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Life of the company
Excerpt Kbis and RNE certificate: what are the differences?
Publié le 04 juin 2026 - Entreprendre Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Since the Covenant Act became effective in 2023 and the creation of the RNE, the reference documents which are theextract Kbis and the RNE certificate may be confused because of their similar objectives. However, there are differences between the two documents in some respects.
Extract Kbis and RNE certificate: presentation
What is the Kbis extract?
The Kbis extract is the « identity card » of a company registered in the Trade and businesses Register (RCS). This is an official document attesting to the company's legal status and gathering up-to-date information on the RCS concerning it. It is used to prove that a commercial company is registered with the RCS.
What is the RNE certificate?
The RNE document is the official certificate of registration of a company in the National Register of companies (RNE) issued by the INPI. This document free includes the main elements of identification of the company as they are listed in the RNE with the exception of information whose dissemination in open data is not possible. It is presented in a digital form. It is used to prove the registration of a company with the RNE.
Who is concerned by the Kbis extract and the RNE certificate?
THEextract Kbis relates to Commercial companies while theRNE certificate is broader since it concerns all companies (including craftsmen and professionals).
Please note
As an indication, the following is a summary table of documents proving registration in a register:
Activity | Current Document(s) | Old document needed |
|---|---|---|
Commercial |
| Extract K or Kbis |
Craft | Certificate of registration RNE | Extract D1 |
Liberal | Certificate of registration RNE | Notice of registration in the SIRENE directory of INSEE |
What information is contained in the Kbis extract and the RNE certificate?
The Kbis extract and the RNE certificate contain the following elements:
Extract Kbis | RNE certificate (for one) | ESN certificate (for an incorporated company) |
|---|---|---|
Siren Number | Siren Number | Siren Number |
EPA Code | EPA Code | EPA Code |
Establishment of the company with the Siret number | Company establishments (primary and secondary) with their Siret numbers | Company establishments (primary and secondary) with their Siret numbers |
Date of creation of the company | Date of creation of the company | Date of creation of the company |
Company name | Name | Company name |
Address of the registered office | Address | Address of the registered office |
Information elements of the executive officer | Elements of identification of the manager | Essential information on leaders |
x | Activities carried out | Activities carried out |
x | APRM code (for artisanal companies) | APRM code (for artisanal companies) |
x | x | Legal form of the company |
x | x | Duration of company |
x | x | Company share capital |
x | x | Key information on statutory auditors or responsible partners (if applicable) |
What is the legal value of the Kbis extract and the RNE certificate?
The RNE certificate shall attest to the information contained therein on the day of its issue and until proven otherwise.
The Kbis extract is issued by the Registry of the Commercial Court, which gives it the value of an authentic instrument. It contains most of the up-to-date information that is reported by a company upon registration with the SCR.
In this sense, if the RNE extract is incorrect, it will be possible to use the Kbis extract for a commercial company.
In which cases is a Kbis extract or an RNE certificate required?
The Kbis extract must be provided during procedures such as opening a professional bank account, purchasing materials from a supplier or proving the company's legal status.
The RNE certificate can also be sent for these procedures. He has replaced the Kbis extract for many administrative procedures (application for a public contract, application for a commercial exploitation license...).)
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