What is an EORI number?

EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification. The number identifies your business to customs authorities across the EU. You need it for every customs declaration – as soon as you ship goods to countries outside the EU or import from them.

What does an EORI number look like?

It starts with the country code of the member state that issued it, followed by up to 15 characters. German numbers are DE plus digits, Austrian ones start with ATEOS. Many countries derive the number from the VAT ID or a national company number.

Is an EORI number the same as a VAT ID?

No. The VAT ID is for VAT within the EU single market, the EORI number is for customs. Even where the two look alike, they are issued and checked separately – the VAT ID through VIES, the EORI number through the EOS system.

Where do I apply for an EORI number?

With the customs administration of the country your business is based in – in Germany that is the Zoll, in Austria the Zollamt Österreich. It costs nothing, and once issued the number is valid in every EU country.

Why is no company name shown?

The EU service only returns the name and address if the business agreed to publication. If they are missing, the number is still valid.

Can I check UK EORI numbers?

Not here. Since Brexit, GB numbers are issued by HMRC and checked through the UK government’s own service. Numbers starting with XI for Northern Ireland are known to the EU service, though – you can check those here.

Validate any EU EORI number for free

Enter an EORI number and we check it live against the EU Commission’s EORI validation service. If the company agreed to publication, you also get its name and address.

Selling abroad? Nori checks the VAT ID for you

Besides the EORI number, customers in other EU countries usually need a valid VAT ID too. Nori validates it against VIES automatically when you create the customer and takes over the company name and address straight into your customer records – no retyping, no typos.

Start for free Check a VAT ID

FAQ

EORI numbers: frequently asked questions

: EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification. The number identifies your business to customs authorities across the EU. You need it for every customs declaration – as soon as you ship goods to countries outside the EU or import from them.
: It starts with the country code of the member state that issued it, followed by up to 15 characters. German numbers are DE plus digits, Austrian ones start with ATEOS. Many countries derive the number from the VAT ID or a national company number.
: No. The VAT ID is for VAT within the EU single market, the EORI number is for customs. Even where the two look alike, they are issued and checked separately – the VAT ID through VIES, the EORI number through the EOS system.
: With the customs administration of the country your business is based in – in Germany that is the Zoll, in Austria the Zollamt Österreich. It costs nothing, and once issued the number is valid in every EU country.
: The EU service only returns the name and address if the business agreed to publication. If they are missing, the number is still valid.
: Not here. Since Brexit, GB numbers are issued by HMRC and checked through the UK government’s own service. Numbers starting with XI for Northern Ireland are known to the EU service, though – you can check those here.