International e-invoicingBy Peter Schenkel,December 16, 2025Back to all posts

Peppol ID: meaning, application and verification

A Peppol ID is the unique address of a participant in the Peppol network. It consists of a four-digit scheme code and an existing identifier, for example 9930:DE123456789 for a German VAT ID. You do not get a Peppol ID from a public authority but via your Peppol service provider, which registers and publishes it in the network.

Other names for the same thing are Peppol Identifier, Participant Identifier, Participant ID or Endpoint ID.

What the Peppol ID is needed for

Peppol works according to the four-corner model: sender and recipient are each connected via an access point. For the sender's access point to know where an invoice should go, it needs the recipient's Peppol ID. The ID performs three tasks:

1. Addressing: It uniquely identifies the recipient, regardless of which service provider they use.
2. Routing: Using the Peppol ID, the access point finds the responsible Service Metadata Publisher (SMP) via the Service Metadata Locator (SML). The SMP states the address at which the recipient's access point can be reached.
3. Capability lookup: The SMP records which document types the recipient accepts, such as invoices and credit notes according to Peppol BIS Billing 3.0.

The article What is Peppol? The network and access points explained explains how the network as a whole is structured.

Important: the Peppol ID is neither a certificate nor a password. Technical security is provided by certificates between the access points. The Peppol ID is merely the address.

Structure of a Peppol ID

A Peppol ID has two components:

• Scheme (ICD code): a four-digit code according to ISO/IEC 6523 that indicates what type of identifier it is.
• Identifier: the actual value, such as a VAT ID, a GLN or a Leitweg-ID.

In the invoice and in many programs, both parts are written with a colon: 0088:4012345000009. Technically, the network also adds the prefix iso6523-actorid-upis::. You do not usually have to enter this yourself; your service provider adds it automatically.

The most important schemes for Germany and Europe

OpenPeppol specifies which schemes are permitted in the "Participant identifier schemes" code list. The current version is 9.7 from July 2026. The following are particularly relevant for German companies:

With business partners abroad, you will encounter schemes such as these:

The former German Leitweg-ID under scheme 9958 was removed from the code list in July 2023 and replaced by 0204.

Which scheme should you choose?

• Public authorities in Germany are addressed via 0204: plus their Leitweg-ID. The contracting authority gives you the Leitweg-ID.
• Companies often use their VAT ID (9930) because they already have one. With GEBA (0246), KoSIT, as the German Peppol Authority, has created a dedicated scheme for companies based on the Wirtschafts-Identifikationsnummer. According to KoSIT, its use is voluntary.
• GLN or DUNS are worthwhile if your business partners already identify you by them.

What matters is that the Peppol ID remains stable over the long term. You have to notify all customers and suppliers of every change.

Applying for a Peppol ID: how to get one

There is no central office where you apply for a Peppol ID. You usually already have the identifier itself (VAT ID, GLN, Wirtschafts-Identifikationsnummer). It only becomes a Peppol ID when a Peppol service provider registers it in the network. This is how it works:

1. Choose a service provider: You need a certified Peppol service provider with an access point. Your own OpenPeppol membership is not required.
2. Define scheme and identifier: Together, you decide which identifier will serve as your Peppol ID.
3. Registration in the network: The service provider publishes your Peppol ID in an SMP together with the document types you want to receive and registers it with the SML. Only then can the Peppol ID be reached in the network.
4. Test and share: Use a test invoice to check that sending and receiving work. Then share your Peppol ID with customers and suppliers, for example on invoices and in your website's legal notice.

faktoora is a certified Peppol provider. faktoora support helps you register your Peppol ID; the ID is then stored in your account, and you can receive and send invoices through it. Details on sending, receiving and delivery status can be found in the article Peppol and electronic invoice transmission and on the page Peppol connection with faktoora.

Validity: when a Peppol ID works

A Peppol ID can be used once it is registered in the network, i.e. when the SML points to an SMP that holds valid receiving data. This leads to a few practical rules:

• A Peppol ID has no expiry date. It remains valid as long as the registration exists.
• When you change service provider, the Peppol ID can stay the same. The registration is then migrated to the new provider.
• A Peppol ID cannot be reached if the registration has been deleted, for example after cancelling with the old provider, or if the required document type is not registered.
• A Peppol ID can only ever be registered with one SMP. Two providers in parallel for the same ID are not possible.

Verifying and finding a Peppol ID

There are two ways to verify a Peppol ID:

• Peppol Directory: OpenPeppol's public search at directory.peppol.eu finds participants by company name, Peppol ID, country or document type. However, the entry is voluntary and is maintained by the SMP provider. If a company is missing, it may still be reachable.
• SMP lookup: A direct lookup via SML and SMP is technically reliable. It shows whether the ID is registered and which document types it accepts. Your access point performs this check automatically before each transmission.

The easiest way is to ask customers directly for their Peppol ID. Many state it on their invoices or in their legal notice. If a customer cannot be reached via Peppol, you can still send ZUGFeRD or XRechnung by email.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Peppol ID?

The Peppol ID is the address of a company or public authority in the Peppol network. It consists of a scheme code and an identifier, for example 9930:DE123456789 for a German VAT ID.

How can I apply for a Peppol ID?

Through a certified Peppol service provider. It registers your existing identifier, for example your VAT ID or GLN, in the network. There is no separate authority that issues Peppol IDs.

How much does a Peppol ID cost?

The identifier itself is usually free of charge. Costs arise for the service provider's services, i.e. for registration, sending and receiving. According to KoSIT, there are no transaction fees within the network.

Is the Leitweg-ID a Peppol ID?

For German public authorities, yes. They are registered in the network under scheme 0204 with their Leitweg-ID. In addition, the Leitweg-ID must appear in the invoice as the buyer reference.

Can I keep my Peppol ID if I change provider?

Yes. The registration is transferred from the old provider to the new one. Agree on the timing with both providers so that no invoices are lost during the transition.

Sources

• OpenPeppol: Participant identifier schemes, code list v9.7
• OpenPeppol: Peppol Interoperability Framework
• OpenPeppol: Peppol Directory
• KoSIT: German Electronic Business Address (GEBA)
• KoSIT: Peppol Authority Deutschland
• E-Rechnung Bund: Übertragungsweg Peppol