What is a Kbis extract?
The Kbis (or "K bis") is an extract from the Trade and Companies Register (RCS). It constitutes the official and up-to-date proof of registration of a commercial company, and the only document certifying its legal existence. It concerns legal entities : commercial companies (SARL, SAS, SASU, EURL, SA…) and civil companies registered in the RCS.
It is often compared to the company's "identity card" : it centralizes all its legal information and is regularly updated with each declared change. It is issued by the commercial court registry under which the company falls.
What does a Kbis extract contain?
A Kbis extract brings together all the company's legal information, including:
- —Identity: company name, legal form (SARL, SAS…), share capital amount
- —Registration: SIREN number, RCS number, registration registry, registration date
- —Activity: main activity, APE/NAF code
- —Address: registered office address and, where applicable, branch addresses
- —Management: identity of directors, administrators, managers and, where applicable, statutory auditors
- —Status: company duration and any collective proceedings (restructuring, liquidation)
What is a Kbis extract used for?
The Kbis extract is required for many administrative and commercial procedures to prove the existence and legality of a company. It is particularly useful for:
- —Opening or managing a professional bank account
- —Responding to a tender (public and private contracts)
- —Purchasing professional equipment or subscribing to supplier services
- —Applying on certain platforms, marketplaces or to major buyers
- —Checking the reliability of a partner, client or supplier before entering into a contract
In the latter case, consulting a third party's Kbis ensures that a company actually exists, reveals its directors and confirms that it is not subject to collective proceedings.
Kbis, K extract, D1 extract, RNE notice: what are the differences?
Several documents certify a company's registration depending on its nature. Here is how to tell them apart:
| Document | For whom? | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Kbis extract | Commercial companies and legal entities registered in the RCS | Commercial court registry |
| K extract | Sole traders and micro-entrepreneurs registered in the RCS (individuals) | Commercial court registry |
| D1 extract | Craftsmen (formerly in the Trades Register) | CMA / National Business Register |
| RNE status notice | Companies not registered in the RCS (liberal professions, certain activities) | INPI — National Business Register |
How to obtain a Kbis extract in 2026?
The simplest and fastest way to obtain a Kbis extract (yours or that of any French company) is to download it online on Guichet-Sociétés. You receive the official document in a few seconds, in the same place as all other legal data for the company, without having to create multiple accounts or navigate between different platforms.
The fastest solution: download your Kbis on Guichet-Sociétés
On Guichet-Sociétés, simply search for a company by its name, its SIREN number or the name of its director to immediately access its Kbis extract. The document comes from official Trade and Companies Register (RCS) data and therefore retains its full legal value.
In practice, the process takes three steps:
- 1. Search for the company using the search bar.
- 2. Select the Kbis extract from the available documents.
- 3. Download your document, ready to use for your procedures.
This way, from a single interface, you access not only the Kbis but also financial statements, articles of association, status notices and other legal company information. Ideal for checking a partner, preparing a file or monitoring several companies without using multiple tools.
With Guichet-Sociétés, obtain the Kbis extract of any French company and all its legal data in one click, without leaving the platform.
Download your Kbis extract now
Search for a companyGood to know: official sources
For information, a director can also download the Kbis of their own company via MonIdenum, the court registry service; company creation and modification procedures are carried out on the INPI single portal since 1 January 2023. However, these channels are limited to your own company or administrative procedures: to consult and download the Kbis of any company, quickly and in the same place as its other documents, Guichet-Sociétés remains the most direct solution.
What is the validity period of a Kbis extract?
A Kbis extract has no fixed legal validity period as such: it reflects the company's status on the date of issue. In practice, most authorities and partners require a Kbis dated less than 3 months ago. For certain sensitive procedures (banks, tenders), a document less than one month old may be required. It is therefore advisable to issue a recent Kbis at the time of the procedure.
How long does it take to obtain a Kbis extract?
For an already registered company, the Kbis extract is available immediately for online download (MonIdenum, Infogreffe or a service like Guichet-Sociétés). For a company being created, the Kbis is generated once registration is validated by the registry, generally within a few business days after the complete file is submitted on the single portal.
Does a digital Kbis have the same value as a paper Kbis?
Yes. The Kbis extract downloaded online has the same legal value as the paper version issued at the counter, provided it comes from an official source and is up to date. The electronic document is authenticatable and accepted by authorities and partners.