Turn a PDF invoice into a Factur-X / ZUGFeRD hybrid: a human-readable PDF/A-3 with the machine-readable CII XML embedded. AI OCR extracts the seller, buyer, SIREN/SIRET, lines and VAT; you review the data and download a compliant Factur-X EN 16931 file — ready for France's September 2026 B2B mandate (transmitted via your Plateforme Agréée) and German B2B e-invoicing.
Drag and drop the PDF — or a scan or phone photo. AI OCR (Azure Document Intelligence with an e-invoicing-tuned post-processing layer) extracts the seller and buyer details, SIREN/SIRET and VAT numbers, invoice lines, VAT breakdown and totals into a structured form.
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Review and pick the Factur-X profile
Check the extracted fields — every value is editable before export. Select Factur-X EN 16931 (PDF) as the output profile. The EN 16931 (COMFORT) profile is the one recommended for the French B2B mandate and German B2B e-invoicing, and it is accepted by Chorus Pro for B2G.
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Download and transmit
You get a PDF/A-3 that opens like any invoice PDF but carries the embedded factur-x.xml (CII). The XML is validated against EN 16931 — and when the seller is established in France, additionally against the French BR-FR-CTC business rules (FNFE schematron). Send it to your customer, upload to Chorus Pro, or hand it to your Plateforme Agréée.
What you get
A true Factur-X hybrid PDF
PDF/A-3 with the CII invoice embedded as factur-x.xml and the Factur-X XMP metadata set — not just a PDF with an attachment. Factur-X and ZUGFeRD 2.x are the same format, so the file works for French and German recipients alike. Humans read the PDF; software reads the XML.
French rules checked automatically
For French sellers the embedded XML is additionally checked against the official FNFE BR-FR-CTC business rules (the same rule set the September 2026 ecosystem uses) — SIREN/SIRET identifiers are carried with the correct scheme, and the validator reports any French-specific findings before you send the file.
Not a Plateforme Agréée — by design
From 1 September 2026, French domestic B2B invoices are exchanged through accredited platforms (Plateformes Agréées, formerly PDP). aiDoks is not a PA and does not transmit invoices: it produces the compliant Factur-X file that you (or your ERP) hand to your PA — and that your customers outside the French exchange can receive by any channel.
One form, several formats
The same invoice data can also be exported as France's CIUS-FR XML (UBL or CII syntax), PEPPOL BIS 3.0, XRechnung or national formats — one form, every output your customers ask for. No PDF? Fill the form manually and generate Factur-X directly.
Why convert PDFs to Factur-X?
From 1 September 2026, a plain PDF stops being a valid invoice between French VAT-registered businesses: every company must be able to receive structured e-invoices, and large and mid-size companies must issue them, with the remaining companies following on 1 September 2027. Factur-X is the gentlest way in — your invoice keeps a normal, human-readable PDF face while carrying the structured data the law requires. France has confirmed the date will not move; penalties are simply waived until at least January 2027 for businesses making a genuine effort to comply.
The same file also serves German B2B e-invoicing (ZUGFeRD and Factur-X are technically identical) and is accepted by Chorus Pro for French public-sector invoices — one hybrid format covering the two biggest European mandates.
Good to know
Profile — the converter produces the EN 16931 (COMFORT) profile: full line items, fully EN 16931-compliant, the profile recommended for both mandates.
Transmission is separate — for French domestic B2B from September 2026, the file travels via your Plateforme Agréée; aiDoks produces the file, your PA transmits and reports it.
Credit notes supported — the same flow generates Factur-X credit notes (type code 381).
Validate before sending — the free Factur-X validator checks any file (yours or a supplier's) against the same EN 16931 + French rule set.
The recommended workflow
Convert the PDF, review the extracted data (check the SIREN/SIRET and VAT numbers — identifier errors are the most common rejection cause), download the Factur-X, and run it through the free validator if you edited anything by hand. Then transmit: to your Plateforme Agréée for French domestic B2B, to Chorus Pro for French B2G, or directly to your customer elsewhere.
PDF to Factur-X: FAQ
Is a plain PDF invoice still legal in France after 1 September 2026?
Between French VAT-registered businesses, no — from 1 September 2026 every company must be able to receive structured e-invoices, large and mid-size companies must issue them, and the remaining companies follow on 1 September 2027. Invoices are exchanged through accredited platforms (Plateformes Agréées). A plain PDF no longer satisfies the mandate; a Factur-X hybrid does, because it carries the structured CII XML inside a normal PDF.
What exactly is Factur-X?
Factur-X is a hybrid e-invoice: a PDF/A-3 document that humans read like any invoice PDF, with a machine-readable CII XML (factur-x.xml) embedded plus XMP metadata declaring the profile. It is technically identical to German ZUGFeRD 2.x and is one of the core formats ("socle") of the French reform, alongside UBL and CII.
Do I still need a Plateforme Agréée if I generate Factur-X here?
For French domestic B2B invoices from September 2026, yes — transmission runs through an accredited platform (Plateforme Agréée, formerly called PDP), which also handles the e-reporting to the tax authority. aiDoks is not a PA: it produces the compliant Factur-X file that you or your ERP hand to your PA. For B2G you can submit via Chorus Pro, and for customers outside the French exchange you can send the file by any channel.
Which Factur-X profile does the converter produce?
EN 16931 (also called COMFORT) — full line items and fully EN 16931-compliant, which is the profile recommended for the French B2B mandate and German B2B e-invoicing. When the seller is established in France, the embedded XML is additionally validated against the official FNFE BR-FR-CTC business rules before you download it.
Does the same file work for German ZUGFeRD requirements?
Yes. ZUGFeRD 2.x and Factur-X are the same technical format with two names — a Factur-X EN 16931 file is a valid ZUGFeRD 2.x EN 16931 file. German B2B e-invoicing accepts it, so one output covers French and German customers.
Is the PDF to Factur-X conversion free?
Yes — the free tier includes AI OCR extraction and Factur-X generation. Review the extracted data before export; the generated XML always reflects exactly what you approved in the form. Pro removes the daily limits and the PDF watermark.