What are the company identification numbers?
Verified 12 April 2019 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The individual enterprise or contractor must request identification numbers for registration and activity reporting from its business formalities center.
Number | Object | Shape | Which authority issues it? |
|---|---|---|---|
Siren | Unique identification of each company with public bodies and administrations. | 9 digits | Insee via CFE |
Siret | Identification of each establishment of the same company with social and tax organizations. Must appear on employee pay slips. | 14 digits = 9 digits of the Siren + 5 digits specific to each establishment | Insee via CFE |
Identification of the industry of the undertaking or self-employed person. Determines the applicable collective agreement. Must appear on employee pay slips. | 4 digits + 1 letter, with reference to the French national statistical classification of activities (NAF rev. 2, effective since 2008) | Insee via the CFE. It is possible to make change if it is wrong. | |
CSR (Trade and Company Register) | Registration of traders and commercial companies. Figure extract K or Kbis.. | RCS + City of Registry + Siren No. | Registry of the Commercial Court via the CFE |
Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | Identification of legal persons involved in financial markets | 20-character alphanumeric code | |
Business Directory (RM) | Mandatory registration in the Directory of crafts and craft companies with no more than 10 employees. Figure in D1 | No Siren + RM + numbers indicating the competent chamber of crafts and crafts | Chamber of Crafts and Crafts (CMA) via the CFE |
Tax identification for any company liable for VAT. Must appear on invoices and VAT returns | FR (country code) + 2 digits + Siren number | Corporate Tax Service (EIS) via the CFE |
The Sirene Directory shall record all undertakings and their establishments, irrespective of their legal form and sector of activity. Foreign companies that have a representation or activity in France are also listed.
Associations shall not have a legal obligation to register in the Sirene Directory unless:
- they employ staff,
- they are engaged in activities which entail payment of VAT or corporation tax,
- or receive public subsidies.
To small and medium-sized and micro-entreprises, do you have a business project, a difficulty or a question ?
Quick and simple public service: you will be contacted over the phone by one of our experts.
Speak with an advisor on Place des Entreprises- Search in French activity nomenclature (NAF)
Online service
- Sirene Directory Situation Notice
Online service
- Registration in the Register of Trade and Companies (RCS)
Online service
- Research on enterprises registered in the Register of Trade and Companies (RCS)
Online service
- Request to change an association's primary activity code (EPA)
Form
- LEI France
Online service
FAQ
- What are the craft activities?Permanent meeting of chambers of trades (APCM)
- How do I register in the Sirene directory?National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE)