OGRN: How to Validate and Decode a Company Registration Number

OGRN is one of the key identifiers of a legal entity in Russia. This number reveals the year and region of a company's registration, and the built-in check digit allows you to verify the number's validity without querying external databases. In this article, we'll take a detailed look at the OGRN structure, the verification algorithm, and the differences from OGRNIP.

What Is OGRN

OGRN stands for Primary State Registration Number (Osnovnoy Gosudarstvennyy Registratsionnyy Nomer), assigned to a legal entity when a record is entered into the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (EGRUL). The number is unique and cannot be duplicated. OGRN is used in all official company documents alongside INN and KPP.

The OGRN system was established by Federal Law No. 129-FZ of August 8, 2001 "On State Registration of Legal Entities and Individual Entrepreneurs." Every organization receives its unique number upon registration.

OGRN Structure (13 Digits)

A legal entity's OGRN consists of 13 digits. Each group of digits carries specific information:

• Digit 1 — classification indicator. A value of 1 means the number belongs to a legal entity; 2 — a government organization; 3 — a record for a branch or representative office of a foreign legal entity.
• Digits 2–3 — the last two digits of the year the record was entered into the register. For example, 24 means 2024.
• Digits 4–5 — the code of the Russian Federation subject (region) where the organization is registered.
• Digits 6–7 — the code of the tax office that performed the registration.
• Digits 8–12 — the sequential record number in the register for that year.
• Digit 13 — the check digit.

Decoding Example

Let's decode OGRN 1027700132195:

• 1 — legal entity.
• 02 — the record was entered in 2002.
• 77 — Moscow.
• 00 — tax office code.
• 13219 — sequential record number.
• 5 — check digit.

OGRN Check Digit Verification Algorithm

OGRN validation is performed as follows:

• Step 1. Ensure the number contains exactly 13 digits.
• Step 2. Take the first 12 digits as a number.
• Step 3. Divide this number by 11 and take the remainder.
• Step 4. Take the last digit of the resulting remainder (the least significant digit).
• Step 5. Compare the result with the 13th digit of the OGRN. If they match, the number is valid.

For example, for OGRN 1027700132195: the number formed by the first 12 digits is 102770013219. Dividing by 11: 102770013219 / 11 = 9342728474 with a remainder of 5. The least significant digit of the remainder is 5, which matches the 13th digit. The number is valid.

Difference Between OGRN and OGRNIP

Individual entrepreneurs use a separate number — OGRNIP (Primary State Registration Number of an Individual Entrepreneur). The key differences are:

• Length: OGRNIP consists of 15 digits (compared to 13 for OGRN).
• First digit: for OGRNIP, the first digit is always 3 (for the primary record) or 4 (for other records).
• Sequential number: in OGRNIP, the sequential record number occupies 7 digits (positions 8–14) instead of 5.
• Check digit: the algorithm is similar, but division is by 13 (not 11). The remainder is taken, then its least significant digit.

Where to Find a Company's OGRN

You can look up a company's OGRN in several ways:

• EGRUL extract — an official document available on the Federal Tax Service website (egrul.nalog.ru).
• Company website details — most organizations publish their OGRN in an "About" or "Legal Details" section.
• Contracts and invoices — OGRN is listed in the parties' legal details.
• Registration certificate — the document issued when the legal entity was created.

Online OGRN Validation

To quickly verify an OGRN's check digit, use our OGRN validator. The tool instantly checks the checksum and tells you whether the number is valid. We also recommend using the INN validator for comprehensive counterparty verification.

Conclusion

OGRN is more than just a registration number — it's a structured identifier that reveals useful information about a company: registration year, region, and organization type. The built-in check digit mechanism helps detect data entry errors. You can verify an OGRN using our OGRN validator, and for INN verification use the INN validator.