EORI number: what it is for, how to get one and how to check it
Updated Sep 14, 2026
The EORI number is a company's customs identifier in the European Union. Without it, an import or export cannot be cleared: the declaration is blocked, and your freight forwarder will ask for it before handling any shipment. Here is what you need to know to get it, check it and enter it correctly.
What is an EORI number?
EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification. This unique number identifies a business or person in all dealings with customs authorities in the European Union.
It is issued by a single Member State and is valid in all 27 EU countries: a French company importing through Antwerp or Rotterdam uses the same number as in France. It consists of the code of the issuing country (FR, DE, BE…) followed by a national identifier, often derived from the company registration or VAT number.
Who needs an EORI number?
An EORI number is required as soon as a business deals with customs. This includes in particular:
- Businesses established in the EU that import goods from, or export goods to, non-EU countries
- Businesses that lodge customs declarations, including for special procedures (warehousing, transit, temporary admission)
- Customs representatives, freight forwarders and brokers acting on behalf of their clients
- Carriers lodging entry or exit summary declarations
- Businesses established outside the EU that lodge a declaration in the EU: they get their EORI in the first country where they need one
Trade between two EU countries does not require an EORI number, because it does not involve a customs declaration. Private individuals occasionally receiving a parcel do not need one either.
How to get an EORI number
The application is free and is made to the customs authority of the Member State where the business is established, usually through an online form. In France, it is done on douane.gouv.fr from the business account; in the UK, on GOV.UK for a GB number. You provide the company's identification details, address and a contact person. The number is usually issued within a few days.
Apply ahead of time: a first import without an EORI keeps the goods held until the number is issued, with storage charges paid by the importer.
How to check an EORI number
The European Commission provides a public EORI validation service on its taxation and customs website. It tells you whether a number is valid and, where the business has agreed, shows its name and address. For UK (GB) numbers, HMRC runs its own checker on GOV.UK.
Always check the number of your customers, suppliers and partners before entering it in a file: a single typo is enough to block the declaration.
EORI and the United Kingdom
Since Brexit, an EU EORI number is no longer accepted for UK declarations. A business importing into or exporting from Great Britain needs a UK EORI number starting with GB, issued by HMRC. Movements of goods involving Northern Ireland use a number starting with XI.
Common mistakes
- Entering the VAT number instead of the EORI number: they are separate identifiers, even when they look alike
- Using the freight forwarder's EORI instead of the importer's or exporter's
- Leaving out the country code, or adding spaces and dashes
- Using an EU EORI for a UK declaration, or a GB EORI in the EU
- Keeping a number that became invalid after the business closed, merged or changed its registration
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay for an EORI number?
No. Customs authorities issue EORI numbers free of charge. Be wary of websites offering to obtain one for a fee.
How long does it take to get an EORI number?
Usually a few days after a complete application. Apply before your first shipment.
Is the EORI number the same as the VAT number?
No. They are two separate identifiers, even if some countries build them from the same data. A customs declaration requires the EORI number.
Can a company have several EORI numbers in the EU?
No. A company has only one EORI number valid throughout the EU, issued by a single Member State.
Do I need an EORI to sell to another EU country?
No. Supplies between EU countries do not require a customs declaration. They do, however, involve VAT obligations such as recapitulative statements and, in some countries, Intrastat returns.
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