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Peppol Electronic Address Scheme Identifiers (ICD Codes)

PEPPOL requires the use of scheme Identifiers ( ICD Codes ), this can get complicated about what identifier should be used.

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Written by David Fannar Gunnarsson
Updated over 2 months ago

Scheme formats

Understanding GLN (Global Location Number) - The Universal Option

Code: 0088 - EAN Location Code

The GLN (Global Location Number) is often the easiest and most universal choice for Peppol addressing:

  • What it is: A globally unique 13-digit identifier issued by GS1 organizations worldwide

  • Why use it:

    • Works across all countries

    • No geographic restrictions

    • Widely recognized in supply chain and e-commerce

    • Can identify both companies and specific locations/departments

  • When to use it:

    • When trading internationally across multiple countries

    • When you need to identify specific delivery locations or departments

    • When your trading partner already has a GLN

  • How to get one: Contact your national GS1 organization (e.g., GS1 Iceland, GS1 Sweden)

🇮🇸 Iceland - Íslensk kennitala

Code: 0196 - Icelandic identifier

What it is: The Icelandic national identification number (kennitala) for both individuals and legal entities

Usage:

  • For individuals: Issued by Icelandic National Registry (www.skra.is)

  • For legal entities: Issued by Directorate of Internal Revenue (www.rsk.is)

  • Format: 10 digits (DDMMYY-XXXX)

When to use:

  • ✅ All Icelandic businesses and individuals

  • ✅ Required for domestic Icelandic invoicing

  • ✅ Both sender and receiver identification in Iceland

Example: 0196:1234567890

Nordic Countries

🇳🇴 Norway - Organisasjonsnummer

Code: 0192 - Norwegian Organization Number

What it is: Unique identifier for entities registered in the Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities

Usage:

  • Issuing agency: Brønnøysund Register Centre

  • Format: 9 digits

  • Purpose: B2B transactions, electronic invoicing

When to use:

  • ✅ All Norwegian businesses

  • ✅ Required for Norwegian Peppol participants

  • ✅ Electronic invoicing to Norwegian government

Example: 0192:123456789

🇸🇪 Sweden - Organisationsnummer

Code: 0007 - Swedish Organization Number

What it is: Swedish national organization number issued by the National Tax Board

Usage:

  • Format: 10 digits (third digit never lower than 2 to avoid confusion with personal numbers)

  • Validation: Last digit must be valid according to Luhn algorithm

  • Purpose: All official business registration

When to use:

  • ✅ All Swedish companies

  • ✅ Required for Swedish VAT-registered entities

  • ✅ Swedish government e-procurement

Example: 0007:1234567890

Note: Also see Code 0107 for Swedish Chambers of Commerce scheme

🇩🇰 Denmark - CVR Number

Code: 0184 - DIGSTORG (CVR Number)

What it is: Danish Central Business Register number for companies

Usage:

  • Issuing agency: Danish Agency for Digitisation

  • Format: 8 digits

  • Note: Can add 0-4 additional characters for subdivisions

When to use:

  • ✅ All Danish companies

  • ✅ Required for Danish Peppol invoicing

  • ✅ Mandatory for public procurement in Denmark

Example: 0184:12345678

Alternative: Code 0198 - ERSTORG (VAT-based identification for Danish companies)

🇫🇮 Finland - Business ID

Code: 0037 - LY-tunnus (Finnish Business ID)

What it is: Finnish business identifier issued by National Board of Taxes

Usage:

  • Format: 7 digits + hyphen + check digit (XXXXXXX-Y)

  • Note: Can add 0-4 characters for detailed subdivision identification

  • Purpose: All official business purposes

When to use:

  • ✅ All Finnish businesses

  • ✅ Required for Finnish e-invoicing

Example: 0037:1234567-8

Alternatives for Finland:

  • Code 0212: Finnish Organization Identifier (for e-invoicing, purchasing)

  • Code 0213: Finnish VAT Identifier (for tax purposes)

  • Code 0216: OVTcode (operator-specific e-invoicing codes)

  • Code 0215: Net service ID (Tieto Finland system)

Major European Countries

🇳🇱 Netherlands - KVK Number

Code: 0106 - Chamber of Commerce Number (KVK)

What it is: Dutch Chamber of Commerce registration number

Usage:

  • Issuing agency: Dutch Chambers of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel)

  • Format: 8 digits

  • Purpose: Business registration, mandatory for Dutch companies

When to use:

  • ✅ All Dutch businesses (required by NL-R-003 rule)

  • ✅ Mandatory for domestic Dutch B2B invoicing

  • ✅ Public procurement in Netherlands

Example: 0106:12345678

Alternative: Code 0190 - OIN (Organisatie Identificatie Nummer - used for Dutch government digital communications) Also: Code 0217 - Establishment number (for specific business locations)

🇩🇪 Germany - Various Options

Most Common: VAT Number or Tax ID

For German businesses, several options exist:

  1. Code 0204 - Leitweg-ID: Public authority identification (KoSIT)

  2. Code 0088 - GLN: Universal option via GS1 Germany

  3. EU VAT scheme identifiers

When to use:

  • Leitweg-ID: ✅ Invoicing German public sector

  • GLN: ✅ Private sector B2B transactions

  • Check with your German trading partner for their preference

🇧🇪 Belgium - Enterprise Number

Code: 0208 - Numero d'entreprise / Ondernemingsnummer

What it is: Belgian business register number (BCE/KBO)

Usage:

  • Issuing agency: Crossroads Bank for Enterprises

  • Format: 10 digits (0XXX.XXX.XXX)

  • Purpose: All entities and establishment units in Belgium

When to use:

  • ✅ All Belgian businesses

  • ✅ Required for Belgian Peppol invoicing

Example: 0208:0123456789

🇮🇹 Italy - Multiple Schemes

Code 0201 - Codice IPA (Codice Univoco Unità Organizzativa)

  • Purpose: Public administration units

  • When to use: ✅ Invoicing Italian public sector

Code 0210 - CODICE FISCALE (Tax Code)

  • Purpose: Individual and company tax identification

  • When to use: ✅ General invoicing in Italy

Code 0211 - PARTITA IVA (VAT Number)

  • Purpose: VAT-registered businesses

  • When to use: ✅ VAT-registered Italian companies

Code 0205 - CODDEST (SDI Routing)

  • Purpose: Routing electronic invoices through Italian SDI system

  • When to use: ✅ When using Italian Exchange System (Sistema di Interscambio)

🇫🇷 France - SIREN/SIRET

Code 0002 - SIRENE (SIREN/SIRET)

  • What it is: French business identification system

  • SIREN: 9 digits (company level)

  • SIRET: 14 digits (establishment level - SIREN + 5 digits)

  • Issuing agency: INSEE (French Statistics Institute)

When to use:

  • ✅ All French businesses

  • ✅ Required for French e-invoicing reform

French E-invoicing Platform Codes (for new mandatory e-invoicing):

  • Code 0224 - FRCTC CODE ROUTAGE: Platform routing codes

  • Code 0225 - FRCTC ELECTRONIC ADDRESS: Electronic addresses

  • Code 0238 - PPF/PDP: Approved e-invoicing platforms

Example: 0002:123456789 (SIREN) or 0002:12345678912345 (SIRET)

🇪🇸 Spain

Code 0088 - GLN: Recommended for Spanish businesses Alternative: Use EU VAT identification schemes

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Code 0088 - GLN: Most common for UK businesses Code 0060 - DUNS Number: Also widely used

Global & International Schemes

GS1 Identifiers (Universal)

Code 0209 - GS1 Identification Keys

What it is: Global standard for identifying trade items, locations, assets, etc.

Includes:

  • GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) - for products

  • GLN (Global Location Number) - for companies/locations (see 0088)

  • SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) - for logistics units

When to use:

  • ✅ International supply chain management

  • ✅ Retail and FMCG industries

  • ✅ When you need both company and product identification

Code 0160 - GTIN (separate scheme for trade items specifically)

Legal Entity Identifier (LEI)

Code 0199 - LEI

What it is: Global identifier for legal entities participating in financial transactions (ISO 17442 standard)

Usage:

  • Issuing agency: Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF)

  • Format: 20 alphanumeric characters

  • Purpose: Financial services, regulatory reporting

When to use:

  • ✅ Financial institutions

  • ✅ International financial transactions

  • ✅ Securities trading

  • ✅ Regulatory reporting requirements

Example: 0199:529900T8BM49AURSDO55

DUNS Number

Code 0060 - Data Universal Numbering System

What it is: Dun & Bradstreet's business identifier system

Usage:

  • Issuing agency: Dun & Bradstreet

  • Format: 9 digits

  • Coverage: Worldwide business identification

When to use:

  • ✅ International business transactions

  • ✅ Credit reporting and financial status

  • ✅ Supply chain management

  • ✅ US government contracting

Example: 0060:123456789

Other European Countries

🇦🇹 Austria

  • Code 0088 - GLN: Recommended

🇨🇭 Switzerland

Code 0183 - Swiss UID (Unique Business Identification Number)

  • All Swiss companies in official registers

Code 0169 - Swiss Federal Business ID (zefix)

  • Companies in Swiss Register of Commerce

Code 0128 - BCNR (Swiss Clearing Bank Number)

  • Banking institutions

🇵🇱 Poland

  • Code 0088 - GLN: Recommended

🇵🇹 Portugal

  • Code 0088 - GLN: Recommended

🇬🇷 Greece

  • Use Greek TIN with Code 9933 (in Peppol context per GR-R-009)

Baltic States

🇪🇪 Estonia - Code 0191: Company Code (major unique identifier)

🇱🇻 Latvia:

  • Code 0218: Unified registration number (primary)

  • Code 0219: Taxpayer registration code (tax purposes)

🇱🇹 Lithuania:

  • Code 0200: Legal entity code

Quick Decision Guide

Choose your scheme based on:

Scenario

Recommended Code

Icelandic business

0196 - Kennitala

Norwegian business

0192 - Org.nummer

Swedish business

0007 - Org.nummer

Danish business

0184 - CVR

Finnish business

0037 - Y-tunnus or 0212

Dutch business

0106 - KVK number

Belgian business

0208 - Enterprise number

Italian public sector

0201 - Codice IPA

Italian private sector

0210 or 0211

French business

0002 - SIREN/SIRET

German public sector

0204 - Leitweg-ID

International trading

0088 - GLN (universal)

Financial institutions

0199 - LEI

Global B2B

0060 - DUNS or 0088 - GLN

Best Practices

For Senders (Suppliers)

  1. Always use your national scheme if available (e.g., Icelandic kennitala, Norwegian org.nummer)

  2. Get a GLN as a backup for international customers

  3. Check buyer requirements - some may require specific schemes

For Receivers (Buyers)

  1. Communicate your preferred scheme to your suppliers

  2. Support multiple schemes if trading internationally

  3. For public sector: Use your country's mandatory scheme (e.g., Leitweg-ID in Germany, Codice IPA in Italy)

For Access Points / Service Providers

  1. Support Nordic schemes as priority: 0196, 0192, 0007, 0184, 0037

  2. Always support GLN (0088) as universal fallback

  3. Support major EU schemes: 0106 (NL), 0208 (BE), 0201/0210/0211 (IT), 0002 (FR)

  4. Add LEI (0199) and DUNS (0060) for enterprise customers

Format Examples

When using these codes in Peppol, the format is:

<SchemeID>:<IdentifierValue>

Examples:

  • Icelandic company: 0196:5101692399

  • Norwegian company: 0192:987654321

  • Swedish company: 0007:5560123456

  • Danish company: 0184:12345678

  • Finnish company: 0037:1234567-8

  • GLN: 0088:5790000436033

  • LEI: 0199:529900T8BM49AURSDO55

Additional Notes

VAT Numbers

While VAT numbers are commonly used, they typically fall under different schemes. For EU VAT, check if your Peppol access point supports EU VAT identifier schemes.

Subdivisions

Some schemes (like Finland's LY-tunnus) allow adding 0-4 characters to identify departments or subdivisions within an organization.

Multiple Identifiers

A company may have multiple identifiers:

  • National business register number

  • VAT number

  • GLN

  • LEI (if in financial sector)

  • DUNS number

Choose the most appropriate one based on your trading relationship and industry.

This guide is based on ISO 6523 ICD register as of 2024. Always verify current requirements with your Peppol access point provider and trading partners.

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