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The basics

What is an EORI number?

EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification — the number customs authorities across the EU use to identify importers and exporters. Here's what it means, what it looks like and why you need it.

The meaning of EORI

EORI is short for Economic Operators Registration and Identification. It's a single, EU-wide registration system: every business (and in some cases every person) dealing with customs gets one unique number, and every customs authority in the union recognises it.

The number appears in every customs declaration — import, export and transit. Customs use it to know exactly who is behind a shipment, which makes clearance faster and fraud harder.

What an EORI number looks like

Always the two-letter code of the issuing country, followed by an identifier of up to 15 characters. Most countries base the identifier on an existing business or tax number:

NL123456789
Country code (2 letters)Identifier (up to 15 characters)
Example — a Dutch EORI number: NL followed by 9 digits.

Who needs one?

  • Businesses importing from or exporting to countries outside the EU — from one-person companies to multinationals
  • Freight forwarders and customs agents lodging declarations on behalf of clients
  • Non-EU businesses (e.g. from the UK or Switzerland) that lodge customs declarations inside the EU

Private individuals rarely need one — couriers handle customs for ordinary online orders.

One number, the whole EU

You apply only once, in the country where your business is established, and the number is valid in all member states. It's also free — every national customs authority issues EORI numbers at no charge.

EORI is not a VAT number

The VAT number identifies your business to the tax authorities; the EORI number identifies it to customs. They often look similar because both may derive from the same national business number — but they are two separate registrations.

Want to verify a number?

Check any EORI number against the official EU database.

Open the checker
Read the complete EORI guide

Frequently asked questions

What does EORI stand for?

EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification — the EU-wide system for registering and identifying economic operators with customs authorities.

What is an EORI number used for?

For all customs declarations — import, export and transit. Customs authorities use it to identify who is behind a shipment.

Who needs an EORI number?

Businesses trading goods with countries outside the EU, freight forwarders and customs representatives. In certain cases private individuals who lodge declarations themselves.

Is an EORI number valid in the whole EU?

Yes. A number issued in one EU country is valid across the entire union. You apply only once, in the country where you are established.

What does an EORI number look like?

Always a two-letter country code plus up to 15 characters — for example NL123456789 (Netherlands) or DE123456789012345 (Germany).

Country specifics

EORI in the UK after Brexit

GB numbers, XI numbers and how to apply with HMRC — explained.

UK EORI guideCheck a number