EORI Number

An EORI number (Economic Operators Registration and Identification number) is a unique ID that identifies a business to customs authorities in the European Union and the United Kingdom. Any company importing goods into or exporting goods out of the EU customs territory must have one — without an EORI number, customs declarations cannot be filed and shipments will not clear the border.

The EORI system has been mandatory across the EU since July 1, 2009. One EORI number is valid in all EU member states, and registration is free through the national customs authority.

What is an EORI number used for?

• Import and export declarations. Every customs entry filed with an EU (or UK) customs authority carries the trader's EORI number — it is how customs knows who is trading.
• Working with a customs broker. Your customs brokerage partner files declarations against your EORI; without it, they have nothing to file under.
• Shipping DDP into Europe. Selling under DDP terms makes the seller responsible for import clearance — which requires an EORI on the seller's side.
• Other customs processes. Safety and security filings, customs authorizations, and applications such as AEO status all reference the EORI.

How do you get an EORI number?

Where you apply depends on where your business is established — and this is where non-EU brands usually hit friction:

Your situation	Where you register	What to know
EU-established business	Customs authority of the member state where you are established	One number, valid in all EU member states; typically the country code plus your business ID
Non-EU business (e.g. US brand)	The member state where you first file a customs declaration	An EORI alone rarely suffices — you generally also need indirect customs representation or an importer-of-record arrangement to clear goods
Trading with Great Britain	HMRC, via gov.uk	Since Brexit, a GB-prefix EORI is required for imports into Great Britain — an EU EORI does not work there, and vice versa
Northern Ireland movements	HMRC	A separate XI-prefix EORI applies to goods moving under the Northern Ireland arrangements

Registration itself is free and usually processed within days. The European Commission maintains an official EORI page and validation database where any number can be checked.

EORI vs. VAT number: what's the difference?

The two are constantly confused because both are country-issued tax-adjacent registrations — but they do different jobs. The EORI identifies you to customs for moving goods across the border; the VAT number identifies you to the tax authority for charging, reporting, and reclaiming VAT. Importing into the EU typically requires both: the EORI to clear the goods, and a VAT registration to reclaim the import VAT paid at the border. In several countries the EORI is derived from or linked to the VAT number, which adds to the confusion — but holding one never automatically grants the other.

What do brands get wrong with EORI numbers?

• Assuming one number covers Europe. Since Brexit, EU and GB EORI numbers are separate systems. A US brand selling into Germany and the UK needs both — plus an XI EORI if goods move through Northern Ireland.
• Thinking the EORI makes you the importer. It identifies you to customs; it does not by itself give a non-EU company the practical ability to import. That requires customs representation or an importer of record — the piece most foreign sellers are missing.
• Leaving it until the freight is booked. Shipping inventory toward Europe — for example an inbound to Amazon FBA — before the EORI exists is a classic way to strand a container at the port while the paperwork catches up.
• Confusing EORI with the VAT setup. Clearing goods with an EORI but no VAT registration can turn reclaimable import VAT into a sunk cost. The two registrations should be planned together, not sequentially.

FAQ

Who needs an EORI number?
Any business importing goods into or exporting goods out of the EU customs territory — and, separately, any business importing into Great Britain. This includes non-EU e-commerce brands shipping inventory to European warehouses or fulfillment centers.

How long does it take to get an EORI number, and what does it cost?
Registration is free and handled by the national customs authority; straightforward applications are typically processed within a few working days. Non-EU businesses should plan for extra lead time, since the application usually accompanies a broader import setup.

Is an EORI number the same as a VAT number?
No. The EORI identifies your business to customs for cross-border goods movements; the VAT number registers you with a tax authority for VAT. Importing into the EU generally requires both, and one never automatically includes the other.

EORI registrations, customs representation, VAT setup — the paperwork of entering Europe stacks up fast. eBrands carries all of it as your Merchant of Record and importer of record, so your inventory clears while you keep building the brand — see how it works for physical-goods brands.