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T1- Formalities to register in the Sirene register

T1.1 - What are the formalities for creating a company or an establishment?

These formalities are carried out in Centres for Business Formalities (CFE). To assist and inform companies about procedures, the "CFE Directory" website created by an Insee - CFE network partnership, specifically enables companies to find out which CFE they depend on. When you fill in the nature of your activities, your legal category, the department and commune where your head office or your company will be located, this service will send you the exact contact details of the relevant CFE. You will also be shown links to other useful sites for your administrative formalities. (Link to CFE Directory)

For associations that have been registered directly by Insee, the creation of a secondary establishment must be notified by post to the appropriate Insee regional office by enclosing, where necessary, a copy of the official document which confirms the change. (To find out which is your appropriate regional office)

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T1.2 - What are the formalities for declaring the transfer of a head office or establishment?

Transfer declarations (i.e. change of address of your head office or secondary establishment) are carried out in centres for business formalities (CFE): to declare a transfer you have the choice between the place your company is leaving (head office or secondary establishment) or the place it is moving to. To assist companies with formalities and provide information, the "CFE Directory" website, created by an Insee - CFE network partnership, specifically enables companies to find out which CFE they depend on. When you fill in the nature of your activities, your legal category, the department and commune where your head office or your establishment will be located, this service will send you the exact contact details of the relevant CFE. You will also be shown links to other useful sites for your administrative formalities. (Link to CFE Directory)

For associations that have been registered directly by Insee, the creation of a secondary establishment must be notified by post to the appropriate Insee regional office by enclosing, where necessary, a copy of the official document which confirms the change. (To find out which is your appropriate regional office)

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T1.3 - How can I find out the APE code of the company I want to set up?

This code can only be determined when Insee has processed the declaration that you complete at your centre for business formalities (CFE) when you create your company. It may be updated at a later date, either when a declaration of a change in activity is deposited with the appropriate CFE, or on the basis of information provided by the company on the distribution of its turnover and workforce between its different activities.

To assist and inform companies about procedures, the "CFE Directory" website created by an Insee - CFE network partnership, specifically enables companies to find out which CFE they depend on. When you fill in the nature of your activities, your legal category, the department and commune where your head office or your company will be located, this service will send you the exact contact details of the relevant CFE. You will also be shown links to other useful sites for your administrative formalities. (Link to CFE Directory)

We draw your attention to the fact that the attribution by Insee, for statistical purposes, of the APE code with reference to the nomenclature of activities is not sufficient to create rights or obligations for companies.
To find out more about the attribution of the APE code

The nomenclature of activities can be consulted on the Insee website at www.insee.fr, under the heading "NAF 2008."

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T1.4 - What are the formalities for registering an association?

You want to register your association in the Sirene companies and establishments register.

  1. Your association employs a salaried workforce. In this case, you should make the request to register your association in the Sirene register at the centre for business formalities (CFE) of the Urssaf to which you pay your contributions. They will pass on the request to Insee who will then complete your registration and attribute an identification number.
  2. Your association does not employ a workforce but it does perform activities which make it liable for payment of VAT or corporate tax. In this case, you should make the request at the centre for business formalities (CFE) for the tax office where declarations of turnover or profits are made. They will pass on the request to Insee who will then complete your registration and attribute an identification number.
  3. Your association does not fall into either of the categories mentioned above, but it does receive (or hopes to receive) subsidies or payments from the state or the local authorities. The request for registration should be addressed by mail directly to the regional Insee headquarters for your department enclosing a copy of your association's Articles and a copy of the extract that appeared in the "Journal Officiel" (or failing this, the receipt for depositing the Articles at the Préfecture). (To find out which is your appropriate regional office)

If your association does not fulfill any of these conditions, you do not have to apply for registration in the Sirene register.

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T1.5 - What are the formalities for registering the head office of my company located overseas or one of its establishments located in France?

  1. Your company has no establishment in France but it does employ salaried workers covered by the French social insurance scheme. You should contact:
    Urssaf du Bas-Rhin
    16, rue des Contades
    67307 Schiltigheim Cedex
    Tél.: 0820 395 670
    Fax: 03 88 18 52 74
    www.strasbourg.urssaf.fr
  2. Your company has no establishment in France and no salaried workers but it does carry out taxable operations in France (VAT, corporate tax, etc.). You should contact:
    Service des impôts des entreprises étrangères (SIE)
    10, rue du Centre
    TSA 20011
    93465 Noisy-le-Grand Cedex
    e-mail: sie.entreprises-etrangeres@dgi.finances.gouv.fr
  3. The head office of your company is overseas and you would like to register an establishment in France in the companies and establishments Sirene register.
    You should consult the "CFE Directory" website, created by an Insee - CFE network, which will tell you on which CFE you depend. When you fill in the nature of your activities, your legal category, the department and commune where your establishment will be located, this service will send you the exact contact details of the appropriate CFE. (Link to CFE Directory)

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T1.6 - What are the formalities for registering an establishment dependent on the public sector?

In contrast to the rules applicable for registration in the private sector, there is no centre for business formalities (CFE) for registering establishments that are dependent on the public sector in the Sirene register; but there are associated bodies which initiate requests for registration. (Link to list of associated bodies)

In the Sirene register (in the Public Sector part), are registered all bodies of the 3 public functions: State; local authorities and hospitals and their dependent establishments; and Public Industrial and Commercial Establishments (EPIC): SNCF, RATP, Banque de France, etc. The geographical area covered is the whole of France, the overseas departments (Dom) and the overseas authorities (Com) which until 2003 were called overseas territories (Tom).

In the Siren registration number the 1st digit is significant:
1 - for bodies with national responsibility;
2 - for bodies with local responsibility.

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T1.7 - How can I check the progress of my application to register my company?

At present, on average 95% of requests to create new companies or establishments are dealt with within 24 hours of the declarations that have been recorded at the centre for business formalities (CFE) being received over the internet by Insee.

The company ("the creator") is informed about its registration when it receives a "paper" version of the registration certificate, which is sent by post. If you have not yet received this document, you can contact the Insee department that deals with your case by completing the relevant (form) and sending it by e-mail.
Exception: companies that are registered on the register of trade (RCS) and the special register for commercial agents (RSAC) receive their registration certificate directly from the commercial court registry.

T1.8 - What are the formalities for obtaining "auto-entrepreneur" status?

You can declare the launch of your sole proprietorship under the auto-entrepreneur scheme by completing a declaration of activity from the Enterprise Formalities Centre (CFE):

  • available from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry if you are running a commercial business,
  • available from the Trades Chamber if you are running a handicrafts business,
  • available from the URSSAF if you are a freelance professional.

The CFE Directory is available for you to find your nearest establishment or obtain contact details for the CFE.

You can also register online.

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T2 - Formalities to change your situation in the Sirene register


T2.1 - Who should I inform about changes concerning my company, which is already listed in the register?

If this is a change of address, status, official name, you should contact the centre for business formalities on which you depend. The list of competent CFEs in every commune can be accessed via the home page of the Insee website, www.insee.fr, on the "Companies portal" under the heading "CFE directory". (Link to CFE Directory)

For associations that have been registered directly by Insee, the change must be notified by post to the appropriate Insee regional office by enclosing, where appropriate, a copy of the official document which confirms the change. (To find out which is your appropriate regional office)

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T2.2 - How do I change my company's APE code if I consider that it does not correspond (or no longer corresponds) to its activity?

Any request for a change in APE code should be made in writing. To do this, send the appropriate form by post to the relevant Insee regional office for the department in which your head office or your establishment is located. (Go to change APE form)

If you registered your company recently (less than one month ago) you can contact the regional office directly by telephone (see contact details on your registration certificate).

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T2.3 - How do I correct any mistakes that I have noticed on my company's registration certificate or on the identification card?

Any complaint should be made in writing. To do this, send the appropriate form by post to the appropriate Insee regional office for the department in which your head office or your establishment is located (Go to form) giving your contact details and the reason for your complaint.

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T2.4 - I have two Siren, or two Siret: which is the correct one?

Your double registration should be declared in writing. To do this, send the appropriate form by post to the appropriate Insee regional office for the department in which your head office or your establishment is located (Go to form) giving your contact details and the reason for your complaint. If a Siret has to be cancelled, Insee will be responsible for notifying the relevant administrative departments.

The law requires the use of a single inter-administrative number for every registered establishment. Double registration will lead to malfunctions in relations between administrations and companies which could have serious consequences for the company. If in doubt, it is better to check.

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T2.5 - What are the procedures to remove my company from the register?

The formalities for removing your company from the register are carried out in the centres for business formalities. To assist and inform companies with procedures, the "CFE Directory" website created by an Insee - CFE network partnership, specifically enables companies to know which CFE they depend on. When you fill in the nature of your activities, your legal category, the department and commune where your head office or your establishment will be located, this service will send you the exact contact details of the relevant CFE. You will also be shown links to other useful sites for your administrative formalities. (Link to CFE Directory).

For associations that have been registered directly by Insee, the removal must be notified by post accompanied by the correct form (Go to form), to the appropriate Insee regional office, also enclosing a copy of the official document which confirms the termination. (To find out which is your appropriate regional office)

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T2.6 - My company or one of its establishments has been removed by mistake: can you rectify the situation?

Any complaint should be made in writing. To do this, send the appropriate form by post to the appropriate Insee regional office for the department in which your headquarters or your establishment is located (Go to form) giving your contact details and the reason for your complaint. (To find out which is your appropriate regional office)

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T2.7 - On what dates is the number of salaried workers in my company updated in the register?

Workforce size is updated in two ways in Sirene:
- when the entry is created: the number of personnel at the time when the entry is created, and as given in the Sirene register, is the declared number on file;
- once a year, on 31/12/YYYY, workforce size is updated via various administrative sources.

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T3 - Changing the NAF (French classification of economic activities)

You have questions about the change in the French classification of economic activities that was introduced at the beginning of 2008 (NAF 2nd rev. ed.)

The French classification of economic activities (NAF) was revised on 1st January 2008. The website www.insee.fr, under the heading "REVISION 2008 of nomenclatures of activities and products" , gives information about this revision and its effects.

Changes made to the detailed structure of the nomenclature, in the layout of the code and the numbering of the items may lead to a change in APE code (principal activity, coded according to NAF) for all individuals and corporate bodies listed in the SIRENE register.

The new APE code, coded according to NAF 2nd rev. ed., now consists of 5 characters (4 digits and one letter) and was introduced into the register on 8 January 2008 for every company and establishment.

Every company which employs salaried workers received a letter from INSEE at the beginning of 2008 giving the new APE code for the company and for each of its establishments.

Associated questions:

- How can I find out the APE code of my company listed in the register?

- How can I change my company's APE code if I consider that it does not correspond (or no longer corresponds) to its activity?

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T4 - Information about the APE code (principal activity)

T4.1 - Does an APE code create rights and carry obligations?

Article 5 of decree no. 2007-1888 of 26 December 2007 states:

I. - The attribution by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), for statistical purposes, of a code which indicates the principal activity (APE) with reference to the nomenclature of activities is not sufficient to create rights or obligations towards or on behalf of the units concerned.

II. - The application of this code, and in particular the classification of economic units into the very precise definitions provided by these nomenclatures, by an administration or a public department for a specific (non-statistical) use of these nomenclatures, is entirely the responsibility of the user department.

III. - If a regulatory text or a contract makes reference to these nomenclatures, the signatories take full responsibility for the area they intend to cover. It is they who must clarify this area as fully as is necessary.

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T4.2 - Should I change the APE code of my association because the Guso Service is not willing to take into account the casual staff in entertainment that we employ?

Only Guso (guichet unique de spectacles occasionnels) is able to deal with this type of question.

It must also be noted that decree no. 2007-1888 of 26 December 2007 on the approval of nomenclatures of activities and products, specifies that:

I. The attribution by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), for statistical purposes, of a code which indicates the principal activity (APE) with reference to the nomenclature of activities is not sufficient to create rights or obligations towards or on behalf of the units concerned

II. The application of this code, and in particular the classification of economic units into the very precise definitions provided by these nomenclatures, by an administration or a public department for a specific (non-statistical) use of these nomenclatures, is entirely the responsibility of the user department.

III. If a regulatory text or a contract makes reference to these nomenclatures, the signatories take full responsibility for the area they intend to cover. It is they who must clarify this area as fully as is necessary.

If the APE code for your association is incorrect, send the appropriate form by post to the appropriate Insee regional office for the department in which your association is located (Go to form)

If you registered your association recently (less than one month ago) you can contact the regional office directly by telephone (see contact details on your registration certificate)

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T4.3 - How can I find out on which collective agreement my company depends?

You will receive this information from the Department of Labour.

According to article L132-5 of the French Labour Code, the areas of professional application of collective agreements should be defined in terms of economic activities, described in clear terms, and not using codes. It does sometimes happen that signatories of collective agreements make references to NAF codes when defining their area of application, usually as an illustration.
The APE code attributed to companies by Insee is for statistical purposes only: it may give rise to an assumption that the activity corresponding to the code is carried out by the company but it does not provide proof that this is the case.

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T4.4 - Is it my company's APE which determines our right to meal vouchers?

Only the National Commission for restaurant vouchers is qualified to deal with this type of question. We recommend that you provide this Commission with the corporate purpose of your company and not your APE code.

The APE code attributed to companies by Insee is for statistical purposes only: it may give rise to an assumption that the activity corresponding to the code is carried out by the company but it does not provide proof that this is the case.

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T4.5 - What does "code pending" mean in the APE field of my company's identification card?

Insee receives some declarations from companies relating to the creation of a legal entity and an establishment head office but without mention of any activity. In these cases, the company and its establishment head office are entered in the Sirene register and the company's principal activity is given the value 0000Z with the expression "code pending", and the establishment is given the value 7010Z with the expression "activity of the head office". This is the information that appears on your registration certificate. The information that appears on the identification card when this is consulted on the website only mentions 0000Z "code pending".

This code does not formally exist in the French classification of economic activities (NAF 2nd rev. ed.). However, some companies may be registered provisionally in the trade directory with no declared activity. So as not to delay the registration of the company in the Sirene register, Insee has decided to use a provisional APE code which the NAF does not provide. 
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T5 - Information about the Siren/Siret number


T5.1 - Does a Siren number create rights and carry obligations?

The Siren is the only identification number that can be required of a company in its relations with administrations or official bodies. It is the identity number that is given when the company is registered in the register of companies and establishments (Sirene). Articles D. 123-235 and D. 123-236 of the French Commercial Code.

The registration of a company in the Sirene register cannot have any legal or regulatory consequences.
For more information

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T5.2 - How can I check the existence of a company in the Sirene register?

If you already know the Siren number or the Siret number, you can use:

- the Identification card service on the internet: accessible from the website www.sirene.fr. This service provides you with the main information to identify a company or its establishments. You can obtain this information in the form of an identification card.

- the Sirene AVIS telephone service: 0825 800 882 (0.15 euro per minute): it is possible to obtain an identification card by fax, by keying the Siren or Siret number and your fax number into your telephone.

Insee also markets a range of products based on information from the Sirene register. You can find more information under the heading "Statistics from the register"

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T5.3 - What is a company's ''Insee number"?

Insee gives a unique identification number, the Siren number, to individuals and corporate bodies and the Siret number to each of their establishments. A 1973 decree, which is also taken up in articles R. 123-220 to R. 123-234 of the French Commercial Code, brought in a system of national identification of individuals and corporate bodies and their establishments based on the register of companies and establishments (Sirene: système informatique pour le répertoire des entreprises et des établissements). Insee was given responsibility for this register.
For more information

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T5.4 - How do I find out my intra-community VAT number?

Only the tax office on which your company depends is able to provide the intra-community VAT number.

On the minitel service 3615 TVACEE it is possible to check the intra-community VAT number for a company located in another member State.

The intra-community VAT number is made up of the FR code, a 2-digit encryption key and the Siren number of the company (9 digits).

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T6 - Online services

T6.1 - How can I obtain a recent identification card from the Sirene register?

The identification card (sometimes called a "certificate" or "proof of registration") can be obtained in three different ways depending on whether you know the Siren or Siret number.

If you know the Siren or Siret number, you can use:

 - the identification card service on the internet: accessible from the home page of the website www.insee.fr. This service provides you with the main information on the identity of a company or its establishments. You can obtain this information in the form of an identification card;

 - the Sirene AVIS telephone service: 0825 800 882 (0.15 euro per minute): it is possible to obtain an identification card by fax, by keying the Siren or Siret number and your fax number into your telephone.

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T6.2 - How can I find out the APE code of my company listed in the register?

The APE code of your company appears on the identification card. As well as the main identification elements, this also provides the company's APE code or that of one of its establishments.

To obtain an identification card, three services are available depending whether or not you know the Siren or Siret number of your company or your establishment.

If you know your Siren or Siret number, you can use:

 - the identification card service on the internet: accessible from the home page of the website www.sirene.fr. This service provides you with the main information on the identity of a company or its establishments. You can obtain this information in the form of an identification card;

 - the Sirene AVIS telephone service: 0825 800 882 (0.15 euro per minute): it is possible to obtain an identification card by fax, by keying the Siren or Siret number and your fax number into your telephone.

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T6.3 - I cannot obtain an identification card on the Insee website: why is this?

A computer breakdown or a maintenance operation is likely to cause a break in the service. If the problem persists you should send in a complaint by e-mail.

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T6.4 - How can I access non-diffusible data from the Sirene register on www.sirene.fr?

"Non diffusible" data are indeed not available to users of the website www.sirene.fr. The same is true for other register consultation services. Regulatory reasons put in place by the CNIL forbid access: Insee therefore cannot satisfy your request.

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T6.5 - How can I obtain a list of company addresses from Insee?

Insee markets a range of products based on information from the Sirene register. You can find more information under the heading "products and services" on the website www.sirene.fr.

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T6.6 - Why does workforce size not appear on a company's identification card?

Insee has begun an update of the presentation of identification cards. Workforce size is no longer mentioned for the following reasons:

  - This variable statistic is taken by Insee from the first declaration made by the company when it is created, and it is then updated annually by comparing with other administrative information sources (DADS in particular);

  - As there are so many definitions of "workforce" (average number of employees across the year, workforce on 31/12, including or excluding apprentices, workforce on a given date or as of today's date), it was always a possibility that this figure would not reflect the present reality and posting it on the website generated a large number of queries and complaints from the companies concerned.

Insee favours the use of identifying information, and therefore decided to stop putting this data on the identification card (PDF or paper) which represents a company's current identity.

On the other hand, for consultation purposes only, the information will appear on the Establishment page of the website "Identification card on the internet'' where Insee agrees to show elements of a statistical nature.

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T7- Definitions, concepts

T7.1 - What is the APE code? What does it mean? What is it for?

As the body responsible for managing the Sirene register, for statistical purposes Insee attributes a code called the APE code (principal activity) based on the French classification of economic activities NAF (decree no. 2007-1888 of 26 December 2007 approving nomenclatures of activities and products). This nomenclature can be consulted on the Insee website, www.insee.fr, under the heading "NAF 2008".

The APE code is used for statistical purposes. It enables all producers of statistics, both public and private, to use the same reference classification to refer to the activity of economic units. In this way it helps to make statistics from different sources easier to compare.

A variety of public administrations or establishments also use the APE code according to the different ways they manage files relating to companies. At this point, it must be noted that decree no. 2007-1888 of 26 December 2007, approving nomenclatures of French activities and products, stipulates:

I. - The attribution by the National Institute of statistics and Economic studies (INSEE), for statistical purposes, of a code specifying the principal activity carried out (APE) using the nomenclature activities for reference, will not create rights or obligations in respect of the units concerned.

II. - The way in which these nomenclatures are applied, and in particular the classification of economic units under the specific headings defined by these nomenclatures, by an administration or a public service for a specific purpose (non-statistical) are entirely the responsibility of the user service.

III. - If a regulatory text or a contract makes reference to these nomenclatures, the signatories are entirely responsible for area they intend to cover. They must define this area as completely as is necessary.

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T7.2 - What is the difference between the NAF code and the APE code?

The NAF (nomenclature d'activités française - French classification of economic activities) is a list covering all economic activities. Each activity is defined by a title and designated by a code, e.g. "Newspaper printing", for which the NAF code is 18.11Z as of January 2008.(Go to NAF 2008)

For each company or establishment, Insee determines, according to the information that it has at its disposal (survey results or company statements) and rules of statistical classification, the activity in the NAF that best corresponds to the principal activity (APE). The code that corresponds to this activity in the NAF is by definition the APE code for the company or the establishment.

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T7.3 - What do the Siren and Siret company numbers mean?

The Siren number (system of identification in the register of companies) is a 9-digit identification number given to every company. The first eight digits have no particular significance, except in the case of public bodies (communes, etc.) whose Siren number has to begin with 1 or 2. The ninth digit is a control figure to validate the number.

For every establishment, an internal classification number (NIC) is added, i.e. 5 more figures. This 14-figure number is called the Siret (system of identification in the register of establishments).

The Siren number, described as "inter-administrative" must be used by the administrations in their dealings with companies. For more information about the Siren and the Siret, consult the website sirene.fr which focuses on the Sirene register of companies and establishments.

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T7.4 - What is the difference between a Kbis, a registration certificate and an identification card?

The Kbis extract is the only official and legal document which confirms the legal existence of a commercial company. It can only be supplied by the commercial court registry of the business tribunal. (Go to Infogreffe)

The registration certificate is sent by Insee in the following instances after all the documents sent by the centre for business formalities (CFE) have been dealt with:

- creation;

- changes;

- dissolution.

Exception: companies that are registered in the trade register (RCS) and in the special register for commercial agents (RSAC) receive their registration certificate directly from the commercial court registry.

Warning: No duplicate of this certificate is supplied; to obtain the main information which identifies a company, the solution is to ask for an identification card.

Identification card : a company's "identification card" can be obtained at any time, in several different ways, depending on whether or not the enquirer knows the Siren or Siret number.

If you know the Siren or Siret number, you can use:

 - the Identification card service on the internet which provides the main information on the identity of a company or its establishments. You can obtain this information in the form of an identification card; (Go to Identification card) ;

 - the Sirene AVIS telephone service: 0825 800 882 (0.15 euro per minute): it is possible to obtain an identification card by fax, by keying the Siren or Siret number and your fax number into your telephone.

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T7.5 - What does Sirene stand for?

This is the "Système Informatisé du Répertoire National des Entreprises et des Etablissements", the national computer database of companies and their establishments, which is managed by Insee. This register records the full title of all companies and their establishments, whatever their legal category and whatever their sector of activity, located in France, in the overseas departments (Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique and Reunion Island), Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and Mayotte. Overseas companies that are represented in France or which have an activity in France are also listed.

Every company in the register is given a 9-figure identification number, the Siren number. The first eight digits have no particular significance, except in the case of public bodies (communes, etc.) whose Siren number has to begin with 1 or 2. The ninth digit is a control digit to validate the number.

For every establishment an internal classification number (NIC) is added, i.e. 5 more figures. This 14-figure number is called the Siret (system of identification in the register of establishments).

The Siren number, described as "inter-administrative" must be used by administrations in their dealings with companies.

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T7.6 - What does "nca" mean?

This appears on the registration certificate and means "not classified elsewhere"; this corresponds to certain classes in the NAF nomenclature which group together activities that have not been allocated to any other class in the same group in NAF.

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Links

Sirene® database

For corporate use, Insee offers company or establishment databases including the address and the economic features of each unit. These can be used for researching specific targets, creating a file of companies, updating a file of prospective customers, producing company files for mass mailing.