D-U-N-S Number for Apple: how to get one for free, and how long it takes

The short answer

A D-U-N-S Number is a free, nine-digit business identifier from Dun & Bradstreet. Apple needs it to enroll a company or another organization in the Apple Developer Program, but not an individual. Look your company up with Apple's own lookup tool first. If it has no number yet, request one there for free: Apple says to allow up to 5 business days for the number and up to 2 more for Apple to receive it. Don't pay to expedite it.

Who needs a D-U-N-S Number

"Companies and educational institutions must provide a D‑U‑N‑S Number registered to their legal entity. A D‑U‑N‑S Number is optional for government organizations. If you’re enrolling as an individual, you don’t need a D‑U‑N‑S Number."

The number alone isn't enough. Apple uses it to confirm that your business is a legal entity, such as a corporation, a limited partnership or an LLC. A sole proprietorship, a DBA or a trade name doesn't qualify, even with a D-U-N-S Number. In that case you enroll as an individual and your own name appears as the seller. The Apple Developer Program guide covers that choice.

Look up your number first

Dun & Bradstreet may have assigned your company a number already. Check before you request one:

1. Open Apple's lookup tool at developer.apple.com/enroll/duns-lookup and sign in with your Apple Account.
2. Enter your company's details: the legal entity name, the headquarters address, the mailing address and your work contact information.
3. If your company is listed, note the number. You'll enter it during enrollment.
4. If it isn't, the tool lets you submit your information to Dun & Bradstreet for a free number.

Use the exact legal name from your registration documents, not a brand or a shortened version. Apple also warns that a D&B representative may contact you to ask about your business type or number of employees, so keep your registration documents at hand.

How long it takes

"After requesting a D‑U‑N‑S Number, please allow up to 5 business days to receive your number from D&B. Expediting your D‑U‑N‑S Number creation process will not shorten this waiting period."

"Once you receive your D‑U‑N‑S Number, please allow up to 2 business days for Apple to receive your information from D&B. After this period, you may enroll as a company/organization in the Apple Developer Program."

Dun & Bradstreet's own request form quotes a different clock. Its page on getting a number says "Normal processing can take up to 30 business days", or eight business days if you pay for an expedited number. For an Apple enrollment, start from Apple's lookup tool, which is the path Apple's 5 days describe, and skip the paid option, which Apple says won't shorten its waiting period. If your request has taken longer than two weeks, Apple asks you to email D&B.

It's free, and it doesn't expire

Dun & Bradstreet also sells business credit products. None of them is needed for Apple:

"Your number will never expire or change even if your business closes or is purchased by another company. There is never a requirement that you purchase any product or services to obtain, use, or maintain your D‑U‑N‑S Number."

Apple puts it more carefully: D-U-N-S Numbers are "free in most jurisdictions".

"Your organization is not listed as a legal entity"

Apple's D-U-N-S page answers this error directly. It means D&B has your business with a different legal status, for example as a sole proprietorship, or hasn't verified its status yet. Three ways forward:

1. Check the name you entered. It has to be the legal entity name, not a DBA, trade name or branch.
2. If you really are a sole proprietor, enroll as an individual. Apple doesn't accept sole proprietorships as organizations.
3. If you are a legal entity, email D&B, through the support page Apple links to, with your complete business registration documents so they can correct your status.

When your company details are wrong

Apple reads your name, legal status and address from D&B. If any of them is outdated, fix it at D&B before you enroll. Apple's page says to email D&B and to allow up to two business days for D&B to pass the update on to Apple. U.S. companies that aren't public can also view and request changes for free in D&B's D-U-N-S Manager.

A D-U-N-S Number belongs to one location. D&B's form asks companies with several locations to apply for a separate number for each, and Apple asks for your headquarters address. Use the number registered to your legal entity at that address.

Every link you need

1. Check for a number or request one: Apple's D-U-N-S lookup tool, with your Apple Account.
2. Apple's rules and waiting times: Apple's D-U-N-S help page.
3. A delay of more than two weeks, or the wrong legal status: the D&B support page that Apple links to.
4. Outdated company details, for U.S. companies that aren't public: D&B's D-U-N-S Manager.
5. Enrollment, once Apple has your number: Apple's Apple Developer Program enrollment page.

Then enroll

With the number in Apple's system, you can enroll your organization: Apple verifies the entity and your authority to sign for it, emails you, and then you pay the 99 USD membership. And once your first app is out, WishKit lets its users request and vote on features inside it.

Frequently asked questions