What Is an EORI Number and How to Get One
Every business importing or exporting across the EU or UK border needs an EORI number. Here's what it is, who needs one, the format, and how to apply — country by country.
Short version. An EORI number (Economic Operator Registration and Identification) is a unique ID that every business doing commercial imports or exports across the EU or UK customs border must have. Format is a two-letter country prefix followed by up to 15 alphanumeric characters — for example DE123456789 (Germany), FR44123456789 (France), NL001234567B01 (Netherlands), GB123456789000 (UK). Apply to the customs authority of any EU member state (for an EU EORI) or to HMRC (for a GB EORI). Free to apply; takes a few days.
Who needs an EORI
Any business that:
- Imports goods into the EU or UK for commercial purposes.
- Exports goods from the EU or UK for commercial purposes.
- Files a customs declaration themselves or via a broker.
- Uses special customs procedures (bonded warehousing, inward processing).
You do not need an EORI if:
- You’re a private individual moving personal effects.
- Your goods only move inside the EU single market (no border crossing).
- You’re a US or non-EU exporter shipping to an EU-based buyer who holds the EORI on the import side.
Format rules
An EORI always starts with the two-letter country code. Beyond that, each member state sets its own internal format. A few common ones:
- Germany (DE): EORI is the German VAT number with the DE prefix (e.g.
DE123456789). Issued by Generalzolldirektion. - France (FR): 13 digits after FR, typically the SIRET number.
- Netherlands (NL): RSIN + suffix, ending in
B01for most Dutch companies. - United Kingdom (GB): 12 digits after GB, often with
000suffix. Issued by HMRC since Brexit (1 January 2021). Separate XI prefix for Northern Ireland trade. - Ireland (IE): Tax Reference Number with IE prefix.
- Spain (ES): NIF with ES prefix.
On the commercial invoice, write the EORI exactly as issued — including the country prefix. EU customs systems validate the format, so a typo rejects the declaration.
EORI vs VAT number
These get confused constantly because in some countries the two numbers are identical in value (just a different purpose).
| EORI | VAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Customs declarations at the border | Tax returns on sales and purchases |
| Issuing authority | Customs (e.g. Generalzolldirektion) | Tax authority (e.g. Bundeszentralamt für Steuern) |
| Required for | Every cross-border shipment | Every taxable sale or purchase in-country |
| In Germany | DE123456789 | DE123456789 (same digits, different context) |
| In Netherlands | NL001234567B01 | NL001234567B01 (same digits) |
| In UK | GB123456789000 | GB123456789 (VAT is a subset of EORI) |
How to apply — country by country
Germany
Apply online at Zoll.de through the ATLAS portal. You need a tax number and a signed authorisation form. Turnaround: 3 working days.
France
Apply to Direction Générale des Douanes via the SOPRANO portal. Need your SIRET, legal business name, and address.
Netherlands
Fastest in the EU. Apply to Belastingdienst Douane via their online form. If you’re a foreign business, you need either a Dutch fiscal representative or an Article 23 permit for VAT deferment. Turnaround: 24–48 hours.
Ireland
Apply through Revenue’s MyAccount / ROS portal. Common choice for US companies registering an EU EORI because Irish customs is English-speaking and Ireland uses the euro.
United Kingdom
Apply at gov.uk/eori. Need a UTR, VAT number (if registered), and National Insurance number for sole traders. Turnaround: up to 1 week. Non-UK businesses can get a GB EORI without a UK establishment — useful for US exporters acting as importer of record under DDP.
Other member states
Each member state’s customs authority has an online EORI application. Find them via the European Commission’s official EORI page, which redirects to each country’s form.
Checking whether an EORI is valid
The EU maintains a public EORI number validation tool on the European Commission’s TAXUD website. Paste in an EORI and it returns whether it’s currently active. Use this to verify your consignee’s EORI before you ship — catching an invalid EORI in the order stage saves a customs hold.
Where the EORI goes on the commercial invoice
On the consignee block (for imports into the EU / UK) and on the shipper block (for exports out of the EU / UK). Label it clearly: EORI: DE123456789. Our invoice wizard has a dedicated EORI field on every EU / UK country template.
FAQ
Is an EORI number the same as a VAT number?
No. They serve different purposes. A VAT number is used for tax returns on sales inside the country of registration; an EORI number is used for customs declarations when goods cross the EU external border. Many businesses have both — and in several countries the EORI is derived from the VAT number (for example, a German EORI is the VAT number prefixed with DE).
Do private individuals need an EORI?
Only in specific cases. Private individuals moving personal effects into the EU (e.g. relocating from the US) generally don't need one; personal-effects entries use a simplified form. Private individuals receiving a commercial shipment at home as a buyer do need one if the courier can't clear it under their own EORI on your behalf (the courier usually can, for a fee).
How long does an EORI application take?
Same-day to 3 working days in most EU member states if you apply online. The UK takes up to 1 week. Applications fail most often because the applicant's business name doesn't match the national business register exactly — use your registered legal name, not a trade name.
Do I need a separate EORI for each EU country I import into?
No. One EORI issued by any member state works across all 27. The UK, post-Brexit, requires a separate GB-prefix EORI (and a separate XI-prefix one for Northern Ireland trade under the Windsor Framework).
What to do next
If you’re setting up an EU entity or a fiscal representative, start the EORI application before your first shipment — it’s free, but the 3-day turnaround will hold up the first delivery. For country-specific notes on where to apply and what else you need, see our Germany, UK, Netherlands, and Irelandtemplates. If you’re shipping from the US into the EU, our US → EU checklist covers the full end-to-end paperwork flow.
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