Factur-X is a hybrid PDF+XML e-invoice format that embeds a CII XML file inside a PDF/A-3 document, making it both human-readable and machine-processable.
Factur-X is a hybrid e-invoice format developed jointly by France (FNFE-MPE) and Germany (FeRD), where it is also known as ZUGFeRD. A Factur-X document is a PDF/A-3 file with a machine-readable CII (Cross Industry Invoice) XML file embedded as an attachment. The human-readable PDF shows the invoice visually; the embedded XML carries structured data that an accounting system can parse automatically.
This dual nature makes Factur-X practical for businesses at different stages of e-invoicing adoption. A recipient with no e-invoicing infrastructure can open and process the PDF manually; a recipient with an ERP or AP automation tool can extract and process the embedded XML without touching the PDF at all. The format comes in multiple profiles: MINIMUM (basic buyer data only), BASIC WL (without line items), BASIC, EN 16931, and EXTENDED.
In France, Factur-X in the EN 16931 or EXTENDED profile is one of the accepted formats for the upcoming B2B mandate (alongside UBL 2.1). The French system will be managed through a national platform (PPF) and registered Partner Dematerialisation Platforms (PDPs). Factur-X is also widely accepted for voluntary e-invoicing exchange across France and Germany today.
Invotify Pro exports CII XML conforming to EN 16931, which is the structured data component used in Factur-X. Invotify generates the XML; embedding it into a PDF/A-3 container with the correct PDF metadata is handled by a dedicated Factur-X library or your document workflow tool. For France-specific mandate details, see our France e-invoicing guide.
Factur-X is a hybrid e-invoice format from France (known as ZUGFeRD in its German variant) that embeds a structured CII XML file inside a PDF/A-3 document. The result is a single file that a person can read as a normal PDF and a machine can process from the embedded XML.
A hybrid format means the recipient does not need special software to see the invoice — they open the PDF like any other — while accounting systems can extract the XML for automated booking. This eases the transition to e-invoicing because both human and machine workflows are served by one file.
Yes. The embedded CII XML follows the European standard EN 16931 at its higher profiles, so a Factur-X invoice carries the same structured data as a standalone CII e-invoice. Lower profiles exist for simpler cases that carry less structured detail.
Invotify Pro generates the CII XML that sits at the heart of Factur-X, using the same standards-based export that powers XRechnung. This gives you the machine-readable payload required for a Factur-X workflow alongside your invoice PDF.
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