E-Invoicing in Spain: Crea y Crece, Verifactu & EN 16931
Spain runs three parallel tracks: Facturae for public-sector B2G (via FACe), a B2B e-invoicing mandate coming under the Crea y Crece law, and the Verifactu anti-fraud software requirement. The B2B mandate is built on EN 16931-compatible formats. aiDoks validates and generates EN 16931, PEPPOL and Factur-X — free.
Since 2015, suppliers to Spanish public administrations must send structured Facturae XML invoices through the FACe portal (or a regional equivalent). Facturae is Spain's national e-invoice format.
2026
Verifactu — anti-fraud software
The Verifactu regulation (Royal Decree 1007/2023) sets integrity and traceability requirements for invoicing software. Companies must comply from 1 January 2026 and the self-employed from 1 July 2026; software that reports records to the AEAT in real time runs in Verifactu mode.
B2B
Crea y Crece — B2B mandate
The Crea y Crece law (Ley 18/2022) introduces mandatory B2B e-invoicing. Once the implementing regulation is published, companies with turnover above €8M must comply within one year and all other businesses within two years. The format must be interoperable and EN 16931-compatible.
Which format do you need?
Facturae (B2G, national format)
Facturae is the Spanish XML e-invoice format required for public-sector invoicing via FACe. It is signed with an electronic signature (XAdES). It is a Spain-specific schema, distinct from PEPPOL UBL.
EN 16931 (UBL / CII) — B2B baseline
The Crea y Crece B2B mandate requires formats interoperable with the EN 16931 European standard, including UBL and CII. aiDoks generates and validates EN 16931 UBL and CII so you are ready for B2B interoperability.
PEPPOL BIS 3.0 (cross-border)
For invoicing EU partners, PEPPOL BIS 3.0 UBL is the standard. Spanish companies trading across the EU use PEPPOL access points; the same EN 16931 invoice works.
Factur-X / hybrid PDF
Trading with French or German partners? They may send Factur-X / ZUGFeRD (hybrid PDF). aiDoks validates Factur-X and converts it to PEPPOL UBL, so you can accept and re-issue in the format each partner requires.
Crea y Crece and the B2B mandate
The Crea y Crece law makes structured B2B e-invoicing mandatory in Spain to reduce late payments and improve transparency. It will run through private e-invoicing platforms plus a public solution operated by the tax agency, with the formats required to be interoperable and EN 16931-compatible. The exact start dates depend on the implementing regulation (reglamento), which is in its final stages: companies above €8M turnover comply first, smaller businesses a year later.
What is Verifactu?
Verifactu is separate from the invoice format — it governs the invoicing software itself. Under Royal Decree 1007/2023, billing systems must guarantee the integrity, traceability and inalterability of invoice records, and optionally transmit them to the AEAT (tax agency) in real time (the Verifactu mode). Companies are covered from 1 January 2026 and the self-employed from 1 July 2026. The Basque Country and Navarra run their own equivalent, TicketBAI.
How aiDoks helps Spanish businesses
aiDoks validates and generates EN 16931 invoices in UBL and CII, validates Factur-X / ZUGFeRD, and converts between PEPPOL UBL, CII and Factur-X — the formats that underpin the Crea y Crece B2B mandate and cross-border EU trade. Validate any invoice against the EN 16931 rules before sending so it is accepted on the first try. For the Spain-specific Facturae format used by FACe, use a Facturae tool alongside aiDoks for the EN 16931 / PEPPOL side.
E-invoicing in Spain: FAQ
Is e-invoicing mandatory in Spain?
For B2G, yes — since 2015, invoices to Spanish public administrations must be sent as structured Facturae XML through the FACe portal. For B2B, a mandate is being introduced under the Crea y Crece law; it becomes mandatory once the implementing regulation is published, starting with companies over €8M turnover (one year later) and all other businesses (two years later). Separately, the Verifactu software requirements apply to invoicing systems from 2026.
What is the Crea y Crece law?
Ley 18/2022 ("Crea y Crece") is the Spanish law that introduces mandatory B2B electronic invoicing to cut late payments and increase transparency. Invoices will be exchanged through private platforms and a public solution, in formats interoperable with EN 16931 (UBL, CII, Facturae, EDIFACT). The start dates are set by an implementing regulation that is in its final stages.
What is Verifactu?
Verifactu is the anti-fraud regulation for invoicing software (Royal Decree 1007/2023). It requires billing systems to guarantee that invoice records cannot be altered and to keep a traceable log; software can also send records to the AEAT (tax agency) in real time, which is the "Verifactu" mode. It applies to companies from 1 January 2026 and the self-employed from 1 July 2026. It is about the software, not the invoice exchange format.
What are Facturae and FACe?
Facturae is Spain's national XML e-invoice format, digitally signed with XAdES. FACe (Punto General de Entrada de Facturas Electrónicas) is the public portal through which suppliers submit Facturae invoices to the General State Administration; many regions have their own equivalent portals. Facturae is a Spain-specific schema, separate from PEPPOL UBL.
What format will B2B e-invoicing use?
The Crea y Crece mandate requires formats interoperable with the EN 16931 European standard — including UBL, CII and Facturae. EN 16931 UBL/CII (and PEPPOL BIS 3.0) are the safest cross-format choices. aiDoks generates and validates EN 16931 UBL and CII, so you can prepare interoperable B2B invoices today.
How does aiDoks help with Spanish e-invoicing?
aiDoks validates and generates EN 16931 invoices (UBL and CII), validates Factur-X / ZUGFeRD, and converts between PEPPOL UBL, CII and Factur-X — covering the EN 16931 interoperability the Crea y Crece B2B mandate relies on and cross-border EU trade. Free to start, no sign-up required to validate.