Factur-X & ZUGFeRD
Validator

Factur-X (also written FacturX or Factur X) is the Franco-German e-invoicing standard based on the Cross-Industry Invoice (CII) XML format. It embeds a structured CII XML file inside a PDF/A-3, making invoices both human-readable and machine-processable. From the BASIC profile up, a Factur-X invoice complies with the European EN16931 standard.

They are the same standard. ZUGFeRD 2.x (Germany) and Factur-X (France) merged into a single specification. ZUGFeRD 2.0 and later are technically identical to Factur-X. Both use CII XML inside PDF/A-3 and comply with EN16931.

CII is a UN/CEFACT XML format for electronic invoices, defined under the CrossIndustryInvoice schema. It is one of two syntaxes supported by EN16931 (the other being UBL 2.1). CII uses a different XML namespace and element structure than UBL. For example, seller information is in ram:SellerTradeParty instead of cac:AccountingSupplierParty.

A Factur-X / ZUGFeRD invoice is checked against the XSD and schematron of its profile. The schematron contains the EN16931 business rules (BR-*) with the same IDs as for UBL, CII syntax rules (CII-SR-*) and the profile's own rules (FX-SCH-A-*). XRechnung CII and other CII files, including XML uploaded on its own with the plain EN 16931 identifier urn:cen.eu:en16931:2017, get the CEN EN16931 rules for CII. There is no Peppol BIS layer for CII since Peppol uses UBL exclusively. The business rules are equivalent; only the XML paths differ.

Factur-X defines five profiles in increasing order of data richness: Minimum, Basic WL (without lines), Basic, Comfort (EN16931), and Extended. The Comfort profile corresponds exactly to the EN16931 semantic model. This validator detects the profile from the specification identifier (BT-24) and checks each file against the official XSD and schematron of its profile (Factur-X 1.09.2 / ZUGFeRD 2.5.2). A Minimum or Basic WL file gets no errors for data its profile leaves out, but it is still not an EN16931 invoice. Extended files are checked including their extra fields (BR-FXEXT-*).

Use this page as a free ZUGFeRD validator online. Upload the Factur-X / ZUGFeRD PDF as it is, or its CII XML. For a PDF, the validator checks the embedded XML (factur-x.xml), the XMP metadata and PDF/A-3 (basic check), then checks the XML against the XSD and schematron of its profile, from MINIMUM to EXTENDED. One result shows both.

No. It is a basic check: PDF/A-3 identification, extension schema, embedded fonts and an output intent for device colours. For a full PDF/A validation use veraPDF. The validator does not compare the visible PDF text with the XML.

France is rolling out mandatory B2B e-invoicing in phases starting September 2026 for large enterprises, with full coverage by 2027. Factur-X is one of the accepted formats alongside UBL and the national Chorus Pro platform.

Germany made structured e-invoicing mandatory for B2B transactions from January 2025 (receiving) with sending obligations phased in through 2028. ZUGFeRD from version 2.0.1 (profile BASIC or higher) and XRechnung (UBL or CII) are both accepted formats.

XRechnung is Germany's national e-invoicing standard built on EN16931. It supports both UBL 2.1 and CII syntaxes. XRechnung adds German-specific business rules (BR-DE-*) on top of the base EN16931 rules. When a CII file carries the XRechnung identifier (urn:xeinkauf.de:kosit:xrechnung_3.0), this validator also runs the official KoSIT XRechnung rules (BR-DE-*) instead of only EN16931. For a binding check, use the official KoSIT validator.