DUNS Number in France: How to Get One for Free (Guide)

French businesses expanding internationally, working with American partners, or complying with EU digital regulations will encounter the DUNS number (numero DUNS). Issued by Dun & Bradstreet, this nine-digit identifier is a cornerstone of international business verification. This guide explains how the DUNS system works for French businesses, how it differs from the SIRET and SIREN, and how to obtain a numero DUNS gratuitement (for free).

What Is a DUNS Number? / Qu'est-ce qu'un numero DUNS?

A DUNS number (Data Universal Numbering System) is a unique nine-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet to businesses worldwide. D&B's global database covers over 500 million business entities in more than 200 countries, and the DUNS number (numero D-U-N-S) serves as the universal key for identifying each entity.

For French businesses (entreprises francaises), the DUNS number serves as an international bridge. While your SIRET identifies your establishment to French administration and your SIREN identifies your company within France, the DUNS number identifies you to the global commercial ecosystem. It is linked to a D&B credit profile (profil de credit) that international partners, lenders, and government agencies can access to evaluate your business.

The DUNS number is sometimes referred to in French as "numero DUNS," "numero D-U-N-S," or simply "DUNS." It is the same system regardless of language.

SIRET / SIREN vs DUNS Number

France has a well-established business identification system managed by INSEE (Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques). Understanding how these French identifiers relate to the DUNS number is essential.

Feature	SIREN	SIRET	DUNS Number
Issued By	INSEE	INSEE	Dun & Bradstreet (private)
Legal Basis	French law (decree of 1973)	French law (decree of 1973)	Voluntary commercial standard
Format	9-digit number	14-digit number (SIREN + NIC)	9-digit number
Identifies	The legal entity (entreprise)	A specific establishment (etablissement)	A business entity or location
Mandatory	Yes, for all French businesses	Yes, for each establishment	No, but often required in practice
Primary Purpose	Legal identification, tax, social security	Establishment-level identification	Credit reporting, international trade, procurement
Geographic Scope	France only	France only	Global (200+ countries)
Cost	Free (assigned at registration)	Free (assigned at registration)	Free (basic DUNS number)
Credit Profile	No	No	Yes
Managed By	INSEE via Sirene register	INSEE via Sirene register	D&B global database

Key distinctions:

SIREN is mandatory for every legal entity in France (societes, auto-entrepreneurs, associations, etc.). It is assigned when you register with the Centre de Formalites des Entreprises (CFE) or via the Guichet Unique.
SIRET is mandatory for each physical establishment of a business. If your company has its siege social in Paris and a branch in Lyon, each has a different SIRET (same SIREN, different NIC code).
The DUNS number is not a legal requirement in France but is practically necessary for international trade, U.S. government contracts, EU platform compliance, and global credit visibility.
D&B imports data from the Sirene register, so your SIREN and SIRET are typically captured in your D&B profile. However, D&B also tracks payment history, financial data, and credit scores that the Sirene register does not.

French businesses also have a numero de TVA intracommunautaire (intra-community VAT number) for EU trade. This is separate from the DUNS number and serves a different purpose (VAT identification within the EU).

D&B France

Dun & Bradstreet has a significant presence in France. D&B France maintains records on millions of French business entities, drawing data from multiple sources:

INSEE / Registre Sirene: Company and establishment registration data
Registre du Commerce et des Societes (RCS): Commercial court filings via Infogreffe
BODACC (Bulletin Officiel des Annonces Civiles et Commerciales): Legal announcements including company formations, modifications, and insolvencies
Banque de France: Credit information where available through authorized channels
Trade payment data: Payment behavior reported by participating businesses
Published financial statements: Comptes annuels filed with the Greffes du Tribunal de Commerce
Direct business submissions: Information provided directly by companies

D&B France has been strengthened by D&B's acquisition of Bisnode, which consolidated European data operations. French businesses can interact with D&B in French, and application materials are available in French.

Given the breadth of French public data sources, D&B likely already has a record (fiche) on your business, especially if it is a societe (SARL, SAS, SA, EURL, etc.) registered with the RCS.

Free DUNS Number Lookup / Recherche Gratuite

Before applying for a new numero DUNS, check whether your French business already has one.

Comment rechercher votre numero DUNS

Use our free lookup tool: Enter your French company name, SIREN, or address in our DUNS Number Lookup tool to search D&B's database.
D&B France website: Search through Dun & Bradstreet's French operations at dnb.com or their European portal.
Contact D&B France: Call or email D&B France directly for a manual lookup.

If your business already has a DUNS number, you can use it immediately. If the data attached to it is outdated or incorrect, request corrections through D&B.

How to Get a DUNS Number in France / Comment obtenir un numero DUNS

If your lookup confirms that your business does not yet have a DUNS number, follow these steps. For a general overview, see our complete guide to getting a DUNS number.

Step 1: Prepare Your Business Information / Preparez vos informations

Gather the following:

Denomination sociale (legal company name) as registered with the RCS or Sirene
Forme juridique (legal form): SARL, SAS, SA, EURL, SCI, auto-entrepreneur, association, etc.
SIREN number (9 digits)
SIRET number (14 digits) for the establishment applying
Siege social (registered office address)
Code APE / NAF (activity classification code assigned by INSEE)
Numero de TVA intracommunautaire (EU VAT number)
RCS registration number and Greffe (commercial court) if applicable
Number of employees (effectif)
Chiffre d'affaires (annual revenue, approximate figures acceptable)
Name and contact details of the gerant, president, or dirigeant
Date of creation (date d'immatriculation)

Step 2: Submit Your Application / Soumettez votre demande

Apply through D&B's website or contact D&B France directly.

Demande gratuite (free application): Standard processing takes approximately 30 business days (jours ouvrables). D&B may contact you for verification.
Demande acceleree (expedited application): Paid options are available for faster processing, typically 1-5 business days. Contact D&B for current pricing (tarifs actuels).

Step 3: Verification

D&B will verify your information against Sirene, RCS, and other French public data sources. They may contact you by phone or email to confirm details.

Step 4: Receive Your DUNS Number

Once assigned, your numero DUNS is permanent and does not expire. Review your D&B profile (fiche D&B) for accuracy, particularly:

Correct denomination sociale and forme juridique
Accurate siege social address
Proper code APE/NAF classification
Correct corporate family tree (liens de groupe)
Current financial data

Step 5: Keep Your Data Updated / Maintenez vos donnees a jour

Update D&B after significant changes such as modifications to your K-bis (change of gerant, siege social, capital social, objet social), mergers (fusions), or significant changes in revenue or headcount.

EU Digital Services Act Compliance / Conformite au DSA

The EU Digital Services Act (DSA), which took full effect in February 2024, is particularly relevant for French businesses. France is home to some of Europe's largest digital platforms and a significant e-commerce market.

Article 30: Trader Verification

Online marketplaces must verify information about traders using their platforms. A DUNS number serves as a reliable identifier for this verification. French businesses that operate online marketplaces (places de marche en ligne) need to integrate trader verification into their compliance workflows.

French Businesses Selling on Platforms

If your French business sells on platforms subject to the DSA (Amazon, eBay, Cdiscount, etc.), having a DUNS number streamlines the verification process. Read our detailed guide on DUNS and the Digital Services Act.

ARCOM and French Digital Regulation

France's ARCOM (Autorite de Regulation de la Communication Audiovisuelle et Numerique) has a role in DSA enforcement within France. Companies operating digital services in France should be aware that DUNS-based verification may become part of the regulatory landscape.

French Government Procurement / Marches Publics

Code de la Commande Publique

French public procurement is governed by the Code de la Commande Publique. While this code does not mandate DUNS numbers, D&B data is used in supplier evaluation:

Evaluation financiere: Contracting authorities (pouvoirs adjudicateurs) may reference D&B credit reports when assessing supplier financial capacity.
Due diligence: D&B data helps verify company identity, ownership, and financial stability for large public contracts.

EU Cross-Border Tenders

French companies bidding on public contracts in other EU member states benefit from having a DUNS number. It provides a standardized identifier recognized across all EU countries, avoiding the complexity of translating between different national registration systems. For more on DUNS and government procurement, see our guide to DUNS and government contracts.

Defence Procurement

French defence companies working with NATO, the European Defence Agency (EDA), or U.S. defence programs need DUNS numbers. France's significant defence industry (Thales, Dassault, Naval Group, and their supply chains) regularly interacts with international procurement systems that use DUNS as a standard identifier.

Considerations Specific to French Businesses

Auto-Entrepreneurs / Micro-Entrepreneurs

French auto-entrepreneurs (micro-entrepreneurs) can obtain DUNS numbers. While D&B may have less data on sole traders compared to registered companies, auto-entrepreneurs who trade internationally or work with platforms requiring DUNS verification should apply. Be prepared to provide your attestation d'inscription au repertoire Sirene and proof of trading activity.

Associations (Loi 1901)

French associations registered under the Loi 1901 can also obtain DUNS numbers. This is relevant for associations that receive international grants, participate in EU-funded programs, or contract with foreign partners.

Overseas Territories (DOM-TOM)

French businesses in overseas departments and territories (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion, Guyane, Mayotte, etc.) are part of the French business registration system and can obtain DUNS numbers through the same process as metropolitan French businesses. For more on French business identification systems, visit our France country guide.

German and European Partners

French companies working closely with German businesses often encounter DUNS requirements from both sides. Read our guide to DUNS numbers in Germany for context on how the system works across the Rhine.

Frequently Asked Questions / Questions Frequentes

Est-ce que le numero DUNS est gratuit en France? / Is the DUNS number free in France?

Oui / Yes. The basic DUNS number is free to obtain. Expedited processing and premium D&B services (rapports de credit detailles) are paid.

Combien de temps faut-il pour obtenir un numero DUNS? / How long does it take?

Standard processing takes approximately 30 business days (jours ouvrables). Expedited processing is typically 1-5 business days for an additional fee.

Le SIREN remplace-t-il le DUNS? / Does the SIREN replace the DUNS?

No. The SIREN and DUNS number serve different purposes. The SIREN identifies you within the French system; the DUNS number identifies you globally and links to an international credit profile.

J'ai deja un numero SIRET. Ai-je besoin d'un DUNS? / I have a SIRET. Do I need a DUNS?

If you trade internationally, work with U.S. partners, bid on international tenders, or sell on digital platforms requiring verification, yes. For purely domestic operations with no international exposure, you may not need one immediately.

Un auto-entrepreneur peut-il obtenir un numero DUNS? / Can an auto-entrepreneur get a DUNS?

Yes. Auto-entrepreneurs, professions liberales, and all other French business structures can obtain DUNS numbers.

Comment verifier le numero DUNS d'un fournisseur? / How to verify a supplier's DUNS?

Use our free DUNS lookup tool to search for any French or international company's DUNS number.

Next Steps / Prochaines Etapes

Search for your DUNS number to check if D&B already has your French business on file
Learn the basics of DUNS numbers if you are new to the system
Follow our step-by-step application guide for detailed instructions
Visit our France country guide for additional resources
Read about DUNS and the Digital Services Act for EU platform compliance
See our Germany guide for cross-border context

For French businesses operating in the international marketplace, a DUNS number is a free, practical tool for global commercial credibility. Given that D&B already maintains extensive data on French businesses through Sirene, RCS, and other public sources, most established French companies can obtain their numero DUNS quickly by checking whether one has already been assigned.