Urssaf vigilance certificate
The vigilance certificate proves that your business is up to date with its social declarations and contributions. You download it from your urssaf.fr account, under the certificates section; it must be given to your client for any contract of at least €5,000 excl. tax, and renewed every six months until the contract ends.
Up to date for 2026 — verified on August 27, 2026Official procedure, no printed formGuide: about 5 min
Deadlines
- At contract signature
- The certificate is due from the conclusion of any contract of at least €5,000 excl. tax (article L243-15 of the French social security code).
- Every six months
- It remains valid six months: renew it as long as the contract runs.
Documents to prepare
- Login credentials for your urssaf.fr online account
- Company SIRET number
No form is attached to this procedure: the link leads to the official page that describes it.
What this page gives you
The guide above and the link to the official site. ActioFin does not produce any document for this page: whatever you fill in or file is done on the official medium.
Who this applies to
- Businesses and freelancers signing a contract of at least €5,000 excl. tax with a client
- Clients (project owners), legally bound to check their contractors' certificates
- Micro-entrepreneurs as well as companies: the rule is the same
Worked example
Example: Léa's €12,000 assignment
Léa's company wins a €12,000 excl. tax assignment. Before signing, her client requests the vigilance certificate: Léa downloads it from her urssaf.fr account, the client checks the security code on the Urssaf website, and the assignment starts. Six months later she provides a renewed certificate.
How to fill it in, step by step
- Log in to your online account at urssaf.fr.
- Open the documents and certificates section.
- Download the vigilance certificate as a PDF.
- Send it to your client, who verifies its authenticity online.
- Renew the certificate every six months until the end of the contract.
The form, line by line
- Security code
- Printed on the certificate, it lets the client verify the document's authenticity on the Urssaf website.
- Validity period
- Six months from issuance — an expired certificate does not protect the client.
- Identification
- The company's SIRET and legal name appear on the document.
Good to know
- Most frequent refusals: unpaid contributions or missing declarations — regularise (or subscribe to and respect a payment plan) then request it again.
- The client's verification is a legal duty (article L243-15), not a mere precaution.
Common mistakes
- Providing a certificate older than six months: it has expired and the client must refuse it.
- Confusing the Urssaf vigilance certificate with the tax compliance certificate — two distinct documents.
- Waiting for the client's request at the last minute and delaying the signature.
- As a client, filing the certificate without checking its security code online.
Frequently asked questions
When is the vigilance certificate mandatory?
For any contract of at least €5,000 excl. tax: the client must obtain it at signature, then periodically until the end of performance (article L243-15 of the social security code).
How long is it valid?
Six months. Beyond that, download a new one from the urssaf.fr online account — the official F31422 sheet states it.
What if Urssaf refuses to issue it?
Regularise your contributions or subscribe to and respect a payment plan; contesting claimed amounts in court also allows issuance, except after a hidden-work offence report.
My contract is paid through several invoices below €5,000: is the certificate still required?
Yes. The €5,000 excl. tax threshold applies to the overall amount of the service, even if it is paid or invoiced in several smaller instalments (official sheet F31422).
I have just set up my business: can I get the vigilance certificate?
Not straight away. At start-up, Urssaf only issues a provisional certificate; the vigilance certificate is issued once all set-up formalities are complete (registration, any required authorisations or approvals), according to sheet F31422.
Go further
Compute the related amounts
Understand this form: the related course
Official sources
Guide and document provided for information purposes only; they do not constitute personalised legal or tax advice. Check the recipient organisation's requirements and consult a professional if needed.