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ZUGFeRD Invoice Generator API

Test the ZUGFeRD 2.1 REST API, submit your invoice details and download a validated PDF/A-3 with embedded CII XML. No code required.

Have an existing invoice? Upload a PDF and we'll prefill the form
Invoice Details
Seller (From)

Provide at least one of Legal ID or Tax ID / VAT

Buyer (To)

Flexible PDF output

Your design, or ours

Every ZUGFeRD you create comes back as a valid PDF/A-3 with the CII XML embedded. You decide how the page itself looks.

Auto-generate using our PDF templates

Send only your invoice data and we render a clean, professional PDF for you. Nothing to design, nothing to maintain.

  • Match your brand with a custom brand colour and a logo
  • Labels and dates in English, German or French
  • A consistent, validated layout every time

Bring your own PDF

Already have a beautifully designed invoice? Hand us your PDF and we embed the compliant ZUGFeRD XML straight into it.

  • Keep your exact layout, fonts and branding
  • Point us to your PDF with a single URL
  • A fully compliant hybrid PDF, your way
How it works

We keep you up to date.
Integration stays the same.

Invoices go in, validated invoices come out. When an authority publishes a new rule set, we load it on its effective date while the line keeps moving.

Versions Updated Automatically rule sets loaded from the authorities
Peppol BIS schematron
3.0.183.0.193.0.20
swapped on the effective date
Also in force
EN 16931 · SI-UBL · XRechnung · PINT
tracked on the same calendar
Created Validated
your invoice data in compliant invoice out ✓

You don't track regulatory updates to change the rulebooks. We ship it while it runs, on it's effective dates.

Developer API

Built for Developers

Submit a JSON invoice document, receive a PDF/A-3 with embedded ZUGFeRD XML. Built for ultra-high concurrency and sub-second generation.

  • Supports all formats: DOCX, XLSX, PDF, images, no preprocessing needed
  • Works on scanned and photographed invoices
  • Every response validated against official Schematron rules

Supports ZUGFeRD · Factur-X · XRechnung · UBL · CII · EN 16931

API Documentation
Terminal
$ curl -X POST https://api.invoicexml.com/v1/create/zugferd \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_..." \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "invoice": {
      "invoiceNumber": "INV-2025-001",
      "seller": { "name": "Acme GmbH" },
      "buyer":  { "name": "ACME Corp" },
      "lines": [
        { "item": "Consulting", "quantity": 1, "netPrice": 1000, "vatRate": 19 }
      ]
    }
  }'

// => 200 OK: returns the validated invoice file
Compliance

Secure by Architecture

Your invoices are processed in memory and returned in the same response. Zero data retention is not a policy we enforce, it is an architecture we built.

Zero data retention

Processed in volatile memory only. Never written to disk, never queued, never backed up.

EU-only processing

Servers in Frankfurt, Germany. No transfers outside the European Economic Area.

No use of your data

Never used for analytics, never to train AI models, never shared with third parties.

Certified infrastructure

SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001 and PCI-DSS at the platform layer, held by our infrastructure provider.

Read the full security overview

GDPR compliant by design · nothing stored on our servers

ZUGFeRD Invoice Generator (PDF + Embedded XML)

ZUGFeRD is the German hybrid e-invoice format: a readable PDF for humans and an embedded XML file for machines. It’s widely used for B2B billing and aligns with EN 16931 requirements. This page lets you create a ZUGFeRD invoice online and download it instantly.

Who is this for?

Finance teams, freelancers, and SaaS platforms that need a compliant invoice format for Germany. If you want one file that works for recipients and for automated processing, ZUGFeRD is a practical choice.

The generator focuses on hybrid invoices: PDF/A-3 + embedded XML (UN/CEFACT CII). You keep a human-friendly PDF while enabling structured, machine-readable accounting.

What you get

  • ZUGFeRD PDF/A-3 invoice with embedded XML
  • EN 16931-aligned structured data (CII)
  • No account required for one-off invoices
  • Stateless processing (no long-term storage)

ZUGFeRD profiles explained

Profile Best for
Minimum Simple invoices with a lightweight data set
Basic Common B2B invoices with core structured fields
Comfort Richer data for automation (tax, references, payment terms)
Extended Advanced use cases that require extra business information

ZUGFeRD vs XRechnung

If you need a PDF that humans can open and approve, choose ZUGFeRD. If you need an XML-only format for specific public-sector workflows, XRechnung may be required. InvoiceXML supports both approaches via API.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this generator compatible with ZUGFeRD 2.1?

Yes. It generates a ZUGFeRD hybrid invoice (PDF/A-3 + embedded XML) aligned with EN 16931.

Can I use the output for B2B invoicing in Germany?

ZUGFeRD is widely used for German B2B e-invoicing because it combines a readable PDF with machine-readable data.

Does InvoiceXML store my invoice data?

No. We operate statelessly. After generation and download, the data is purged.

Start free today

Ready to automate your invoices?

Validate, convert and embed compliant e-invoices through one API. Start your 30-day free trial. No credit card required.

GDPR Compliant No credit card required Setup in minutes
Peppol UBL
Factur-X
EN 16931
142 / 142 passed
Compliant
PDF/A-3 embedded