EAN invoice — invoicing Danish public institutions

What is an EAN number?

EAN stands for European Article Number. In invoice routing it functions as a GLN — a Global Location Number under the GS1 standard. In Denmark, all public-sector institutions have a 13-digit EAN/GLN location number that is used to route electronic invoices to the correct department or cost centre.

Since 2005, all Danish public institutions have been required by law (Lov om offentlige betalinger m.v.) to receive invoices electronically. A paper invoice — or a PDF emailed without the correct reference — is typically rejected.

Where do you find the EAN number?

Your public-sector client will give you their EAN number when they commission your work. It is their responsibility to supply it. If you do not have it, ask your contact at the institution — they can look it up internally. You can also search the public EAN register at the Danish Business Authority's NEMHANDEL portal.

What must an EAN invoice include?

Beyond the standard Danish invoice requirements, a public-sector invoice must typically include:

• The buyer's 13-digit EAN / GLN number
• Your CVR number
• An order number or reference provided by the public institution (requisition number / bestillingsnummer)
• A supply date (leveringsdato)
• Detailed line items (what was delivered, quantity, unit price)
• VAT breakdown (25% standard rate, unless your service is § 13 exempt)

EAN invoicing and the Peppol network

Many Danish public institutions now receive invoices via the Peppol network — an EU-wide secure e-invoicing infrastructure. Sending through Peppol requires an access point provider (an accredited service that converts your invoice into a standardised XML format and delivers it to the public institution's system).

PennaPay currently supports the EAN buyer reference field so your invoice data is complete and ready. Direct Peppol network delivery is on our roadmap — we will announce when it is available.

Practical workflow for public-sector invoicing today

1. Confirm the EAN number and any order/requisition reference with your contact at the public institution before you begin work.
2. Build your invoice in PennaPay — enter the EAN number in the buyer reference field and include the order reference in the line item description or as a note.
3. Download the PDF and check with the institution whether they accept PDF delivery by email, or whether they need a Peppol-routed XML file from a certified access point provider.
4. If Peppol XML is required, use a certified Danish access point provider such as Unisys, Tradeshift, or similar. Export your invoice data from PennaPay as CSV to complete the submission.