An EORI number is the single piece of registration that decides whether your goods clear or sit. It is free, it usually arrives the same day, and it is still the most common reason a first shipment gets stuck at Felixstowe or Rotterdam. Post-Brexit the picture got more complicated, because one number is often not enough: a UK company selling into Europe frequently needs a GB EORI and an EU EORI, and anyone touching Northern Ireland may need an XI one too. HMRC cleared 63.3 million import declarations in 2024 alone, and every one of them carried an EORI number. This guide explains what an EORI number is, who needs which type, how to apply in 2026, and how to check one before you rely on it.
The 30-second version
- EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification. It is your customs ID across the EU and UK.
- GB EORI for moving goods to or from Great Britain. XI EORI for Northern Ireland movements, and it requires a GB number first.
- EU EORI is issued once, by your member state of establishment, and is valid across all 27.
- Applications are free. Most GB numbers issue immediately, though HMRC checks can take up to five working days.
- Non-EU businesses cannot normally be importer of record in the EU without an establishment or an indirect representative.
What is an EORI number?
An EORI number is a unique alphanumeric identifier that customs authorities across the EU and UK use to track a business's shipments. It goes on every customs declaration, every entry summary, and every duty deferment account. Without one, no declaration can be lodged in your name.
The format follows the country prefix plus a national identifier. A GB EORI is typically GB plus your nine-digit VAT number plus 000. An EU EORI carries the two-letter code of the issuing member state, so DE, NL, FR and so on. One business, one EORI per customs territory, per Xero's UK EORI guide.
Do you need a GB, XI or EU EORI number?
It depends on where the goods move, not where your office is. The short version:
| Movement | Number needed | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Into or out of Great Britain | GB EORI | HMRC |
| Into or out of Northern Ireland from outside the EU | XI EORI (needs GB first) | HMRC |
| Into or out of any EU member state | EU EORI | Member state of establishment |
| UK company acting as importer in the EU | GB ✓ and EU ✓ | Both |
The two-number case is the one that catches people. If you sell DDP into France, you are the importer in France, so you need a French or other EU EORI in addition to your GB one. If you sell DAP and your customer clears the goods, their EORI is used and you need only the GB number. Which Incoterm you quote decides which registrations you need, which is a good reason to read Incoterms 2020 properly before signing anything.
How do you apply for an EORI number in 2026?
In the UK, apply online through the EORI service on GOV.UK using your Government Gateway account. Most applicants receive a GB EORI immediately, although HMRC checks can take up to five working days. You will need your VAT number if registered, Unique Taxpayer Reference, Standard Industrial Classification code and the date your business started trading, per AVASK's registration walkthrough.
In the EU, apply to the customs authority of the member state where you are established. Germany goes through the Zoll portal, the Netherlands through the Belastingdienst, Ireland through Revenue's ROS. Whichever one issues it, the number works EU-wide, so there is no benefit in collecting several.
Three things that slow applications down more than anything else: a business name that does not match Companies House or the local registry exactly, an address mismatch against VAT records, and applying for an XI number before the GB number exists.
The EORI is free and takes a day. The indirect representation arrangement behind it takes weeks, and that is the one people discover late.
How do you check if an EORI number is valid?
Use the official validators, not a supplier's word. The European Commission runs an EORI validation checker for EU numbers, and GOV.UK provides a checker for GB numbers so you can confirm one exists before applying for a duplicate, per this GB, XI and EU breakdown.
Worth doing in two situations. First, when a new customer claims they will act as importer of record: an invalid EORI means the goods will be refused and you will be paying storage. Second, when a broker gives you a number to declare against. This is a small, cheap check that sits naturally alongside the wider job of verifying a counterparty before money moves.
What non-EU sellers get wrong
An EORI does not, by itself, let a non-EU company import into the EU. To be importer of record you generally need an establishment in the customs territory, or you appoint an indirect representative who lodges declarations in their own name and takes on joint liability for the duty. Indirect representatives are cautious for exactly that reason, and finding one who will take a new client can take longer than the whole EORI process.
This has become sharper since the €150 de minimis exemption ended in July 2026. More consignments now carry duty, which means more of them need someone properly registered standing behind the declaration.
How ShipScout helps
EORI is the paperwork. The commercial question underneath it is which counterparties are worth registering for in the first place. ShipScout turns 11B+ shipment records across 240+ countries into that answer:
- See who is really importing your product into the UK or a given EU member state, ranked by volume and shipment frequency.
- Check trading history before you commit to a DDP arrangement and the registrations it triggers.
- Compare market entry points across EU gateways, from the Rotterdam route to Germany, before choosing where to establish.
- Pull contacts where available so first contact references their actual imports.
Get the number, then go find the buyers worth using it for. Start a free trial and see who is importing your HS code into the UK and EU right now.
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