If you’re outside the US and don’t have an EIN (Employer Identification Number), you might be wondering if that stops you from getting a DUNS number at all. It doesn’t. An EIN is a US-specific tax identifier, and D&B’s DUNS registration is a global process; applicants outside the US simply use their own country’s equivalent identifier where a tax ID is requested, or in some cases, no tax ID at all.
We touched on this briefly in our broader guide, What Documents Do You Need for a DUNS Number? This post goes deeper into exactly what Indian and other international applicants should use instead of an EIN.
Why the EIN Question Comes Up So Often
A lot of DUNS-related guidance online is written primarily for US businesses, since D&B is a US-founded company and many DUNS number requests (like federal contracting or SAM.gov registration) originate from US-based requirements. That means a lot of generic instructions mention “EIN” as if it’s a universal requirement, which understandably confuses applicants in India, the UK, or elsewhere who don’t have one and never will.
If you’re not registering a US business, you don’t need a US tax ID.
What Indian Businesses Use Instead of an EIN
For businesses registered in India, the DUNS application typically asks for whatever tax or registration identifier is relevant locally, rather than an EIN. Depending on your business type, this usually means:
- PAN (Permanent Account Number): your business’s tax identification number issued by the Income Tax Department
- GST registration number: if your business is GST-registered
- CIN (Corporate Identification Number): if you’re a registered private limited company or LLP
You don’t need all of these just whichever applies to your business structure. If you’re unsure how GST and CIN relate to your DUNS application specifically, we cover the distinctions in our guides on DUNS number vs. GST number and DUNS number vs. CIN.
What If You Don’t Have Any of These Either?
Some very small businesses or sole proprietorships operate without GST registration (if they’re below the GST threshold) or a formal CIN. In this case, it’s still usually possible to apply for a DUNS number D&B primarily needs your legal business name, address, and structure to begin verification. A tax ID strengthens your application and speeds up automatic matching, but its absence isn’t necessarily disqualifying, especially for sole proprietorships.
If you fall into this category, it’s worth reading our dedicated guide on DUNS number documents for sole proprietorships, which covers what alternative proof can help your application move faster.
Does Having an EIN-Equivalent Actually Speed Things Up?
Yes, generally. Whatever your local tax ID is PAN, GST, or otherwise it gives D&B another data point to cross-reference against public records, which helps automatic verification succeed instead of triggering manual review. Businesses with clean, matching registration details across GST, PAN, and their DUNS application tend to get verified faster than those with limited or inconsistent public records.
If your business also has other registrations like Udyam/MSME registration or an Import Export Code, these can help too. We cover this in our guides on DUNS numbers for MSME/Udyam-registered businesses and DUNS numbers for export-import (IEC) businesses.
What If a Platform Specifically Asks for an EIN Alongside Your DUNS Number?
This is a slightly different situation worth separating. Some US-based platforms or programs ask for an EIN as part of their own onboarding process, separate from the DUNS number itself. If you’re an international business applying to a US platform that requires an EIN, that’s a requirement from the platform, not from D&B, and getting an EIN as a foreign business is a separate process through the IRS, unrelated to your DUNS application.
If you’re applying for a DUNS number specifically for a platform like Microsoft Partner Center or Meta/Facebook Business Verification, it’s worth checking that platform’s specific requirements separately, since they sometimes layer on additional identifiers beyond just the DUNS number:
How to Apply Without an EIN
- Go to D&B’s official website for your country: for Indian businesses, this means using your local D&B portal, not the US-specific one.
- Fill in your legal business name, address, and structure as usual.
- Provide your PAN, GST number, or CIN: wherever the form asks for a tax identifier, skip the EIN field entirely if it’s not relevant to your country.
- Submit and wait for verification: same as any standard application.
- Respond promptly: if D&B follows up asking for supporting documents, this is more likely if your business has a limited public tax record.
Do I need an EIN to get a DUNS number if I'm not a US business?
No. EIN is a US-specific identifier. International applicants use their own country’s equivalent, like PAN or GST in India.
Can Indian businesses apply for a DUNS number using just GST or PAN?
Yes, either can be used as your tax identifier during the application, depending on what the form requests and what applies to your business.
What if my business doesn't have GST, PAN details ready, or a CIN?
It may still be possible to apply, particularly for sole proprietorships, though the application may require manual verification and additional supporting documents.
Does not having an EIN slow down my application?
Not on its own; what matters is whether you provide whatever tax identifier is relevant to your country. Missing all forms of tax ID can lead to more manual review.
Do I need to get an EIN separately if a US platform asks for one?
That would be a separate requirement from the platform itself, unrelated to your DUNS number, and would involve applying to the IRS directly as a foreign business if needed.