DUNS Number in Italy: How to Find and Register (Guida)

Italian businesses operating in international markets, participating in EU procurement, or working with global platforms increasingly need a DUNS number (numero D-U-N-S). Issued by Dun & Bradstreet, this nine-digit identifier is a standard tool for international business verification. This guide explains how the DUNS system works for Italian businesses (imprese italiane), how it relates to domestic identifiers like the Partita IVA and Codice Fiscale, and how to obtain one through D&B's Italian partner CRIBIS.

What Is a DUNS Number? / Cos'e un numero DUNS?

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

For Italian businesses, the DUNS number provides global commercial credibility. While your Partita IVA identifies you to the Agenzia delle Entrate and your registration with the Camera di Commercio establishes your legal standing domestically, the DUNS number identifies you to the international business ecosystem. It links to a D&B credit profile (profilo creditizio) that international partners, lenders, and government agencies worldwide can access.

Partita IVA / Codice Fiscale vs DUNS Number

Italy has a detailed business identification system involving multiple identifiers. Understanding how they relate to the DUNS number is essential.

Feature	Partita IVA	Codice Fiscale	DUNS Number
Issued By	Agenzia delle Entrate	Agenzia delle Entrate	Dun & Bradstreet (via CRIBIS)
Legal Basis	DPR 633/1972 (VAT law)	DPR 605/1973	Voluntary commercial standard
Format	11-digit number	11-digit (companies) or 16-char (individuals)	9-digit number
Mandatory	Yes, for VAT-registered businesses	Yes, for all entities	No, but often required in practice
Primary Purpose	VAT identification, tax compliance	Tax identification, fiscal dealings	Credit reporting, international trade, procurement
Geographic Scope	Italy (recognized in EU as P.IVA)	Italy only	Global (200+ countries)
Cost	Free	Free	Free (basic DUNS number)
Credit Profile	No	No	Yes
Managed By	Agenzia delle Entrate	Agenzia delle Entrate	D&B / CRIBIS global database

Additional Italian business identifiers:

REA number (Repertorio Economico Amministrativo): Assigned by the Camera di Commercio when a business registers. It identifies the business within the local Chamber of Commerce records.
Numero di iscrizione al Registro delle Imprese: The company's registration number in the Business Register (Registro delle Imprese), managed by the Camera di Commercio.
PEC (Posta Elettronica Certificata): Mandatory certified email address for Italian businesses, used for official communications.

None of these domestic identifiers replace a DUNS number for international purposes. The DUNS number provides a globally standardized identifier linked to an international credit profile, which is something the Italian domestic system does not offer.

D&B Italy: CRIBIS

Dun & Bradstreet operates in Italy primarily through CRIBIS, its Italian partner and member of the D&B Worldwide Network. CRIBIS is one of Italy's largest business information providers and manages D&B data for the Italian market.

CRIBIS Database

CRIBIS maintains records on millions of Italian business entities, drawing data from:

Camera di Commercio / Registro delle Imprese: Company registrations, annual filings, and Visure Camerali
Agenzia delle Entrate: Partita IVA and fiscal data where available
Tribunali (Courts): Protesti (protests/bounced payments), procedure concorsuali (insolvency proceedings), and legal actions
CERVED and other data providers: Additional commercial data through Italian data partnerships
Bilanci depositati: Financial statements (bilanci) filed with the Registro delle Imprese
Trade payment data: Payment behavior reported by participating businesses
Direct business submissions: Information provided directly by companies

CRIBIS offers services in Italian and provides local customer support for DUNS inquiries (richiesta numero DUNS), credit reports (rapporti di credito), and data updates.

CRIBIS Services

Beyond DUNS number assignment, CRIBIS provides:

Business credit reports: Detailed creditworthiness assessments (valutazioni di affidabilita) for Italian companies
Company verification: Verifica DUNS number and company identity checks
Marketing data: Business contact databases for Italian markets
Compliance solutions: Anti-money laundering (antiriciclaggio) and KYC services
D&B Rating: International credit ratings linked to your DUNS number

Free DUNS Number Lookup / Ricerca Gratuita

Before applying for a new numero DUNS, check whether your Italian business already has one. CRIBIS and D&B proactively assign DUNS numbers to many Italian companies based on Camera di Commercio data.

Come cercare il tuo numero DUNS

Use our free lookup tool: Enter your Italian company name, Partita IVA, or address in our DUNS Number Lookup tool to search D&B's database.
CRIBIS website: Search through CRIBIS (cribis.com) for Italian business lookups.
D&B global lookup: Search at dnb.com for your Italian business.
Contact CRIBIS directly: Call or email CRIBIS for a manual lookup.

If your business already has a DUNS number, you can start using it immediately. If the data is outdated, request corrections (rettifiche) through CRIBIS.

How to Apply for a DUNS Number in Italy / Come richiedere un numero DUNS

If 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 / Preparare le informazioni aziendali

Gather the following:

Ragione sociale / Denominazione sociale (legal company name) as registered with the Camera di Commercio
Forma giuridica (legal form): SRL, SPA, SAS, SNC, ditta individuale, cooperativa, etc.
Partita IVA (11-digit VAT number)
Codice Fiscale (company tax code)
REA number and Camera di Commercio of registration
Sede legale (registered office address)
Sede operativa (operating address, if different)
Codice ATECO (Italian industry classification code)
Date of incorporation (data di costituzione)
Number of employees (numero dipendenti)
Fatturato annuo (annual revenue, approximate figures acceptable)
Name and contact details of the legale rappresentante (legal representative) or amministratore
PEC address (certified email)

Step 2: Submit Your Application / Inviare la richiesta

Apply through CRIBIS (cribis.com) or through D&B's international website.

Richiesta gratuita (free application): Standard processing takes approximately 30 business days (giorni lavorativi). CRIBIS may contact you for verification.
Richiesta accelerata (expedited application): Paid options are available for faster processing, typically 1-5 business days. Contact CRIBIS for current pricing (prezzi attuali).

Step 3: Verification / Verifica

CRIBIS will verify your information against Camera di Commercio records, Registro delle Imprese filings, and other Italian data sources. They may contact you by phone or PEC to confirm details.

Step 4: Receive Your DUNS Number

Once assigned, your numero DUNS is permanent (permanente) and does not require renewal (rinnovo). Review your D&B/CRIBIS profile for accuracy:

Correct ragione sociale and forma giuridica
Accurate sede legale address
Proper codice ATECO classification
Correct corporate family tree (struttura del gruppo)
Current financial data (dati finanziari)

Step 5: Keep Your Data Updated / Aggiornare i dati

Update CRIBIS after significant changes such as modifications filed with the Camera di Commercio, changes in legal representative, address changes (trasferimento sede), mergers (fusioni), or significant revenue changes.

EU Digital Services Act Compliance / Conformita al DSA

The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) is relevant for Italian businesses, particularly given Italy's significant e-commerce market and digital platform ecosystem.

Article 30: Trader Verification

Online marketplaces must verify information about traders on their platforms. A DUNS number serves as a reliable identifier for this verification process. Italian businesses operating online marketplaces (mercati online) need to integrate trader verification into their compliance workflows.

Italian Businesses on Platforms

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

AGCOM Enforcement

Italy's AGCOM (Autorita per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni) has a role in DSA enforcement within Italy. As the DSA regulatory framework matures, DUNS-based verification may become increasingly standard for Italian digital businesses.

Italian Government Procurement / Appalti Pubblici

Codice dei Contratti Pubblici

Italian public procurement is governed by the Codice dei Contratti Pubblici (Legislative Decree 36/2023, which replaced the previous D.Lgs. 50/2016). While this code does not mandate DUNS numbers, D&B/CRIBIS data is widely used in the Italian procurement ecosystem:

Qualificazione dei fornitori: Contracting authorities (stazioni appaltanti) reference CRIBIS/D&B credit reports when evaluating supplier financial capacity and reliability.
SOA qualification: Companies seeking SOA (Societa Organismo di Attestazione) qualification for public works may find that their D&B credit profile supports their financial assessment.
ANAC requirements: ANAC (Autorita Nazionale Anticorruzione), Italy's anti-corruption authority overseeing procurement, promotes transparency in supplier evaluation where D&B data can play a supporting role.

EU Cross-Border Tenders

Italian 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. For more, see our guide to DUNS and government contracts.

Defence Procurement

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

Considerations Specific to Italian Businesses

Ditte Individuali (Sole Proprietorships)

Italian ditte individuali can obtain DUNS numbers. While D&B/CRIBIS may have less data on sole traders compared to SRL or SPA companies, sole proprietors who trade internationally or work with platforms requiring DUNS verification should apply. Be prepared to provide your Visura Camerale and proof of trading activity.

Artigiani (Artisan Businesses)

Italy has a strong tradition of artisan businesses (imprese artigiane) registered in the Albo delle Imprese Artigiane. These businesses can obtain DUNS numbers, which is particularly relevant for artisan exporters in sectors like fashion, food, furniture, and luxury goods where international buyers may request D&B verification.

Cooperative

Italian cooperatives (cooperative) are a significant part of the business landscape. Cooperatives registered with the Camera di Commercio and the Albo delle Cooperative can obtain DUNS numbers through the standard process.

Multiple Locations / Sedi Operative

D&B assigns separate DUNS numbers to each business location (sede operativa). If your Italian company has its sede legale in Milan and operating locations in Rome, Turin, and Naples, each location may receive its own DUNS number linked in a corporate family tree. Ensure the headquarters is correctly identified.

Cross-Border European Operations

Italian companies working with partners in Germany, France, and other EU countries often encounter DUNS requirements from both sides. See our guides to DUNS numbers in Germany and DUNS numbers in France for cross-border context.

Frequently Asked Questions / Domande Frequenti

Il numero DUNS e gratuito in Italia? / Is the DUNS number free in Italy?

Si / Yes. The basic DUNS number is free. Expedited processing and premium CRIBIS/D&B services are paid.

Quanto tempo ci vuole per ottenere un numero DUNS? / How long does it take?

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

La Partita IVA sostituisce il DUNS? / Does the Partita IVA replace the DUNS?

No. The Partita IVA and DUNS number serve different purposes. The Partita IVA identifies you for Italian and EU tax purposes; the DUNS number identifies you globally and links to an international credit profile.

Come posso verificare un numero DUNS? / How can I verify a DUNS number?

Use our free DUNS lookup tool to search for any Italian or international company's DUNS number (verifica numero DUNS).

Una ditta individuale puo ottenere un numero DUNS? / Can a sole proprietorship get a DUNS?

Yes. Ditte individuali, liberi professionisti, and all other Italian business structures can obtain DUNS numbers.

CRIBIS e Dun & Bradstreet sono la stessa cosa? / Are CRIBIS and D&B the same?

CRIBIS is D&B's Italian partner and member of the D&B Worldwide Network. CRIBIS manages D&B data and DUNS number services for the Italian market. Your DUNS number issued through CRIBIS is the same globally recognized identifier used by D&B worldwide.

Next Steps / Prossimi Passi

Search for your DUNS number to check if CRIBIS/D&B already has your Italian 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 Italy 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 Italian businesses operating in international markets, a DUNS number is a free, practical tool for global commercial credibility. Given that CRIBIS/D&B already maintains extensive records on Italian businesses through Camera di Commercio and other public sources, most established Italian companies can obtain their numero DUNS quickly by first checking whether one has already been assigned.