Your bank, a client or an organisation asks for an avis de situation Sirene, sometimes called an “Insee certificate”?
This document is free to download in a few minutes from Insee’s official website, the French national statistics institute. All you need is your Siren or Siret number.
What is the Sirene status notice?
It is your business’s identity card in the Sirene register kept by Insee. It shows the information as updated the day before you consult it:
- The Siren number of the business (9 digits) and the Siret of each establishment (14 digits).
- The company name or the entrepreneur’s name.
- The address of the head office and establishments.
- The legal category: sole trader, SAS, SARL, association…
- The main activity, as an APE code.
- The status of the business: active or ceased, with the date.
Insee states it clearly: the status notice has no legal value. It does not replace a Kbis extract where one is required.
Who is it for?
Every business and establishment listed in the Sirene register can get one:
Micro-entrepreneurs and sole traders
It is often their main proof of registration, especially for a liberal activity, which has no Kbis or K extract.
Companies
SAS, SASU, SARL, EURL, SA, SCI… The notice complements the Kbis extract, which directors can get for free. See our guide to the free Kbis
Associations and public bodies
As soon as they are listed in the register, for example to hire staff or apply for a grant.
Step by step
- Go to the official website avis-situation-sirene.insee.fr, Insee’s service.
- Enter your number Siren (9 digits) for the business, or Siret (14 digits) for a specific establishment.
- Check the record shown Business, head office, establishments: you can also display all establishments.
- Download the notice It is saved as a PDF, ready to send.
Don’t know your Siren number? Look it up on the Annuaire des entreprises, the public business search website.
Beware of paid websites. Insee’s Sirene services are free. Insee warns against people posing as Insee and asking for fees: never pay for a status notice.
What if your data is not public?
A sole trader can object to the public release of some information, such as their name and exact address, through an online request to Insee.
Third parties then no longer see this information on public websites. You remain free to send your status notice yourself to anyone you choose.
Sirene notice, Kbis or RNE certificate: which one?
Sirene status notice
Free, for any business in the register. No legal value: it proves your Siren, address and activity.
Kbis or K extract
For companies and traders registered with the RCS. Free for directors on MonIdenum, paid for third parties.
RNE registration certificate
Free on the Annuaire des entreprises, for businesses on the national business register (RNE). It can serve as proof of registration.
If in doubt, ask which document is expected: many organisations are satisfied with the Siren number.
With your accountant
We ask sole traders for a recent Sirene status notice when they join us (after registration or a change of accountant), at each change of situation (address, activity…), and at least once a year. It lets us check your declared activity, APE code and address.
See how to get started with us
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Already have an accountant? See first how to change accountant, in 3 steps, before booking your meeting.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sirene status notice free?
Yes. It is free to download from Insee’s official website, avis-situation-sirene.insee.fr. Beware of websites that charge for it.
How does the Sirene status notice differ from a Kbis extract?
The Sirene status notice is an Insee information sheet with no legal value. The Kbis extract certifies a company’s registration with the RCS and is binding on third parties.
Sirene notice or Kbis: does a micro-entrepreneur have a Kbis?
Only with a commercial activity: they then get a K extract. With a liberal activity, their main proof is the Sirene status notice, supplemented where needed by the RNE registration certificate.
How long is the Sirene status notice valid?
It has no validity period: it reflects the register as of the day before download. Many organisations ask for a recent notice, less than three months old.
My address or APE code is wrong on the Sirene notice: what should I do?
Changes go through the single business formalities portal (guichet unique). Insee then updates the Sirene register free of charge.
Insee’s website is not responding: how can I get my Sirene status notice?
At busy times the website may be disrupted: Insee suggests trying again later in the day.
Sirene status notice in hand: does your accountant in France also support sole traders under the real regime?
Yes, from registration, as part of the accounting and tax engagement: bookkeeping, profit return and VAT, taking your social contributions and income into account. Your declared activity, APE code and address are checked when you join, then every year. Micro-entrepreneur? We support you when you move to the real regime or to a company. In 2 minutes, your meeting is booked; in 5 more minutes, your fee estimate is shown. Get my free meeting and quote
Sole trader under the real regime already working with an accountant: how do you join us?
It is simple: you send your termination letter to your previous firm by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt (we give you an example to adapt); once our engagement letter is signed, we organise the handover of your file with them, in line with professional rules. When you join, we also ask for a recent Sirene status notice, downloaded free of charge from Insee’s website. See the steps to change accountant