How do I get a certificate of vigilance?

Verified 25 June 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The attestation of vigilance allows a company to prove to its customers and principals that she is up to date with her social obligations. It is issued by the Urssaf and must be presented for any contract of an amount equal to or greater than €5,000 excluding taxes. Furthermore, a statement of vigilance must also be provided when the business ceases its activity if it employs employees.

The attestation of vigilance is a document issued by the Urssaf certifying that a company is in good standing with regard to his social obligations. In other words, it certifies that it is up to date with its declarations and payments of social contributions and contributions.

When the contract is concluded, i.e. on the date of signature of the contract, the originator requires the certificate of vigilance from the developer (provider). For its part, the contracting authority placing the order with a company (subcontractor) also requests this document.

Example :

A contractor enters into a contract with an architect (contracting authority) who entrusts a construction site to a plumber (subcontractor) in the amount of € 15 000 excluding VAT. The company and the architect must comply with the duty of care:

  • The client must request the various vigilance documents from his architect.
  • The architect must request the vigilance documents from the plumber.

When the company employing employees, the certificate shall also indicate the number of employees and the total amount of remuneration declared on the last summary of Urssaf contributions.

The attestation of vigilance must be provided to his originator and/or the developer when concluding a contract of an amount equal to or greater than €5,000 excluding tax.

The amount of €5,000 excluding taxes is the total amount of the service. It doesn't matter if it's subject to multiple lower payments or billings.

Only the following contracts the following shall be covered by the attestation of vigilance:

  • Contracts for the performance of work
  • Contracts for the provision of a service (material, intellectual or artistic)
  • Production, manufacturing, processing contracts
  • Repair, construction, supply, sale contracts
  • Agricultural works contracts
  • Contract for transport, industrial subcontracting or works
  • Public procurement contract: The company selected for a public procurement contract must provide an attestation of vigilance. For more information, you can consult our factsheet on certificates of fiscal regularity and due diligence in a public procurement.

The the principal and the contracting authority must check that the company (provider) is up-to-date obligations until completion of the contract. They therefore require the company (provider) to provide a certificate of vigilance every 6 months until the end of the contract.

FYI  

The attestation of vigilance is also necessary when the liquidation of the business is closed (following the cessation of activity). Our factsheet on cessation of activity of a business details all the steps to be taken.

The certificate of vigilance is issued by the Urssaf if the company (provider) who declared his income from work is in one of the following situations:

  • It paid its contributions and contributions on the date on which they are due.
  • She signed up for a clearance plan social security contributions and it respects this plan.
  • She has paid her contributions and social security contributions, but is not up to date in the payment of the surcharges and penalties.
  • She did not pay her social security contributions, but disputes the amount by legal action.

Warning  

A company that is subject to a verdict for concealed work transmitted to the public prosecutor cannot obtain a certificate of vigilance. If, on the other hand, she pays the corresponding social contributions and contributions for this concealed work, the certificate can then be issued to her.

The certificate of vigilance is issued by the Urssaf.

It can be downloaded directly from its online space on urssaf.fr:

Create your Urssaf space (account) online

The Urssaf provides the company which employs employees with a instructions for downloading an attestation :

How do I download an employer attestation?

Urssaf

Pour en savoir plus

Please note

When the company starts its activity, the Urssaf does not issue a certificate of vigilance but only a provisional certificate. All the formalities of creation (registration, application for authorizations or approval, etc.) must have been completed in order to obtain the certificate of vigilance.