The only real proof that a Peppol operator is certified right now is one specific entry in OpenPeppol's public list of certified service providers, last updated on 25 August 2026. Search that list for the operator's legal name, not its product brand, and check that its row shows “AP Certified,” which means its Access Point certification is currently active. An Access Point is the network service that actually sends and receives invoices over Peppol; it's a different thing entirely from the login screen of your accounting software. If a row shows only “SMP Certified,” that company is not necessarily running a certified Access Point. A Peppol logo on a website, OpenPeppol membership, or a “Peppol-ready” claim proves none of this. Always check the list itself, never the marketing page.
Why check the legal name instead of the brand?
The certification list has two separate name columns: “Member Name (trade name),” the commercial name you'd recognize, and “Member Name (legal name),” the registered company behind it. Your accounting software almost always markets itself under the trade name, but Peppol service providers sign a Service Provider Agreement with the Peppol Authority in the jurisdiction where they're registered, or directly with OpenPeppol if that jurisdiction has no Peppol Authority of its own. If the product name you know doesn't show up directly on the list, check the vendor's website or your contract for the entity that actually operates their Access Point, and search for that legal name instead.
AP, SMP, or both: what do you actually need?
If your business sends or receives Peppol invoices, the only status that matters is “AP Certified.” Peppol's interoperability framework defines the Access Point as the service that physically moves documents across the network, and the Service Metadata Publisher, or SMP for short, as the service that publishes which participants can receive what, and where. These are two distinct certifications. A company whose row shows “SMP Certified” without an accompanying “AP Certified” mark cannot actually move your invoices across the network. All it does is maintain an address book.
What if your software isn't on the list?
Missing from the list does not automatically mean a piece of software is incompatible with Peppol. Plenty of accounting and invoicing tools don't run their own Access Point at all, they route through a separate, already-certified provider instead. Ask the vendor directly which legal entity actually operates their Access Point, and check that name yourself. "Candidate" status is not the same as a certificate. Under OpenPeppol's governance documentation, a provider is only allowed to offer the service after signing the agreement and passing conformity testing, which results in a production PKI certificate (public key infrastructure), the credential that actually lets an Access Point go live.
Does a logo or membership badge prove anything?
Well. A Peppol logo on a homepage, OpenPeppol membership, or the phrase "Peppol-ready" is not a certificate. It's a marketing claim. Even OpenPeppol's own software directory states plainly that the tools listed there are simply a round-up of known solutions, and that OpenPeppol has not accredited any of them. The only place to actually confirm a certificate exists is the official list of certified service providers.
How often should you recheck an operator's status?
The list is updated regularly, and a certified provider can be removed from it if it breaks the rules and gets sanctioned. Recheck an operator's status before you sign a contract, and again before any major go-live. Three minutes of checking costs less than one invoice that never arrives. EU Directive 2025/516 will bring in mandatory cross-border digital reporting and structured e-invoicing from 1 July 2030. That doesn't turn a logo into a certificate, but it's a good reason to start treating operator status as something you check on a routine basis, starting now.
FAQ
Where can I find official proof that a Peppol operator is certified?
The official certificate is on the OpenPeppol public list of certified service providers. Search for the operator's legal name and check that it says "AP Certified" on its line.
Does the Peppol logo or membership status prove certification?
No. The Peppol logo, OpenPeppol membership or „Peppol-ready“ is not a certification. The only place to check is the official list of certified service providers.
What is the difference between „AP Certified“ and „SMP Certified“ status?
„AP Certified“ means that the Access Point service transmits and receives invoices on the Peppol network. „SMP Certified“ alone means that the company mainly manages address data, not sends your invoices online.
What to do if the software list shows that the operator is missing?
Absence from the list does not automatically mean that the solution is not compatible. Ask the manufacturer which legal entity actually manages their Access Point and check this name against the OpenPeppol list.