diff --git a/apps/onboarding-ms/src/main/java/it/pagopa/selfcare/onboarding/service/util/OnboardingUtils.java b/apps/onboarding-ms/src/main/java/it/pagopa/selfcare/onboarding/service/util/OnboardingUtils.java
index 739e1d362..c21e068a8 100644
--- a/apps/onboarding-ms/src/main/java/it/pagopa/selfcare/onboarding/service/util/OnboardingUtils.java
+++ b/apps/onboarding-ms/src/main/java/it/pagopa/selfcare/onboarding/service/util/OnboardingUtils.java
@@ -44,7 +44,9 @@ public Uni<Onboarding> customValidationOnboardingData(Onboarding onboarding, Pro
     }
 
     private Uni<Void> checkRecipientCode(Onboarding onboarding) {
-        if (Objects.nonNull(onboarding.getBilling())
+        if (Objects.nonNull(onboarding.getInstitution())
+                && InstitutionType.PA.equals(onboarding.getInstitution().getInstitutionType())
+                && Objects.nonNull(onboarding.getBilling())
                 && Objects.nonNull(onboarding.getBilling().getRecipientCode())) {
             return uoApi.findByUnicodeUsingGET1(onboarding.getBilling().getRecipientCode(), null)
                     .flatMap(uoResource -> validationRecipientCode(onboarding.getInstitution().getOriginId(), uoResource))