Factur-X is the French national e-invoice standard and, since version 1.0, is technically identical to ZUGFeRD 2.x. The two names exist for political and adoption reasons — France and Germany each publish the spec under their own brand — but a Factur-X 1.0 file and a ZUGFeRD 2.x file at the same profile are the same document.
The format packages a PDF/A-3 file with an embedded UN/CEFACT CII XML attachment. Open the file in any PDF viewer to see the formatted invoice; feed it to an ERP or accounting tool to extract and process the XML automatically. This dual nature is why it's called a "hybrid" format — it works for both humans and machines without any conversion.
Factur-X is maintained jointly by FNFE-MPE (France) and FeRD (Germany) and is compliant with the EN 16931 European standard.
Profiles
Factur-X defines several profiles with increasing levels of data richness:
| Profile | Use case |
|---|---|
| MINIMUM | Accounting entry only — minimal fields |
| BASIC WL | Line-level data without article details |
| BASIC | Standard invoice with line items |
| EN 16931 | Full EN 16931 compliance |
| EXTENDED | Additional fields for complex supply chains |
Key facts
- Jointly published by FNFE-MPE (France) and FeRD (Germany)
- Technically identical to ZUGFeRD 2.x
- Format: PDF/A-3 + embedded UN/CEFACT CII XML
- Compliant with EN 16931
- Mandatory for French B2G invoicing; increasingly adopted in Switzerland
- XML attachment filename:
factur-x.xml