EORI Number Verification

What is an EORI number?

EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification. It is a unique identifier assigned to businesses and individuals that regularly import or export goods into or out of the European Union.

The EORI number is used on all customs declarations and paperwork submitted to EU customs authorities. Without a valid EORI number, goods cannot be cleared through EU customs. All businesses involved in international trade, freight, or logistics within the EU need an EORI number.

• Format: Country code (2 letters) + up to 15 alphanumeric characters. For example, DE1234567890.
• Issued by: National customs authorities in each EU member state.
• Scope: Valid across all EU member states — you only need one EORI number, regardless of how many EU countries you trade with.

When you need an EORI number

• Importing goods into the EU from outside the EU (third countries)
• Exporting goods from the EU to outside the EU
• Transit movements of goods through the EU
• Submitting customs declarations as an importer, exporter, or customs agent
• Applying for customs simplifications or authorisations
• Filing Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) under the Import Control System

How to apply for an EORI number

EORI numbers are issued by the customs authority in the EU member state where your business is established. If your business is not established in the EU, you apply in the member state where you first conduct customs activities. The process varies by country but follows a common framework.

For businesses already registered for VAT in an EU member state, the EORI number is often derived directly from the VAT number — typically the country prefix followed by the VAT registration digits. In some member states, such as Germany and France, the EORI number is assigned automatically to VAT-registered businesses that engage in import or export.

• EU-established businesses: Apply through the customs authority of your country of establishment. In many states this is done via an online customs portal.
• Non-EU businesses: Apply in the first EU member state where you lodge a customs declaration. You will need to provide company registration documents and proof of establishment in your home country.
• Timeline: Registration typically takes one to five business days, though this varies significantly by member state. Some countries offer same-day registration for urgent cases.
• No fee: EORI registration is free of charge in all EU member states.
• No renewal: An EORI number does not expire. However, if a business ceases to trade or is deregistered, the authority may deactivate the EORI.

EORI numbers in customs declarations

In practice, EORI numbers appear on every customs declaration submitted in the EU. The European Customs Information Portal (ECIP) and the Union Customs Code (UCC) establish the legal framework requiring EORI identification for all economic operators involved in customs procedures.

The key declaration types that require an EORI number include:

• Import Declaration (SAD/IM): The declarant, importer, and any direct representative must have valid EORI numbers. Filed when goods arrive from outside the EU.
• Export Declaration (EX): Required when goods leave the EU customs territory. The exporter's EORI number is mandatory.
• Entry Summary Declaration (ENS): Filed in advance of cargo arriving at an EU port of entry. Required under the Import Control System (ICS2).
• Transit Declarations (T1, T2): Used for goods moving through the EU under customs supervision. Both the declarant and the principal must have EORI numbers.
• Temporary Admission and Special Procedures: Any application for a customs authorisation or simplified procedure requires a valid EORI.

Freight forwarders, customs agents, and third-party logistics providers filing declarations on behalf of importers must use their own EORI number as the declarant, alongside the importer's EORI as the consignee or principal.

Common EORI format errors

EORI vs VAT number