What is an EORI number and how do you check one?
Last updated 26 August 2026
An EORI number is the identity customs systems use for an economic operator. It is not a licence to import, a VAT registration or proof that the person using it has authority to act for the company.
EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification. It is mandatory for customs clearance operations in the EU, including import, export and transit. A person can have only one valid EORI number at a time.
Who needs an EORI number?
An economic operator established in the EU customs territory needs an EORI for customs activities. A business established outside the EU can also need one when it lodges a customs declaration, safety declaration, temporary storage declaration or acts as a carrier in the situations covered by the rules.
The number is normally requested from the customs authority in the EU country where the business is established. A business with no EU establishment normally applies in the country where it plans to carry out its first customs operation.
What does an EORI number look like?
The format starts with the two letter country code of the issuing EU country, followed by a national identifier of up to 15 letters or numbers. The detailed relationship with VAT or company registration numbers varies by country. Do not assume the VAT number and EORI are interchangeable just because they look similar.
How to check an EORI number
- Copy the full number without changing the country prefix.
- Open the European Commission EORI validation service.
- Enter the number and check whether the service returns it as valid.
- Compare any name and address shown with your onboarding and transaction records. Public details may be limited by the holder's disclosure choice.
- Save the date and result when the check supports a live declaration.
You can reach the official validator from the Commission's EORI page linked below. Avoid putting company identifiers into an unknown checker simply because it ranks above the official service.
What a valid EORI result does not prove
- That the company is the correct importer for this transaction.
- That a broker has authority to represent the company.
- That VAT, excise, licences or product registrations are in place.
- That the legal name and address on the declaration are current.
- That the commodity code, origin or customs value is correct.
Before the first declaration
Confirm the importing legal entity, EORI, representation model, VAT arrangement and responsibility for the customs debt before the goods move. Fixing identity and authority after arrival is slower than a five minute check during onboarding.
Official source and checker
National registration procedures and processing times vary. Use the customs authority for the relevant EU country when applying or correcting registration data.