Start importing with an EORI number
Secure your official Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number for cross-border EU and UK commercial freight. Accelerate customs clearance, eliminate port bottlenecks, and seamlessly integrate import declarations with Postponed VAT Accounting.
Official EORI Verification & Validation
Verify active EORI numbers directly against the official government registers before shipping commercial cargo across UK or EU borders.
Official UK government verification tool on GOV.UK for GB and XI prefix EORI numbers registered with HM Revenue & Customs.
Verify on GOV.UK →Official European Commission Economic Operators System (EOS) central directory covering all 27 EU member states.
Verify on Europa.eu →What exactly is an EORI number?
An EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification) number is the mandatory identifier required by customs authorities for any business importing or exporting commercial goods across European borders.
The European Union established the EORI framework to streamline border clearance, reinforce international supply chain security, and allow real-time automated data exchange across all 27 member states. In the UK, post-Brexit customs procedures rely on a distinct GB EORI integrated with the Customs Declaration Service (CDS).
If your business is established outside the EU and UK, you must apply for an EORI in the first member state where you lodge a customs declaration. Once issued, your EU EORI is recognized across all 27 member states, while a separate GB EORI is required for shipments entering England, Scotland, or Wales.
Identifies the legal entity on customs entry/exit declarations (CDS/ATLAS). Required for physical movement of commercial goods at the border.
Identifies your company for domestic transactions, B2B reverse charge, and import VAT deduction. You may need local VAT IDs in multiple countries.
Facilitates centralized monthly VAT reporting for cross-border parcels up to 150 EUR sold to EU consumers, exempting consignments from customs VAT upon arrival.
Why an EORI number is legally mandatory
Customs authorities in both the EU and the UK require an active, validated EORI before releasing any commercial cargo. Without it, freight forwarders and customs brokers cannot legally clear your consignments.
On every single customs declaration
Your EORI number must appear on Single Administrative Documents (SAD), CDS declarations, and entry summary declarations (ENS). Missing or mismatched identifiers result in immediate customs holds, port demurrage fees, and inspection delays.
Mandatory even with a customs broker
Even if your logistics carrier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) or freight forwarder acts as a declarant, you remain the legal economic operator. Brokers cannot substitute their own EORI for yours in standard commercial clearances.
Strategic first point of entry selection
Non-EU businesses may only hold one EU EORI. Applying in the wrong country can restrict deferred payment privileges, complicate transit procedures, or prevent seamless clearance through key maritime ports like Rotterdam or Hamburg.
End-to-end EORI registration pipeline
How VAT Support secures your active customs identifier with zero operational friction.
Jurisdiction & Route Assessment
We evaluate your logistics corridors, entry ports (e.g. Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Dover), and marketplace setup to designate the optimal authority.
Documentation & Legal Verification
Preparation and translation of certificates of incorporation, directorship filings, and tax registrations to meet statutory customs standards.
Direct Authority Lodgement
Submission through official electronic customs portals (HMRC CDS, Zoll, Douanes, Belastingdienst) with dedicated compliance monitoring.
Activation & Postponed VAT Setup
Verification against the central EU and UK customs registries, plus configuration with your freight forwarders and deferred VAT accounts.
How EORI integrates with modern ecommerce
Amazon FBA & 3PL Warehousing
Shipping palletized inventory into European fulfillment hubs requires an active EORI at the border and a local VAT registration in the warehouse country (Germany, France, Poland, Czechia, UK).
Amazon VAT solutions →Direct-to-Consumer & IOSS Synergy
If you sell parcels under 150 EUR via an online store or marketplace, an IOSS number simplifies checkout VAT, while your EORI remains essential for restocking warehouse inventory and high-value orders.
Explore IOSS registration →B2B Commercial Imports & PVA
Link your EORI with Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA) in the UK or Article 23 import deferment in the Netherlands to avoid upfront cash outlays at the port of entry.
VAT registration services →What you need before applying for an EORI
Corporate Entity Records
Official extract from your national company register (e.g., Companies House, Delaware Division of Corporations) showing active legal status and registered address.
Director Identification & Proof of Authority
Government-issued passport or national ID of authorized managing directors and a formal letter of authorization for customs representation.
Freight & Shipping Documentation
Planned ports of entry, expected commodity codes (HS codes), estimated annual import volume, and commercial invoice templates.
EORI Customs & Registration FAQs
Do private individuals need an EORI?
Generally no. The EORI scheme is strictly aimed at economic operators, commercial traders, and businesses moving merchandise internationally. Personal purchases and low-value personal gifts imported via post are governed by separate postal customs rules.
Can one EORI cover the whole EU?
Yes. An EORI number issued by any EU member state (for example, Germany or the Netherlands) is recognized by customs authorities across all 27 EU member states. However, following Brexit, the UK operates a separate customs system; businesses importing into both the UK and the EU require both a UK (GB) EORI and an EU EORI.
How long does registration take?
Processing times vary by customs authority and document completeness. Most applications are approved within 24 to 48 hours for UK GB EORI, while EU member state applications typically take between 2 to 14 business days depending on the jurisdiction and peak seasonal volumes.
Also selling low-value parcels to the EU?
The Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) streamlines import VAT on eligible B2C shipments valued up to 150 EUR by charging VAT at checkout and avoiding customs processing fees for consumers. However, IOSS does not replace an EORI for standard commercial imports, palletized cargo, or goods stored in local warehouses.
欧洲及英国增值税专家一对一沟通
