D-U-N-S number for Apple Developer: a UK company guide (2026)

A D-U-N-S number is free and takes about a week. How UK companies find or request one for Apple Developer, what Apple checks and why enrolment fails.

The short answer

A D-U-N-S number is free, and Apple says to allow up to 5 business days to receive it from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) plus up to 2 more business days for Apple to see it, so plan for roughly a working week and a half before you can enrol your UK company in the Apple Developer Program. Most UK limited companies already have one, because D&B says all registered businesses in the UK and Ireland are issued a D-U-N-S number automatically.

Sources: Apple, D-U-N-S Number, Apple, enrolment, Dun & Bradstreet UK. Last checked 13 October 2026.

This guide is a companion to our piece on the Apple Developer fee, which covers the $99 and the rest of the launch setup. Here we cover only the D-U-N-S step, because it is the one that most often delays a company's first release.

Why Apple asks for a D-U-N-S number

A D-U-N-S number is a unique nine-digit identifier assigned and maintained by Dun & Bradstreet. Apple uses it to verify your organisation's identity, legal entity status and address when you enrol as a company. Apple's rules in short:

• Companies and educational institutions must provide a D-U-N-S number registered to their legal entity. It is optional for government organisations.
• If you enrol as an individual or sole proprietor, you do not need one.
• Your organisation must be a legal entity that can enter into contracts with Apple. Apple names corporations, limited partnerships and limited liability companies as examples, and does not accept DBAs, fictitious business names, trade names or branches.
• Your organisation's name is displayed as the seller name of your apps on the App Store.

For a UK business, the practical reading is: use the name on the Companies House record, not the brand on your website. You can check the registered name on the Companies House register. If your app is sold under a brand that differs from the registered company name, enrol under the registered name: an account in the brand name will not match the entity D&B and Apple look up.

How to get a D-U-N-S number in the UK

1. Check whether you already have one

Apple tells you to look up your organisation before enrolling, because D&B may already have assigned a free number. The lookup asks for your legal entity name, headquarters address, mailing address and work contact information. Apple's lookup page asks you to sign in with an Apple Account first.

2. Request one if it is not listed

If your company is not found, the lookup gives you the option to submit your information to D&B for a free number. D&B's UK page says there is no charge for a D-U-N-S number, that all registered businesses in the UK and Ireland are automatically issued one, and that if you have already tried the D-U-N-S lookup you can ask for one through its form. It says it will respond within five working days. A D&B representative may contact you for more detail, such as your business type or number of employees, so keep your business registration documents to hand.

3. Wait for the number and for Apple

Apple's guidance has two waits: up to 5 business days to receive the number from D&B, then up to 2 business days for Apple to receive your information from D&B. Apple states that expediting the D-U-N-S creation will not shorten this waiting period. If your application has taken longer than two weeks, Apple says to email D&B.

A caution on other timings you may see: D&B's general US-facing page says normal processing can take up to 30 business days, with a paid expedited option of eight business days. That page is not the UK route and Apple's own guidance is the one to plan against, but it is a reason to start early rather than the week you want to submit.

4. Enrol as an organisation

Once Apple can see the number, enrol as a company or organisation. Apple checks several things besides the D-U-N-S number:

• The person enrolling becomes the Account Holder and needs legal authority to bind the organisation: an owner or founder, executive team member, senior project lead, or an employee with authority granted by a senior employee.
• A work email address associated with the organisation's domain name.
• A publicly available, functional website whose domain is associated with the organisation. Apple will not accept links to social media pages, sites with minimal content or a registrar's placeholder page.
• An Apple Account with two-factor authentication, using legal first and last names. Apple warns that an alias, nickname or company name in the name fields delays approval.

Then you agree to the Apple Developer Program License Agreement and pay the $99 membership year. Apple lists the price in local currency during enrolment.

Common reasons enrolment fails

Apple documents one error message above all: "Your organization is not listed as a legal entity." Its causes, in Apple's words:

Source: Apple, D-U-N-S Number, and enrolment requirements. Last checked 13 October 2026.

Apple does not publish how long its own review of an organisation enrolment takes, so we do not quote a figure for that stage. Treat the D-U-N-S wait as the part you can plan, and leave slack for the rest.

How to avoid delays

• Start before the build finishes. The D-U-N-S wait is independent of development, so request it in the first weeks of a project.
• Decide who the Account Holder is. It has to be someone with authority to bind the company, not a freelancer or an agency contact.
• Check the website. Apple says it will not accept links to social media pages or sites with minimal content, so a one-page placeholder site risks a refusal.
• Use a work email on the company domain, not a personal address.
• Keep D&B's record current. If you have moved office or changed name, update it before applying.

An organisation account also matters later: it is the account that can join the App Store Small Business Program, which cuts Apple's commission from 30% to 15% for developers under $1 million in proceeds. We explain that in App Store Small Business Program 2026: 15% or 30% commission?.

D-U-N-S number for Apple Developer: frequently asked questions

Do I need a D-U-N-S number for an Apple Developer account?

Only if you enrol as a company or organisation. Apple requires a D-U-N-S number registered to the legal entity for companies and educational institutions. It is optional for government organisations, and not needed if you enrol as an individual.

How much does a D-U-N-S number cost in the UK?

Nothing. Dun & Bradstreet's UK page says there is no charge to obtain a D-U-N-S number, and Apple says D&B may already have assigned your organisation a free number.

How long does it take to get a D-U-N-S number for Apple?

Apple says to allow up to 5 business days to receive the number from D&B, then up to 2 business days for Apple to receive your information. If your application has taken longer than two weeks, email D&B. Expediting does not shorten Apple's waiting period.

Can I use my trading name?

No. Apple does not accept DBAs, fictitious business names, trade names or branches. Enrol using the legal entity name, which for a UK company is the name on the Companies House register.

Why does Apple say my organisation is not listed as a legal entity?

D&B lists the business with a different legal status, such as a sole proprietorship, or its legal status has not been verified. Check you used the exact legal entity name. If you are a sole trader, enrol as an individual; if you believe you are a legal entity, email D&B with complete business registration documents.

Can a freelance developer or agency enrol for me?

The person enrolling becomes the Account Holder and must have legal authority to bind your organisation. If you want to own the app, enrol the account in your company's name and give the agency access rather than the reverse.

Does Magora help with the D-U-N-S number and App Store setup?

Yes. We set up the Apple and Google developer accounts in your company's name, configure App Store Connect and publish the app as part of the build. The D-U-N-S lookup and any D&B requests have to come from someone at your company, so we agree who that is in the first week.

Process and timings last checked 13 October 2026 against developer.apple.com and dnb.co.uk. Apple and D&B change their processes, so check the linked pages before you start.