Short answer: choose a provider, not a membership
A regular buyer and seller do not need an OpenPeppol membership to send or receive Peppol invoices. OpenPeppol says it directly: End users do not need to join to exchange messages online. The same is repeated on the sign-up page.: a service provider is required to send and receive documents, no membership. Membership is only worth considering if your company plans to start offering its own Access Point to others. In all other cases, including when a customer in Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania requires an e-invoice, the solution will be found from a certified service provider, not with a membership application.
What does a Peppol service provider actually do?
The Access Point is the one who actually sends and receives documents in the Peppol network. The SMP (Service Metadata Publisher) publishes information about what the company is ready to receive. Both services require certification and a contract with the relevant Peppol authority, before they can be offered to others. You don't need these roles yourself. Your accounting software or operator uses them on your behalf, just like a mobile operator relays calls without you having to be a member of the telecom company.
When is OpenPeppol membership necessary?
Membership becomes relevant for a software company or operator who wants to start operating an Access Point or SMP themselves, not for a regular company that simply sends or receives invoices. This requires certification and signing a Service Provider Agreement with a Peppol authority. For new members According to the fee rate in effect from July 1, 2025 An Access Point provider with 1–50 employees pays a €1,050 connection fee, an annual fee of €1,850, and a certification fee of €1,500. These are the provider's, not the customer's, costs.
Can a buyer in Estonia request an e-invoice?
From July 1, 2025 The "buyer chooses" principle applies in Estonia: an accounting entity that has publicly registered itself in the commercial register as an e-invoice recipient may request an e-invoice from the seller (RPS § 7¹ (7)). The law does not link this right to OpenPeppol membership, all that is required is a suitable service provider.
Do Latvian structured invoices and VID reporting require membership?
In Latvia, it is valid From 1 January 2025 Structured e-invoice obligation for G2G, B2G and G2B transactions. From From 1 January 2026 These invoice data must also be submitted to the Tax Board (VID); in the B2B sector this is currently voluntary until the end of 2027. Domestic B2B will become mandatory From 1 January 2028. The required file is XML, which must conform to PEPPOL to BIS Billing 3.0 specification. This is a file format, not an obligation for OpenPeppol membership.
What does the Lithuanian SABIS system require?
In Lithuania, SABIS replaced the previous E. skääta system and suppliers selling to purchasing organisations must submit invoices via SABIS, including invoices arising from oral contracts and regardless of the amount. Peppol connection simplifies automation, but this does not mean that every supplier should have an OpenPeppol membership.
What to check before choosing a service provider?
Check what exactly the client or partner requires and what their Peppol address is. Ask if the provider supports your country's format and reporting path. Make sure the provider supports both sending and receiving. Test the connection with your accounting software before making a decision. And don't pay the OpenPeppol membership fee if you don't plan to provide an Access Point or SMP yourself, as your service provider will fulfill this role.
FAQ
Does a regular company need OpenPeppol membership?
No. A certified service provider is sufficient to send and receive documents on the Peppol network. OpenPeppol says that end users do not need to join the network.
When is OpenPeppol membership necessary?
Membership makes sense if the company plans to operate an Access Point or SMP itself and offer it to others. In this case, certification and a Service Provider Agreement with a Peppol authority are required.
What role does the Peppol service provider play?
The Access Point is the one who actually sends and receives documents in the Peppol network. The SMP publishes what information and what the company is willing to receive.
Does "buyer chooses" in Estonia mean that you must be an OpenPeppol member?
No. The „buyer chooses“ principle, effective from 1 July 2025, gives the buyer the right to request an e-invoice if the recipient is registered in the commercial register. The right is related to the request for an e-invoice, not to OpenPeppol membership.