How to Convert a PDF Invoice to Factur-X
A PDF invoice and a Factur-X invoice are not the same thing. A regular PDF, even one emailed from your accounting software, carries no structured data a machine can read. Factur-X embeds an EN 16931 compliant XML layer inside a PDF/A-3b container, so the file stays human-readable while accounting systems and the French PPF can process it automatically. The converter above turns your existing PDF, DOCX, or XLSX invoice into that compliant hybrid file.
What the Factur-X converter does
Upload an existing invoice and the converter reads it, extracts the data, and rebuilds it as a compliant file in four steps:
- It reads your PDF, DOCX, or XLSX invoice and detects the seller, buyer, line items, tax rates, and totals.
- It maps the data to the EN 16931 semantic model that Factur-X uses.
- It generates a PDF/A-3b document with the structured CII XML embedded as an attachment.
- It validates the result against the official EN 16931 Schematron before you download it.
Why a scanned or exported PDF is not enough
Under the 2026 French mandate, a PDF on its own is not a valid electronic invoice. Certified platforms (PDP) and the PPF reject files that lack the structured XML layer. Converting your existing PDFs is the fastest way to become compliant without changing how you produce invoices today: keep your current template, then convert before you send.
Check the extracted data before you send
Automatic extraction is accurate, but you should always review the result, because figures from an unusual layout or a low-quality scan can be misread. To confirm every field, the converter can hand the extracted data to the guided Factur-X editor so you can adjust it before generating the final file. Review in the guided editor →
Convert, then validate
Every file the converter produces is checked against EN 16931 before download. To re-check a file from another system, or to confirm a converted file meets a specific partner's requirements, run it through the validator. Validate a Factur-X file →
New to the format? Our guide explains what Factur-X is, who the 2026 mandate affects, and how to avoid the most common compliance mistakes. Read our complete Factur-X guide →