code
- Topic: [Applicant tracking systems](https://jobbie.bot/guides/applicant-tracking-systems)
- Published by [Jobbie](https://jobbie.bot/) · Updated 2026-10-06 · 7 min read

If a Greenhouse application asks for a security code, open the inbox of the email address you typed on the form, copy the code from the message Greenhouse just sent, enter it on the application and submit again. The code is single-use and time-limited, so use it straight away and keep the application tab open while you fetch it.

Greenhouse emails the code to confirm that a real person is applying with that email address. It is a routine step, not a sign that something is wrong with your application.

## Key takeaways

- The code goes to the email address you entered on the form. Check that address first, then the spam or junk folder.
- Codes are single-use and time-limited. If you asked for more than one, use the newest and ignore the others.
- An “invalid” message means the code is old, already used or mistyped. Request a fresh code and enter it promptly.
- If no code ever arrives, contact the company you are applying to. That is Greenhouse’s own advice.
- Not every Greenhouse application asks for a code. When one does, treat it as a normal step and finish it while the form is still open.

## How do you enter a Greenhouse security code?

1. **Leave the application open.** Open your email in another tab, another browser or on your phone, so the form and your answers stay where they are.
2. **Find the newest message.** Look in the inbox of the address you typed on the form and search for “security code.” Check spam and junk if it is not there.
3. **Copy the code exactly.** Select only the code, with no space before or after it.
4. **Paste it into the security code field** on the application.
5. **Submit the application again** and wait until the page confirms it has been received.
6. **If the form rejects the code,** request a new one and use it as soon as it arrives.

Greenhouse describes the same routine for its sign-in codes: open the email in another browser, copy the code, switch back and add it.

## Why does Greenhouse send a security code?

To confirm that you are a real person and that the email address on the form is yours. Greenhouse uses emailed codes in other places for the same purpose. Its candidate portal has no passwords and signs people in with a single-use code, and it asks for a one-time code before you change how one of your applications is reviewed.

For you, three things follow:

- Some applications ask for a code and others do not. You cannot tell in advance, so keep your inbox within reach whenever you apply.
- There is nothing to set up or switch off on your side. When the form asks, entering the code is the way through.
- The code is not a judgment of your application. How applications are reviewed is covered in the guide to [how applicant tracking systems work](https://jobbie.bot/blog/what-is-an-ats).

## Which emails with codes does Greenhouse send?

A code email from Greenhouse is not always about an application you just submitted. There are three situations.

| When it arrives | What it is for | Where you enter it |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Right after you press submit on an application | Confirming that a real person is applying with that email address | The security code field on that application |
| When you sign in to MyGreenhouse, or use autofill for the first time | Password-free sign-in to the candidate portal | The MyGreenhouse sign-in screen |
| When you change your AI match score setting on a job post | Confirming the email you applied with, or will apply with | The settings page reached from the “Learn more” link |

If a code arrives and you did not just apply, sign in or change a setting, ignore it. Never read a code out to someone who contacts you, however official they sound. The guide to [job scams](https://jobbie.bot/blog/job-search-scams) covers the other warning signs.

## What if the code does not arrive?

Work through these in order. They follow Greenhouse’s own candidate FAQ.

1. **Check the address you typed.** A single wrong letter sends the code to someone else’s inbox. If the form still shows your email, correct it and submit again.
2. **Check spam and junk.** Automated messages often land there, and in tabs such as Promotions.
3. **Wait a few minutes, then request a new code.** For MyGreenhouse sign-in, Greenhouse says you can request a new code after 10 minutes.
4. **Use only the latest code.** If you requested several, only the most recent one works.
5. **Try a personal address.** Work and school mail systems sometimes hold automated messages before delivering them.
6. **Contact the company.** If you still cannot receive a code after retrying, Greenhouse’s advice is to contact the company directly for next steps on that application.

```Email to the employer when the code never arrives
Subject: Unable to submit application for [job title]: security code not received

Hi [recruiting team or recruiter name],

I am trying to apply for the [job title] role ([job ID, if shown]) on your careers page. The form asks for a security code, but no code has reached [your email address] after several attempts, and I have checked my spam folder.

Could you tell me another way to submit my application, or accept the attached resume directly? I am happy to answer the application questions by email.

Thank you,
[Your name]
[Phone number]
```

Send it to a recruiting contact you found on the company’s own site. If you need help wording a short note like this, see [how to message a recruiter](https://jobbie.bot/blog/how-to-message-a-recruiter).

## What if the code is rejected or has expired?

Greenhouse states that its security codes are single-use and time-limited, and that an invalid code should be replaced with a fresh one and entered promptly. Its help pages do not say how long a code stays valid, so do not plan around a number.

| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The code is called invalid | It was copied with a space, or a character was mistyped | Paste it again, selecting only the code |
| The code worked once and now fails | Codes are single-use | Request a new code |
| An older email’s code fails | Only the most recent code works | Use the newest message and delete the rest |
| The code fails after a break | Codes are time-limited | Request a new code and enter it immediately |
| No field to enter a code | The page was reloaded or the tab closed | Fill in the form and submit again; if it asks for a code, use the new one |

Once the code is accepted, the application goes through. A confirmation email may or may not follow, because Greenhouse lets each employer decide whether to send one, so a quiet inbox does not mean the code failed. The rest of the process is the ordinary one described in the [Greenhouse job application guide](https://jobbie.bot/blog/greenhouse-job-application).

> **With Jobbie:** Private Email gives you a dedicated address for your applications. Jobbie handles the verification emails sent to it and forwards employer replies to you. [See how Private Email works](https://jobbie.bot/features/private-email).

## Frequently asked questions

### Why did I get a Greenhouse security code?

Greenhouse emails a code to confirm that a real person is applying and that the email address on the form is yours. It appears on some applications, after you press submit. Enter the code from the email and submit again. The code says nothing about how your application will be judged.

### How long does a Greenhouse security code last?

Greenhouse says its security codes are single-use and time-limited, but its help pages do not give the time limit. Enter the code as soon as the email arrives. If it is refused, request a fresh code and use that one promptly.

### Where does the Greenhouse security code go?

To the email address you typed on the application form. If it is not in the inbox, check spam and junk, confirm you typed the address correctly, and request another code. Only the most recent code works.

### Can I skip the Greenhouse security code?

No. When the form asks for a code, the application is not accepted until you enter it. If you cannot receive a code at all, contact the company and ask for another way to apply.

### Does every Greenhouse application need a security code?

No. Greenhouse asks for a code on some applications and not on others, and you cannot tell beforehand which it will be. Keep your email open while you apply, so that you can enter a code straight away if the form asks for one.

## Sources

- [Greenhouse Support: MyGreenhouse FAQ for Candidates](https://support.greenhouse.io/hc/en-us/articles/43418495049499-MyGreenhouse-FAQ-for-Candidates): single-use and time-limited codes, requesting a new one, the most recent code rule, the code for the review setting and when to contact the company about an application.
- [Greenhouse Support: MyGreenhouse Quick Apply](https://support.greenhouse.io/hc/en-us/articles/35746094035099-MyGreenhouse-Quick-Apply): password-free sign-in with an emailed code when candidates use autofill.
- [Greenhouse Support: I applied to a job post, but I didn’t receive confirmation](https://support.greenhouse.io/hc/en-us/articles/115004681926-I-applied-to-a-job-post-but-I-didn-t-receive-confirmation): confirmation emails after applying are optional for employers.