# ZUGFeRD Profiles

Understand what each ZUGFeRD/Factur-X profile contains and which compliance requirements it best fits.

## ZUGFeRD Profiles

Understand what each ZUGFeRD/Factur-X profile contains and which compliance requirements it best fits.

## When to use the profile overview

Use the profile overview when you already know you need ZUGFeRD or Factur-X, but still have to choose how much structured detail the recipient process requires. The main decision is not “PDF or XML”; it is which profile keeps the workflow interoperable.

## Choose a profile

Start from recipient requirements: do they need full line detail, EN 16931 semantics only, or a lightweight PDF/A payload? When in doubt, prefer EN 16931 or EXTENDED for audited B2B flows.

### Minimal structured data
MINIMUM or BASIC WL when only header-level totals or lightweight metadata is required.

### Standard B2B invoices
BASIC or EN 16931 when line items, taxes, and parties must validate end-to-end.

### Sector-specific or rich data
EXTENDED when you must carry extra identifiers, allowances, or process fields beyond core EN 16931.

- convert
- validate
- api

## Open profile

- [MINIMUM](/resources/zugferd/profiles/minimum) (Updated): The MINIMUM profile is a lightweight ZUGFeRD profile with a reduced set of structured invoice data embedded in a PDF.
- [BASIC WL](/resources/zugferd/profiles/basic-wl) (Updated): BASIC WL (“without lines”) focuses on header-level totals and parties, without structured line item details.
- [BASIC](/resources/zugferd/profiles/basic) (Updated): The BASIC profile provides structured line items and totals for simple automation scenarios.
- [EN 16931](/resources/zugferd/profiles/en16931) (Updated): The EN 16931 profile is designed to be compatible with the European semantic model for e-invoices and is commonly required for compliance.
- [EXTENDED](/resources/zugferd/profiles/extended) (Updated): The EXTENDED profile provides additional data elements for sector-specific or advanced processes beyond the core EN 16931 model.

## Recommended next pages

Start with the profile that matches your recipient and automation depth, then validate against the expected profile rules.

- [EN 16931](/resources/zugferd/profiles/en16931)
- [ZUGFeRD Format](/resources/compliance/zugferd-format)
- [Convert to ZUGFeRD](/pdf-to-zugferd)