EORI questions and answers
Ten short answers on EORI numbers from the Commission and HMRC: format, number of EORIs, expiry, who needs one, checking, consent and Northern Ireland.
2 min to read / Rules to be read again by 2027-01-19
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.
Can a business hold more than one EORI number? No. A person can hold only one valid EORI at any time (European Commission).
Does an EORI number expire? No. It can be invalidated on request, or when the business activities cease, and the data is then kept for 10 years.
Is it free? The Commission guidance says the number is assigned free of charge (guidance).
Who issues it? One customs authority only. In the EU it is the authority of the country of establishment, or for a non-EU operator the country where it first lodges a declaration or applies for a decision. In the UK it is HMRC.
How long does it take? The guidance says registration can take several days. It does not give a fixed time.
What does a number look like? A two-letter country code followed by a number of up to 15 letters or digits in the EU. GB and XI numbers are the prefix plus 12 digits (14 characters), and HMRC's input field also accepts 15 digits (HMRC pattern).
Do I need an EORI for goods for personal use? HMRC says no for personal, non-controlled goods. See Which EORI do I need? for other cases.
Do I need an EORI to move goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland? HMRC says you do not need an XI number if you only move goods within the island of Ireland or between Northern Ireland and an EU country (GOV.UK).
How do I check a number? Use the GB checker for GB numbers and the EU checker for XI and EU numbers. See how to check.
Why can I not see the name of a business? The name and address appear only if the holder has agreed to disclosure.
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