Where to register an EU EORI
Which EU country issues the EORI number: the rules for EU and non-EU operators, several establishments, groups of companies, duplicates and refusals.
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.
The basic rules
Only one customs authority can assign an EORI number, and a person can hold only one valid number (European Commission). The Commission's guidance document adds the detail. The version we read is dated 30 August 2023 and is non-binding: the legal texts take precedence (guidance).
| Situation | Where the guidance says to register |
|---|---|
| Operator established in the EU | The Member State where it is established, even if its first operation takes place in another Member State |
| Operator not established in the EU | The Member State where it first expects to carry out a relevant activity, such as lodging a declaration |
| Non-EU operator with several permanent establishments in the EU | Any Member State where it has an establishment |
Groups and branches
Only a legal person, or an association with legal capacity, can receive an EORI number. A branch or office that is not a person cannot. A parent company can hold a number if it is itself an economic operator. A non-EU company with a registered office in the EU can obtain only one number, from one Member State. Some multinational entities may still need national identifiers such as VAT numbers.
What authorities check
- Refusal. Authorities may refuse a non-EU operator that has no reasonable grounds to expect its first use in that state, or that already holds an EORI from another Member State or from UK customs for Northern Ireland.
- Identity. The data must be authenticated before registration is finished. For a non-EU natural person this can be a passport or travel document, and for a legal person an extract from a business register.
- Duplicates. Authorities check the EORI system for duplicates, using name spelling and identification numbers. The general rule is to keep the first number and invalidate the second, after contacting the operator and checking that the first was validly assigned.
Timing and cost
The guidance says the number is assigned free of charge. Registration can take several days, so the Commission advises starting before customs activities begin. National law governs the process itself.
Finding the authority
The Commission publishes a search for registering authorities. It does not describe the application steps on the page we read, so follow your national customs authority's own instructions.
Spotted an outdated EORI rule? Report an outdated rule