Fatoora portal device onboarding: what happens to each device

Fatoora portal device onboarding: the idea

In Phase 2, onboarding happens per device that issues invoices, not once for the whole business. Such a device is called an e-invoice generation solution unit (EGS). To issue its invoices, a device must be onboarded on the Fatoora portal with a one-time code and receive a certificate called a CSID.

The certificate is what the device signs its invoices with. Think of it as the device's digital identity: ZATCA can tell these invoices came from a device registered under your business.

What you need before you start

• Your business account on the Fatoora portal.
• Your VAT number and national address up to date, since both appear on invoices.
• A list of every device that issues invoices: each register, tablet and POS terminal.
• A clear name for each device that says where it is, like "North branch register 2".

What happens when you onboard a device

This is a general summary. The portal's screens and option names are updated by ZATCA, so use the official user manual for the details.

1. You request a one-time code for that device from the portal.
2. The device uses the code once to onboard.
3. The device receives its CSID certificate, and from then on it signs its invoices with it.
4. ZATCA publishes detailed guidelines and a Fatoora portal user manual that cover the current screens and steps, and they are the reference if anything changes.

When you onboard again

Onboarding isn't once per business. It's once per device. These are the moments you go back to the portal:

• You opened a new branch before Ramadan with three devices: three certificates.
• You added a tablet for table service over the summer: a new device needs onboarding.
• A device was stolen or broke and you replaced it: the replacement is a new device with its own onboarding, and CashHub can wipe the lost one remotely and give the replacement every record that reached the server.
• You swapped an old device for a newer one: onboarding belongs to the device itself.

Mistakes that stall a device

• Using the one-time code on two devices, when it works once.
• Onboarding a device under the wrong business or VAT number.
• A wrong device clock, so invoices carry dates that don't match reality.
• Leaving device onboarding for the last week before your wave deadline.
• Treating two devices as one, when each has its own onboarding.

When to start

If your integration date is near, don't leave onboarding to the last week. It's the part that gets delayed by things outside your hands, like an incomplete account or a missing permission. Wave 25's deadline is 1 February 2027, so finish onboarding your devices well before it.

E-invoicing guide

Get the team ready

Onboarding doesn't end with setup. Agree who receives each new device and who confirms it's ready before the first sale, and keep the device clock set to your local time. Before a new branch opens its first shift, ring up a test sale and check the invoice comes out complete. A problem found before opening is cheaper than one found in the first rush.

What CashHub does for you

At CashHub our team registers your business's devices on the Fatoora platform for you and with you, so you never deal with the technical side. CashHub is built on the Phase 2 requirements, and connecting to the Fatoora platform happens during setup. Invoices are chained, the device signs them and the QR code prints, and every action is logged with the user's name and time.

ZATCA QR code

Sources: ZATCA e-invoicing guidelines page (includes the Fatoora portal user manual) · ZATCA e-invoicing roll-out phases

Frequently asked questions

Do I onboard the business once or each device?

Each device that issues invoices is onboarded separately and gets its own CSID certificate, using a one-time code.

What is a CSID?

The device's certificate, which it signs its invoices with after being onboarded on the Fatoora platform.

What if I replace a lost device?

The replacement is a new device and needs onboarding. In CashHub the lost device can be wiped remotely, and the replacement gets every record that reached the server.

Can I onboard my devices myself?

Yes, from your portal account, and the official user manual walks through the steps. With CashHub we do it for you and with you to avoid mistakes.

How are devices onboarded in CashHub?

Connecting to the Fatoora platform is done with you during setup, with no technical configuration on your side.

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