A company only appears on the Passerelle after it has been checked in the official register of its country. Here is exactly how, and what this check does not guarantee.
1. The number, checked at registration
The registration number is checked automatically: in the official register for France, in the European Commission’s VIES service (VAT number) for the other EU countries, and by its format for China, Thailand and Vietnam. Then the request is read by hand. Small producers without a company (household business, sole trader, village group) are welcome: their number is checked in the same way.
2. The official register of the country
| Country | Register consulted | What we confirm |
|---|---|---|
| France | Annuaire des entreprises (public data of the French State) | SIREN number, name, address, activity, company active or closed |
| Other EU countries | VIES (European Commission), then the country’s trade register | Valid VAT number, name and address |
| China | National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System | Official name in Chinese, unified social credit code, company status |
| Thailand | Department of Business Development (Ministry of Commerce) | 13-digit registration number, official name, company status |
| Thailand — sole trader or village group | Local commercial register (certificate); community enterprise register (Department of Agricultural Extension) | Registration certificate, name, status; checked by hand |
| Vietnam | National Business Registration Portal | 10-digit enterprise code, name, legal representative, company status |
| Vietnam — household business (hộ kinh doanh) | Taxpayer search (tax administration) | Tax code (since July 2025: the 12-digit identity number of the head of household), active taxpayer; checked by hand |
For all of them: the French national register of asset freezes. A company listed there is refused.
3. The exact name, not a trade name
The name on the profile is exactly the one in the register. A trade name can be added, but always next to the official name.
When in doubt, nothing is published “in the meantime”. A different name, an address that does not match, an uncertain status: we ask for an explanation or a document, and the profile waits.
4. A new check on the day of publication
Just before publishing a profile, we check the company again that day. If it is no longer active, the profile is not published. Then we repeat this check every year.
5. A dated record
Each check produces a record: date, time, register consulted and what that register showed at that moment. When an introduction is accepted, each company receives the other’s record, with the link to the register. We keep these records for 5 years.
6. A profile approved by the company
We write the profile from the company’s own text. It is only published after its written consent, usually within 5 working days of a complete file.
What we do not check
The quality of products or services, declared certifications (organic, standards…), prices, delivery times, the ability to pay, a person’s honesty. A record describes the situation on its date only: before any order or payment, check your partner again and sign a written contract.
What we never ask for
A copy of an identity document, your turnover, a password. We never ask for your bank details by e-mail or by phone. For a refund, you request it yourself in My area. If someone asks you for them in our name, it is a scam attempt: let us know.
Are you a company? What we will ask you for
- The official number of your company (SIREN, VAT number, unified social credit code, 13-, 12- or 10-digit number depending on the country). For a household business or a sole trader, this number is the person’s own: it is never shown in full (last 3 digits only), neither on the profile nor in messages to other companies.
- The exact name of your company, as written in the register.
- An e-mail address where we can answer you (an ordinary address is fine).
- Your presentation and your photos.
- Your written consent to the profile, before it is published.
Frequently asked questions
Can the “Verified” badge be bought?
No. Every company is checked in the same way, whether it pays or not. Otherwise the badge would be worth nothing. What the badge means.
How do I know you are not lying?
All the registers listed are public and free: you can do the check yourself, in a few minutes. Our guide explains how, country by country.
What happens if a company closes?
We repeat the check every year. If you learn that a company has closed or that its profile is false, write to us through the contact form: we check, and the profile is removed if the register confirms it.
To check a company yourself, read our guide “Checking that a foreign company really exists”.
Join a network where every company has been checked. Describe your business: we check it in your country’s register, then your profile appears in five languages. Registration is free.
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