France’s Business Registry (2026 Update)
France’s business registry, Infogreffe, provides a searchable online portal for financial crime professionals conducting due diligence on French companies.
But it’s not without problems. Accessing ownership information isn’t easy – whether via shareholder data or beneficial ownership disclosures – while the APIs only offer access to basic information.
This article is for financial crime professionals trying to search Infogreffe. It covers the available data, how to access it, and beneficial ownership information.
What Is the French Business Registry?
Infogreffe is a publicly searchable online database that pulls company registry data from Les Register National des Entreprises (RCN), the national business registrar of France.
On 1 January 2023, the 141 court registrars scattered across France were amalgamated under the RCN.
What Data Does It Provide?
Infogreffe provides advanced company registry data to the public, including:
Basic: Company name, address and SIREN number.
Financial: Revenue and debt.
Legal: Court proceedings and liquidation.
Historical: Changes to company information.
People: Directors, senior officials (like CEOs), and staff (if filed).
Ownership: Beneficial ownership information (for those with a legitimate interest) and share increases.
Crucially, shareholder information is difficult to obtain in France.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Infogreffe’s Online Portal
Infogreffe allows users to search, download documents (for a price), and even “set up surveillance” on legal entities they wish to monitor.
Remember: Infogreffe is entirely in French, offering no English translation.
1. Go to the Website.
It’s located at infogreffe.fr
2. Find the Search Console.
You’ll find it on the main page.
3. Search for a Company.
You can search by company name or location, for example. Hit ‘Search’.
4. View the Results.
You’ll see basic information. For example:
Company name
SIREN Code
Address
Activity code.
5. Enhanced View.
Click on a company. You can see more detailed company registry data.
SIRET Code
Administrative department
Registration date
Activity code
Legal status and legal form
Head office
Staff (if disclosed)
Revenue (if obligated to file) – this includes historical data.
“Leader” – essentially, the CEO, owner, or partner.
Beneficial ownership information (you must prove your legitimate interest).
5. Access Documents.
You must set up an Infogreffe account and prepare to pay by credit card for each document.
Let’s go over the different documents available on Infogreffe
Available Documents
These are the available documents. The prices listed were seen in January 2025.
KBIS (€2.13): A summary of a company’s registered details, including its name, registration date, business address, SIREN identification number, EUID number, directors and auditors, and share capital. Additional: You can select the date range for the extract.
Debt Status (€2.13 - €51.12): This provides a detailed view of a company’s debts, either a basic or a detailed overview.
Historique des Modifications (€5.31): Changes made to a company's registration information. Any change is paired with the date it was made and the accompanying legal regulation under which the change was made.
“Proceedings” (€2.16): These documents prove whether a company is in legal proceedings, be it receivership or liquidation.
Annual Accounts (€3 - €6.36): Essential financial statements and reports that provide insights into the company's economic activities and financial position. These range from simple summaries to detailed overviews.
Certificates (€6.36): Purchasable depending on what the company has filed, includes certified acts and statutes (Copie certifiée d'actes et statuts).
Performance Reports (€8 - €74): These provide a detailed overview of a company’s financial health, including their “rating, diagnosis and assessment”. Again, these are priced based on the depth offered.
For a complete KYB pack, Infogreffe charges €73.44 for a complete pack of KYB documents, including a KBIS extract, status updates, debts, change history, and others.
Available APIs
Infogreffe offers several APIs:
The Sirene API: A free API that provides information on companies and establishments registered in the Sirene Inter-administrative Register since its creation in 1973, including SIREN and SIRET numbers, company name, NAF code, registration date, headquarters, and legal form.
The Enterprise API (Répertoire National des Entreprises API): Provides data on the identity of companies and associations, such as address, KBIS extract, workforce, officers, social and tax certificates, certifications, and financial data.
The Enterprise Search API: Lets you search for a company on the Sirene database by its name or address.
Open Data
The APIs, as explained above, are based on the open data available produced by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), available in compressed CSV files. These include:
Complete list of active and inactive legal entities (including branches) registered with SIRENE.
Records of historical changes to registered legal entities.
Succession links between different establishments.
Duplicate SIRENE numbers.
Remember: This Open Data offering is particularly useful for statistical analysis, initial screening of a large client portfolio, or general background checks. However, AML/CTF teams should note that it does not include the entirety of the premium data offered by Infogreffe.
Beneficial Ownership Information in France
France provides access to UBO data to persons who can prove they have a “legitimate interest”, per the EU’s 6th Anti Money Laundering Directive. This includes journalists, non-EU obliged entities (banks, law firms), and civil society. Not, however, to the “general public”.
Accessing French UBO Data
According to Transparency International, accessing French UBO data isn’t clear-cut for those with a legitimate interest.
Where: Granted through the Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle’s (INPI) LIA portal.
Requirements: Users must create an account, provide passport verification, a national registration number, translated documentation outlining AML responsibilities, and a signed declaration form.
Challenges: Transparency International had to send its application in French and provide a SIREN number (only available to French entities).
Processing Time: It took Transparency International 20 days to gain access to the register.
How Reliable Is the Data?
Nominee Shareholders Are Banned in France
The use of nominee shareholders is banned in France, with some exceptions. According to the World Bank, it is permissible in cases of:
“French companies whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market.
A multilateral trading facility that issues bearer shares registered in the name of registered intermediaries when the shareholder is non-resident.”
Company Filings Are Unverified
Unlike other world-leading registries – for example, Singapore’s ACRA and the UK’s Companies House – Infogreffe doesn’t verify the information submitted to them.
How to Automatically Verify French UBOs
Verifying French UBOs is difficult.
For one, it’s difficult for third-country obliged entities to access the beneficial ownership register. Coupled with the limited shareholder data available in France – and its manual nature – it makes verifying complex, cross-border structures time-consuming and resource-intensive.
UBO Verify verifies French UBOs instantly by extracting shareholder data from company extracts in real time and delivering it as structured data to KYB teams worldwide, either via API or online portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a SIREN Number?
The SIREN number is a unique nine-digit business identification number that proves a business is registered. It’s issued by the French National Institute of Statistics (INSEE) upon business registration and is requested by all French administrations when dealing with a business.
What Is a SIRET Number?
The SIRET number is a 14-digit identification number assigned to each branch of a business in France, making it easier to locate business establishments. It consists of the SIREN number (first 9 digits) and a 5-digit NIC (Internal Classification Code), and it’s issued once a business registers with specific entities like RCN or Chambre de Métiers.
The Difference Between the Registration Date and the Transfer Date
The ‘registration date’ is when a legal entity was registered with the Trade and Companies Register; the ‘transfer date’ is part of the old localised system, referring to when a company’s jurisdiction was transferred from one RCS to another. This is important to know.
What Is an APE Code?
An APE code is a 5-digit alphanumeric code comprising 4 digits and 1 letter assigned by INSEE to companies registered in France that identify their main business activity.
The code is based on the French national classification of economic activities, known as NAF (La Nomenclature d'Activités Française). The APE code changes if a company’s activity changes and is requested through the Companies Formalities Centre (CFE).