Free EN 16931 Validator

EN 16931 is the European standard for electronic invoicing, mandated by EU Directive 2014/55/EU. It defines a semantic data model and 150+ business rules that ensure invoices can be processed automatically across all EU member states.

Checking is free.Finished e-invoice: €1.90.First file every 30 days free.No sign-up.

No file yet? Fill in the form

Your file is used only to check and fix your invoice and to deliver your result. Results are kept so you can download a verified file again for 90 days; validation logs are deleted after 90 days. You can request deletion at any time.

What this check settles

Details are missingYou supply them, we enter them and check again. Amounts, line items and taxes stay unchanged.
The export is structurally brokenYou get the error report for your ERP support: rule, position in the file, expected structure. Free.
The file passes the checkDownload only then, with check protocol, timestamp and checksum. Publicly verifiable.

What we check for EN 16931

EN 16931 semantic model compliance
Business rule validation (BR-xx rules)
VAT category rules (BR-S, BR-Z, BR-E, etc.)
Calculation rules (BR-CO-xx)
Code list validation
Party identification
Cross-border requirements

Common EN 16931 rejections

BR-CO-10Sum of VAT category amounts incorrectBR-S-08Standard rate VAT amount missingBR-E-01Exempt reason requiredBR-CO-11Line amount calculation errorBR-CO-13Invoice total mismatchAll error codes, explained →

Where this check runs

Invoice NavigatorFull 150+ business rules check. Validates semantic compliance regardless of syntax (UBL or CII). Essential for ViDA readiness.
Access pointNetwork validators check EN 16931 as part of format validation. But standalone EN 16931 check not always available.
ERP built-inERP systems focus on syntax generation, not semantic validation. EN 16931 business rule violations often missed.

EN 16931 at a glance

Full NameEuropean Standard for E-Invoicing
Published2017
Maintained ByCEN TC 434
SyntaxesUBL 2.1 & CII
Business Rules150+

Countries using EN 16931

All 27 EU Member StatesNorway (EEA)Iceland (EEA)Switzerland

EN 16931 FAQ

What is EN 16931?
EN 16931 is the European standard for electronic invoicing. It defines a semantic data model and business rules that an e-invoice must follow, regardless of syntax (UBL or CII).
Is EN 16931 mandatory?
Public authorities across the EU must accept and process EN 16931 invoices (Directive 2014/55/EU). For B2B it depends on the country. Under the ViDA directive (Directive (EU) 2025/516), e-invoices for intra-EU supplies must follow EN 16931 from 1 July 2030.
What syntax should I use for EN 16931?
EN 16931 supports two syntaxes: UBL 2.1 and UN/CEFACT CII. UBL is more common for Peppol; CII is used in ZUGFeRD and Factur-X. Both express the same data.
What is a CIUS?
A CIUS (Core Invoice Usage Specification) narrows EN 16931 for a country or network. Examples: XRechnung (Germany), Peppol BIS Billing 3.0, CIUS-RO (Romania).
How do I prepare for ViDA?
Make sure your invoicing system can produce EN 16931 invoices in UBL or CII. Checking a real export against the EN 16931 rules shows what is missing.
Is checking free?
Checking is free. The first verified download every 30 days is free. After that €1.90 per invoice, or €9 a month for all of them. Checking needs no account. You only pay when a file has passed the check and you download it.
Do you fix my invoice automatically?
No. We never change amounts, line items or taxes. Where mandatory details are missing, you supply them, we enter them and check the file again. If the export from your invoicing system is structurally broken, you get the error report for your software support, free of charge.
Where is my file checked, and is it stored?
On our servers, not in your browser. Your file is used only to check and fix your invoice and to deliver your result. Results are kept so you can download a verified file again for 90 days; validation logs are deleted after 90 days. You can request deletion at any time.

Read on

About EN 16931: technical details, history and practice →Peppol BIS validator →XRechnung validator →UBL 2.1 validator →
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Your dataYour file is used only to check and fix your invoice and to deliver your result. Results are kept so you can download a verified file again for 90 days; validation logs are deleted after 90 days. You can request deletion at any time.