EORI number for private individuals
Whether a private person needs an EORI number, what German and Finnish customs say, and when an online shop or carrier may still ask for one.
2 min to read / Rules to be read again by 2027-01-20
What the EORI guide does: 8 tools
- EORI number checker type a GB, XI or EU number and see at once whether its prefix, length and characters fit the published rules.
- Check a list of EORI numbers paste up to 500 numbers from a spreadsheet and get a reason, a suggested fix and the right official service for every row.
- Compare an EORI with a UK VAT number see whether the first nine digits of a GB or XI number match the holder's VAT number, as HMRC says they should.
- Which EORI number do I need? say where you are based and what you will move, and learn whether you need a GB, an XI or an EU number.
- EORI number formats by country type how many characters your number has and see which of the 29 prefixes allow that length.
- Do I need an EORI number? answer four questions about who you are and how often you make customs declarations to see whether you must register.
- Where to apply for an EORI number pick your situation and see which customs authority issues the number, with a link to the official list of authorities.
- How long an EORI number lasts enter the date a number stopped being valid and see the earliest date its record can be deleted, ten years on.
Short version for private persons
An EORI number exists mainly for people who deal with customs as part of a business. Customs authorities in at least two Member States say that a private person does not normally need one. The rules are applied nationally, so check your own customs authority before you decide.
What German customs say
German customs state that private individuals do not need an EORI number if they lodge customs declarations only occasionally, which they define as fewer than ten times a year. Postal, express and courier services acting for customers who are not businesses have no EORI obligation either. An occasional customs declaration for private travel is exempt too. An exception: for exports that need an authorisation, a private person may have to give an EORI number where the authorising body's procedure asks for it (Zoll).
What Finnish customs say
Finnish customs do not require an EORI number from private individuals; import declarations use the personal ID instead. A private person may still need one if a foreign online shop, a transport company or another EU country asks for it. Finnish customs have a separate application for private persons (form 1162e) with a copy of an ID, sent by secure email, with a stated processing time of about two to three working days. The number works in every EU Member State, and the applicant can choose whether name and address are publicly shown (Tulli).
When you might still want one
- You buy from outside the EU often and a seller or carrier asks for it on the declaration.
- You sell goods as a hobby that is turning into regular trade. At that point you may be an economic operator in the customs sense, whatever you call it.
- You export goods that need a licence.
Where to apply
In the Member State where you live. German customs issue the number free of charge through the customs portal; since 1 October 2026 the portal has been mandatory there for applying for or cancelling a number, and paper forms are kept for emergencies (Zoll). The page for Finland does not state a fee.
Public listing and privacy
In Finland the application lets you choose whether your name and address are shown publicly. We did not check other countries. Check the form of your own country before you apply. The database page explains what the EU validation service returns.
What we have not checked
We read two national pages, not all 27. Rules and thresholds can differ. Our lookup only tests the shape of a number and cannot say whether you need one. Read on 22 October 2026. Plain information, not legal advice.
Spotted an outdated EORI rule? Report an outdated rule