A GLN is not affixed to products. It identifies "who" and "where" — business entities, factories, warehouses, stores — and is used in documents and system integration. It is the prerequisite for supply chain data to be interoperable.
A product barcode identifies a product item, while a GLN identifies a party or a physical location: a corporate legal entity, a production factory, a warehouse, a distribution center, a store, a receiving dock. When your customer wants to create a supplier record for you in their system and designate a receiving location, they use a GLN.
A GLN is also 13 digits and also carries a check digit, with the same length as GTIN-13. But the identification targets of the two are completely different: one is a product, the other is a party/location. Therefore a GLN will notbe printed on product packaging in the form of a product barcode symbol — it appears in purchase orders, shipping notices, receiving documents, and system master data.
When you integrate systems with large retail, manufacturing, or logistics companies, they usually require a GLN to specify the trading parties and the shipping/receiving locations in EDI messages. Without a GLN, they can only manually map your codes, and once your warehouse or entity changes, it has to be maintained again, which costs more in the long run.
Common triggering scenarios: supplying to large supermarkets or chains, entering channels that require EDI integration, participating in supply chain collaboration that requires standardized master data, and working with buyers that have global data synchronization requirements. If your customer has not mentioned this, it usually means their system has not reached this stage yet.
Key conclusions that can be excerpted directly.
It is not a product, so it is not printed on product packaging.
Same length as GTIN-13, but completely different identification targets.
EDI messages, purchasing and receiving documents, system supplier records.
It is one of the foundational fields for supply chain data interoperability.
| Comparison item | GTIN | GLN |
|---|---|---|
| Identified object | Trade item | Legal entity / physical location |
| Number of digits | 8 / 12 / 13 / 14 digits | 13 digits |
| Whether printed on the product | Yes (retail unit / outer case) | No |
| Main locations where it appears | Packaging, shelves, document line items | Document header, master data, EDI messages |
| Typical users | Retail, e-commerce, logistics | Buyers, supply chain collaboration, system integration |
GLN · 13 digits
GLN identifies legal entities and physical locations,It is not printed on product packaging in the form of a product barcode symbol; common carriers are EDI electronic document fields or GS1-128 barcodes.
The proper nouns involved in this article.
Global Location Number, 13 digits, identifies parties and locations.
Electronic Data Interchange, a method for enterprises to automatically exchange business documents in a standard format.
Relatively stable foundational data shared by multiple parties in enterprise systems, such as supplier and location records.
The application materials and processing procedures for a GLN are highly consistent among member organizations in different countries, with differences mainly in processing pace and language. The following applies to all 140 member organizations in the table below; click the button at the end of each row to submit an application request for the corresponding country.
① Company registration documents or business license; ② Applicant contact information (contact person, phone, email); ③ List of locations to be coded (headquarters, factories, warehouses, stores and other locations requiring a GLN).
① Confirm the GS1 member organization corresponding to the target market; ② Submit materials and the location list; ③ The member organization reviews and assigns the GLN code; ④ Activate the registration and declare its use in scenarios such as EDI documents and platform certification as needed.
Processing timelines vary across member organizations, and this site makes no commitment regarding the number of days; after submitting your request, a coding consultant will sync with you node by node based on the current processing progress, and fees are subject to business confirmation.
140 member organizations in total
| Country / Region | Region | GS1 member organization | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | Europe | GS1 Albania | Consultation & Application |
| Algeria | Africa | GS1 Algeria | Consultation & Application |
| Andorra | Europe | GS1 Andorra | Consultation & Application |
| Angola | Africa | GS1 Angola | Consultation & Application |
| Argentina | South America | GS1 Argentina | Consultation & Application |
| Armenia | Asia | GS1 Armenia | Consultation & Application |
| Australia | Oceania | GS1 Australia | Consultation & Application |
| Austria | Europe | GS1 Austria | Consultation & Application |
| Azerbaijan | Asia | GS1 Azerbaijan | Consultation & Application |
| Bahrain | Asia | GS1 Bahrain | Consultation & Application |
| Bangladesh | Asia | GS1 Bangladesh | Consultation & Application |
| Belarus | Europe | GS1 Belarus | Consultation & Application |
| Belgium | Europe | GS1 Belgium | Consultation & Application |
| Benin | Africa | GS1 Benin | Consultation & Application |
| Bolivia | South America | GS1 Bolivia | Consultation & Application |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | — | GS1 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Consultation & Application |
| Botswana | Africa | GS1 Botswana | Consultation & Application |
| Brazil | South America | GS1 Brazil | Consultation & Application |
| Brunei | Asia | GS1 Brunei Darussalam | Consultation & Application |
| Bulgaria | Europe | GS1 Bulgaria | Consultation & Application |
| Burkina Faso | Africa | GS1 Burkina Faso | Consultation & Application |
| Cambodia | Asia | GS1 Cambodia | Consultation & Application |
| Cameroon | Africa | GS1 Cameroon | Consultation & Application |
| Canada | North America | GS1 Canada | Consultation & Application |
| Chile | South America | GS1 Chile | Consultation & Application |
| China | Asia | GS1 China | Consultation & Application |
| Colombia | South America | GS1 Colombia | Consultation & Application |
| Congo | — | GS1 Congo | Consultation & Application |
| Costa Rica | North America | GS1 Costa Rica | Consultation & Application |
| Croatia | Europe | GS1 Croatia | Consultation & Application |
| Cuba | North America | GS1 Cuba | Consultation & Application |
| Cyprus | Asia | GS1 Cyprus | Consultation & Application |
| Czech Republic | — | GS1 Czech Republic | Consultation & Application |
| Denmark | Europe | GS1 Denmark | Consultation & Application |
| Dominican Republic | — | GS1 Dominican Republic | Consultation & Application |
| Ecuador | South America | GS1 Ecuador | Consultation & Application |
| Egypt | Africa | GS1 Egypt | Consultation & Application |
| El Salvador | North America | GS1 El Salvador | Consultation & Application |
| Estonia | Europe | GS1 Estonia | Consultation & Application |
| Ethiopia | Africa | GS1 Ethiopia | Consultation & Application |
| Finland | Europe | GS1 Finland | Consultation & Application |
| France | Europe | GS1 France | Consultation & Application |
| Gabon | Africa | GS1 Gabon | Consultation & Application |
| Georgia | Asia | GS1 Georgia | Consultation & Application |
| Germany | Europe | GS1 Germany | Consultation & Application |
| Ghana | Africa | GS1 Ghana | Consultation & Application |
| Greece | Europe | GS1 Greece | Consultation & Application |
| Guatemala | North America | GS1 Guatemala | Consultation & Application |
| Guinea | Africa | GS1 Guinea | Consultation & Application |
| Honduras | North America | GS1 Honduras | Consultation & Application |
| Hong Kong, China | — | GS1 Hong Kong | Consultation & Application |
| Hungary | Europe | GS1 Hungary | Consultation & Application |
| Iceland | Europe | GS1 Iceland | Consultation & Application |
| India | Asia | GS1 India | Consultation & Application |
| Indonesia | Asia | GS1 Indonesia | Consultation & Application |
| Iran | Asia | GS1 Iran | Consultation & Application |
| Iraq | Asia | GS1 Iraq | Consultation & Application |
| Ireland | Europe | GS1 Ireland | Consultation & Application |
| Israel | Asia | GS1 Israel | Consultation & Application |
| Italy | Europe | GS1 Italy | Consultation & Application |
| Jamaica | North America | GS1 Jamaica | Consultation & Application |
| Japan | Asia | GS1 Japan | Consultation & Application |
| Jordan | Asia | GS1 Jordan | Consultation & Application |
| Kazakhstan | Asia | GS1 Kazakhstan | Consultation & Application |
| Kenya | Africa | GS1 Kenya | Consultation & Application |
| South Korea | Asia | GS1 Korea | Consultation & Application |
| Kuwait | Asia | GS1 Kuwait | Consultation & Application |
| Kyrgyzstan | Asia | GS1 Kyrgyzstan | Consultation & Application |
| Latvia | Europe | GS1 Latvia | Consultation & Application |
| Lebanon | Asia | GS1 Lebanon | Consultation & Application |
| Libya | Africa | GS1 Libya | Consultation & Application |
| Liechtenstein | Europe | GS1 Liechtenstein | Consultation & Application |
| Lithuania | Europe | GS1 Lithuania | Consultation & Application |
| Luxembourg | Europe | GS1 Luxembourg | Consultation & Application |
| Macao, China | — | GS1 Macao | Consultation & Application |
| North Macedonia | Europe | GS1 Macedonia | Consultation & Application |
| Malaysia | Asia | GS1 Malaysia | Consultation & Application |
| Malta | Europe | GS1 Malta | Consultation & Application |
| Mauritania | Africa | GS1 Mauritania | Consultation & Application |
| Mauritius | Africa | GS1 Mauritius | Consultation & Application |
| Mexico | North America | GS1 Mexico | Consultation & Application |
| Moldova | Europe | GS1 Moldova | Consultation & Application |
| Mongolia | Asia | GS1 Mongolia | Consultation & Application |
| Montenegro | Europe | GS1 Montenegro | Consultation & Application |
| Morocco | Africa | GS1 Morocco | Consultation & Application |
| Mozambique | Africa | GS1 Mozambique | Consultation & Application |
| Myanmar | Asia | GS1 Myanmar | Consultation & Application |
| Namibia | Africa | GS1 Namibia | Consultation & Application |
| Nepal | Asia | GS1 Nepal | Consultation & Application |
| Netherlands | Europe | GS1 Netherlands | Consultation & Application |
| New Zealand | Oceania | GS1 New Zealand | Consultation & Application |
| Nicaragua | North America | GS1 Nicaragua | Consultation & Application |
| Nigeria | Africa | GS1 Nigeria | Consultation & Application |
| Norway | Europe | GS1 Norway | Consultation & Application |
| Oman | Asia | GS1 Oman | Consultation & Application |
| Pakistan | Asia | GS1 Pakistan | Consultation & Application |
| Panama | North America | GS1 Panama | Consultation & Application |
| Paraguay | South America | GS1 Paraguay | Consultation & Application |
| Peru | South America | GS1 Peru | Consultation & Application |
| Philippines | Asia | GS1 Philippines | Consultation & Application |
| Poland | Europe | GS1 Poland | Consultation & Application |
| Portugal | Europe | GS1 Portugal | Consultation & Application |
| Qatar | Asia | GS1 Qatar | Consultation & Application |
| Romania | Europe | GS1 Romania | Consultation & Application |
| Russia | Asia | GS1 Russia | Consultation & Application |
| Rwanda | Africa | GS1 Rwanda | Consultation & Application |
| Saudi Arabia | Asia | GS1 Saudi Arabia | Consultation & Application |
| Senegal | Africa | GS1 Senegal | Consultation & Application |
| Serbia | Europe | GS1 Serbia | Consultation & Application |
| Singapore | Asia | GS1 Singapore | Consultation & Application |
| Slovakia | Europe | GS1 Slovakia | Consultation & Application |
| Slovenia | Europe | GS1 Slovenia | Consultation & Application |
| South Africa | Africa | GS1 South Africa | Consultation & Application |
| Spain | Europe | GS1 Spain | Consultation & Application |
| Sri Lanka | Asia | GS1 Sri Lanka | Consultation & Application |
| Sudan | Africa | GS1 Sudan | Consultation & Application |
| Sweden | Europe | GS1 Sweden | Consultation & Application |
| Switzerland | Europe | GS1 Switzerland | Consultation & Application |
| Syria | Asia | GS1 Syria | Consultation & Application |
| Taiwan, China | — | GS1 Taiwan | Consultation & Application |
| Tajikistan | Asia | GS1 Tajikistan | Consultation & Application |
| Tanzania | Africa | GS1 Tanzania | Consultation & Application |
| Thailand | Asia | GS1 Thailand | Consultation & Application |
| Togo | Africa | GS1 Togo | Consultation & Application |
| Trinidad and Tobago | North America | GS1 Trinidad and Tobago | Consultation & Application |
| Tunisia | Africa | GS1 Tunisia | Consultation & Application |
| Turkey | Asia | GS1 Turkey | Consultation & Application |
| Turkmenistan | Asia | GS1 Turkmenistan | Consultation & Application |
| Uganda | Africa | GS1 Uganda | Consultation & Application |
| Ukraine | Europe | GS1 Ukraine | Consultation & Application |
| United Arab Emirates | — | GS1 United Arab Emirates | Consultation & Application |
| United Kingdom | Europe | GS1 United Kingdom | Consultation & Application |
| United States | North America | GS1 US | Consultation & Application |
| Uruguay | South America | GS1 Uruguay | Consultation & Application |
| Uzbekistan | Asia | GS1 Uzbekistan | Consultation & Application |
| Venezuela | South America | GS1 Venezuela | Consultation & Application |
| Vietnam | Asia | GS1 Vietnam | Consultation & Application |
| Yemen | Asia | GS1 Yemen | Consultation & Application |
| Zambia | Africa | GS1 Zambia | Consultation & Application |
| Zimbabwe | Africa | GS1 Zimbabwe | Consultation & Application |
Note: The member organization directory is compiled based on publicly available GS1 information; a GLN identifies a company entity and a physical location and is not printed on packaging as a product barcode symbol. Entries marked in orange in the table are for Hong Kong, China, Macao, China, and Taiwan, China.
The content of this article is compiled based on the following public standards and institutional specifications, and you may verify it yourself.
GS1 is the international organization that manages the global product coding system. Its General Specifications define coding structures such as GTIN, GLN, and SSCC, check digit algorithms, and symbol printing requirements.
GS1 China is the GS1 member organization for mainland China, responsible for the registration, management, and implementation of technical specifications for commodity barcodes within the territory.
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Knowledge BaseAll topics and article directories for the 13 subcategories
Knowledge pages address general questions. When it comes to your specific products, markets, and channels, it is faster to ask a coding consultant directly.
