Peppol & E-Invoice Format Detector
Upload any XML or PDF file and instantly identify the e-invoice format. Supports UBL, CII, Peppol BIS, XRechnung, ZUGFeRD, Factur-X, NLCIUS, and FatturaPA. Everything runs in your browser. Your files never leave your computer.
Detect an e-invoice format
XML, PDF
Upload an XML or PDF e-invoice
Drag and drop a file or choose one. PDF 10 MB at most, XML 5 MB at most.
- Detects
- Peppol BIS 3.0, XRechnung, ZUGFeRD, Factur-X, NLCIUS, FatturaPA
- Files
- XML up to 5 MB, PDF up to 10 MB
- Your file
- Runs in your browser, never uploaded
- Price
- Free, no account
Definition. What is the E-Invoice Format Detector?
The E-Invoice Format Detector is a free tool that identifies the exact format of any electronic invoice file. Upload an XML or PDF file and get instant results. The tool detects the format family (UBL or CII), the specific standard (Peppol BIS 3.0, XRechnung, ZUGFeRD, Factur-X, NLCIUS, FatturaPA), the profile level, and whether the document is EN 16931 compliant.
For PDF files, the tool checks for embedded XML attachments. ZUGFeRD and Factur-X invoices are hybrid documents: a human-readable PDF with machine-readable XML data inside. The detector extracts and identifies the embedded XML automatically.
Six families. Supported formats.
UBL 2.1 (Invoice & CreditNote)
The Universal Business Language standard. Used by Peppol, NLCIUS, and XRechnung (UBL syntax). The most common format for cross-border e-invoicing in Europe.CII (Cross Industry Invoice)
UN/CEFACT standard used by ZUGFeRD, Factur-X, and XRechnung (CII syntax). The default XML format for German and French e-invoicing.Peppol BIS 3.0
The pan-European standard for Peppol network invoicing. Based on UBL 2.1 with specific CustomizationID. Mandatory for Belgian B2B since January 2026.XRechnung
German e-invoicing standard. Available in both UBL and CII syntax. Mandatory for invoices to German public authorities. Fully EN 16931 compliant.ZUGFeRD / Factur-X
Hybrid PDF+XML format. A regular PDF with embedded CII XML data. Multiple profiles: Minimum, Basic, EN 16931 (Comfort), Extended.NLCIUS & FatturaPA
Country-specific formats. NLCIUS (SI-UBL 2.0) is the Dutch national standard. FatturaPA is the Italian e-invoicing format mandated by the tax authority.
Three steps. How format detection works.
Upload your file
Drag and drop an XML or PDF file into the upload area. For PDFs, embedded XML attachments are extracted automatically. Processing starts immediately in your browser.XML is analyzed
The tool inspects the root element, XML namespace, CustomizationID (for UBL), and GuidelineSpecifiedDocumentContextParameter (for CII). These identifiers determine the exact format and profile.Results displayed
You get the format name, format family (UBL or CII), specific standard, profile level, EN 16931 compliance status, and a direct link to the appropriate viewer tool.
100% private. No data leaves your browser.
This tool processes everything client-side with JavaScript. Your files are never sent to any server. No account required. Open the page, upload your file, done.
Side by side. E-invoice format comparison.
| Feature | UBL 2.1 | CII | Hybrid (PDF+XML) |
|---|---|---|---|
| File type | UBL 2.1XML only | CIIXML only | Hybrid (PDF+XML)PDF with embedded XML |
| Standards | UBL 2.1Peppol BIS 3.0, XRechnung, NLCIUS | CIIXRechnung (CII), plain CII | Hybrid (PDF+XML)ZUGFeRD, Factur-X |
| EN 16931 | UBL 2.1Yes (most profiles) | CIIDepends on profile | Hybrid (PDF+XML)Depends on profile |
| Human-readable | UBL 2.1Needs viewer | CIINeeds viewer | Hybrid (PDF+XML)Yes (PDF layer) |
| Key identifier | UBL 2.1CustomizationID | CIIGuidelineID | Hybrid (PDF+XML)Embedded XML GuidelineID |
| Used in | UBL 2.1Belgium, Netherlands, EU-wide (Peppol) | CIIGermany, France, Austria | Hybrid (PDF+XML)Germany, France (B2B) |
FAQ. Frequently asked questions.
Something else? Write to hello@e-invoice.be.
What file formats can this tool detect?
The tool detects all major e-invoice formats: UBL 2.1 (Invoice and CreditNote), Peppol BIS 3.0, XRechnung (UBL and CII syntax), CII (Cross Industry Invoice), ZUGFeRD 2.x (all profiles), Factur-X, NLCIUS (SI-UBL 2.0), and FatturaPA. For PDFs, it checks for embedded XML attachments used in ZUGFeRD and Factur-X invoices.
Is my invoice data safe?
Yes. The tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to any server. All processing happens client-side with JavaScript. Your invoice data stays completely private.
What is the difference between UBL and CII?
UBL (Universal Business Language) and CII (Cross Industry Invoice) are two XML syntaxes for electronic invoices. Both can be EN 16931 compliant. UBL is used by Peppol BIS 3.0 and is common in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. CII is used by ZUGFeRD and Factur-X and is common in Germany and France. XRechnung supports both syntaxes.
How does the tool identify the format?
For XML files, the tool checks the root element name (Invoice, CreditNote, CrossIndustryInvoice, FatturaElettronica), the XML namespace, and specific identifiers like CustomizationID (for UBL) or GuidelineSpecifiedDocumentContextParameter (for CII). These identifiers uniquely identify the standard and profile.
Can this tool detect ZUGFeRD PDFs?
Yes. ZUGFeRD and Factur-X invoices are PDFs with embedded XML attachments. The tool extracts the XML from the PDF and then identifies the format and profile. It recognizes all ZUGFeRD profiles: Minimum, Basic, EN 16931 (Comfort), and Extended.
What is EN 16931?
EN 16931 is the European standard for electronic invoicing. It defines a semantic data model that all e-invoicing formats in the EU must support. Peppol BIS 3.0, XRechnung, and ZUGFeRD (EN 16931/Comfort and Extended profiles) are all EN 16931 compliant. The format detector shows whether your invoice meets this standard.
What happens if my file is not an e-invoice?
If the uploaded XML has a root element that does not match any known e-invoice format, the tool reports it as an unknown XML format and shows the root element and namespace it found. For PDFs without embedded XML, it reports the file as a plain PDF with no e-invoice data.
Can I view the invoice after detection?
Yes. After format detection, the tool shows a link to the appropriate viewer. UBL and Peppol invoices link to the UBL/Peppol Invoice Viewer. CII and ZUGFeRD invoices link to the ZUGFeRD/CII Viewer. XRechnung invoices link to the XRechnung Viewer. ZUGFeRD PDFs link to the ZUGFeRD XML Extractor.
What is the difference between ZUGFeRD and Factur-X?
ZUGFeRD and Factur-X are technically identical. Both are hybrid PDF+XML formats using CII XML. ZUGFeRD is the German name, Factur-X is the Franco-German name. They share the same profiles and the same XML structure. The detector distinguishes them based on the GuidelineID in the XML.
Does this tool work with Belgian e-invoices?
Yes. Belgian B2B e-invoices use the Peppol BIS 3.0 format (UBL 2.1), which is fully supported. Belgium mandated B2B e-invoicing via Peppol since January 2026. Upload any XML received through the Peppol network to identify its exact format.
Next step. More free Peppol tools and guides.
Tools
- UBL / Peppol Invoice ViewerView and validate UBL 2.1 and Peppol BIS 3.0 XML invoices as readable documents.
- ZUGFeRD / CII ViewerParse and display CII XML invoices. View all fields, tax breakdowns, and payment info.
- XRechnung ViewerView XRechnung invoices in both UBL and CII syntax as human-readable documents.
- ZUGFeRD XML ExtractorExtract embedded XML from ZUGFeRD and Factur-X PDF invoices.
- Peppol & UBL ValidatorOnce detected, check the file against Peppol rules.
- UBL format explorerBrowse and inspect any UBL field interactively.
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