What is an EORI number?

You need one if your business:

• imports goods into, or exports goods from, the UK or the EU;
• makes customs declarations, or has someone make them for you;
• applies for a customs decision or an export licence.

You don't need one to move goods that are for personal use and aren't controlled goods.

A business that trades with both the UK and the EU needs a GB number and an EU number. A business that moves goods into Northern Ireland may also need an XI number.

Two letters for the issuing country, then up to 15 characters. A GB number is GB followed by 12 digits, for example GB123456789000. If your business is registered for UK VAT, the digits are usually your VAT number with 000 on the end.

From the authority, it's free:

• GB number: apply online with HMRC. You usually get it straight away, but it can take up to 5 working days if HMRC needs to check your application. Businesses outside the UK can apply without a UK tax reference.
• XI number: apply to HMRC once you have a GB number. It takes up to 5 days.
• EU number: apply to the customs authority of the EU country where your business is established. If it isn't established in the EU, apply in the EU country where you'll make your first customs declaration.

You can only hold one valid EU EORI number at a time.

This is where it gets harder. HMRC usually expects a business to have premises in the UK, and an overseas business without them may need to appoint someone to deal with customs for it. In the EU, a non-EU business registers in the country of its first customs declaration, often through a representative.

That's the part we handle. We prepare the application, file it with HMRC or Dutch Customs, and you pay only once the number is issued.

No. An EORI number has no expiry date and there's nothing to renew. It can be cancelled, either because you ask or because the business stops trading.

EORI is used by the UK and the EU. Other countries have their own importer numbers:

• United States: an importer number from US Customs and Border Protection.
• Canada: a business number with an import account from the Canada Revenue Agency.
• Australia: an Australian Business Number (ABN).
• New Zealand: a customs client code.
• Switzerland: isn't in the EU, so an EU EORI number isn't valid there. See Switzerland.

Browse importer numbers by country.

Use our EORI number checker to check GB, XI and EU numbers against the official registers.