EORI Number: Application, Duration and Verification

Without an EORI number, every customs declaration stalls, no matter how carefully the tariff code and customs value have been prepared. For companies importing from third countries for the first time, registration is the first formal step, not the last formality before shipping. Apply too late, and your goods can sit at the port or airport while the number is still being processed.

In brief: The EORI number (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) is an EU-wide registration number required for customs declarations. In Germany, you apply for it free of charge through the Zoll-Portal, which becomes mandatory from 1 October 2026; until 30 September 2026, form 0870a remains a valid alternative. There's no statutory processing deadline, but in practice confirmation usually arrives within a few working days. Without a valid EORI number, no customs declaration, import or export, can be filed.

What is an EORI number and why do you need one?

An EORI number is the registration number customs authorities across the EU use to uniquely identify a company. It consists of a two-letter country code followed by a string of digits, in Germany typically derived from the company's existing customs number.

The number was introduced under the EU Customs Code to link customs declarations consistently across all member states. According to Germany's customs administration, it has been mandatory since 2009 for anyone involved in customs-related trade with third countries. Without it, the ATLAS system rejects declarations outright, electronic or paper-based.

In our sourcing projects across the Far East, we regularly see new importers apply for their EORI number just before the first shipment, having confused it with their VAT identification number. The two serve different purposes and are issued by different authorities, and mixing them up costs valuable days right before clearance.

Who needs an EORI number to import?

Any company importing goods from outside the EU, or exporting to a country outside the EU, needs its own EORI number. This applies regardless of company size and regardless of whether imports happen regularly or only occasionally.

The table below shows when an EORI number is required:

For trading companies like Line Up that import on behalf of clients, the basic rule doesn't change: whoever files a customs declaration in their own name needs a valid EORI number of their own.

How do you get an EORI number from German customs?

In Germany, the application runs entirely online through the customs portal (Zoll-Portal) and takes just a few steps:

• Set up access to the customs portal. Register at zoll-portal.de with an ELSTER certificate or a portal account if you don't already have one.

• Apply through the "EORI-Nr. Verwaltung" service. Inside the Zoll-Portal, you file the application digitally, with no paper involved. Until 30 September 2026, you can alternatively use application form 0870a as a paper template from the Directorate General of Customs; after that date, using the Zoll-Portal for new applications becomes mandatory.

• Enter your company details. Company name, address, legal form, commercial register number, and tax number are mandatory fields.

• Submit the application electronically. Once the Directorate General of Customs has reviewed it, the EORI number is issued automatically and communicated to the applicant.

• Keep the confirmation on file. You'll need it as a reference for every subsequent customs declaration.

Registration itself is free. Several commercial providers advertise a paid application processed within a few hours, but that fee is simply a service charge for filling out a form that is free to submit yourself. German customs makes this explicit: using a paid third-party provider is not necessary to apply.

How long does it take to get an EORI number?

There's no statutory processing deadline, customs doesn't commit to a fixed turnaround. In our experience, confirmation usually arrives within a few working days, provided all mandatory fields are complete. Missing a field, such as the commercial register number, extends the review accordingly.

For companies planning a first import shipment, we recommend applying at least two to three weeks before the planned shipping date. That leaves buffer time for queries from the customs authority and for correcting any submitted data if needed.

Since February 2013, the ATLAS system no longer processes the old customs number, identification runs exclusively through this registration. Delays in issuing it ripple straight through to every customs declaration, not just an administrative footnote. Make sure your company name and address match your tax office records exactly, mismatches are the most common reason for follow-up queries.

How do you check whether an EORI number is valid?

You can verify an EORI number free of charge through the European Commission's EORI validation service. Enter the full number including the country code, and the check confirms validity along with the registered company name.

This check is more than a formality. Since February 2013, ATLAS identifies companies exclusively through this registration, the old customs number is no longer accepted. An invalid or mistyped entry blocks the entire customs declaration, regardless of how correct everything else on file is.

This check is worth running on more than just your own number. Before starting a new relationship with a customs agent or freight forwarder, we cross-check their EORI number against the register, small typos in quotation documents otherwise only surface once the customs declaration has already been filed, when it's too late to fix cheaply.

Do private individuals need an EORI number too?

In most cases, private individuals don't need their own EORI number, since parcel carriers and courier companies file the customs declaration under their own registration. A private individual only needs their own EORI number if they file the customs declaration themselves and in their own name, for example when collecting a shipment directly at a customs office.

Sole traders and individuals who import regularly, for instance as part of an online business, are subject to the same obligation as any other company.

Your own registration becomes relevant mainly when you collect a shipment in person at a customs office, or import goods beyond the usual low-value parcel thresholds, larger furniture or vehicle parts from a third country, for instance. The application process barely differs from a company's, you simply skip the commercial register field.

What mistakes commonly happen when applying for an EORI number?

Most delays don't come from the registration itself, but from incorrect or late information surrounding the application. The following points are easy to avoid:

• Confusing it with the VAT ID. Both numbers serve different purposes and are applied for separately.

• Applying too late. The first shipment is already on its way while the EORI number is still being processed.

• Incomplete company details. A missing commercial register or tax number delays the review.

• Wrong EORI number from a service provider. A customs agent mistakenly declares under their own number instead of the client's.

• No update after a company name or address change. After a rebranding or relocation, the registration must be updated, or declarations will fail to match.

Staying ahead of these points avoids most delays that otherwise only become visible at the first customs declaration. These issues tend to surface alongside unclear import regulations more broadly, which is why it's worth reviewing both topics before your first shipment.

How does the EORI number fit into the rest of the import process?

The EORI number is the precondition for filing a customs declaration, but it's only one building block in the overall process. Only together with the correct tariff classification, the properly determined customs value of the shipment, and the right trade documents can a shipment clear customs smoothly.

This is especially true when importing from the Far East: the shipment is on its way by sea while the EORI number, tariff code, and invoice details already need to be in place so the declaration isn't delayed on arrival. For first-time importers, it makes sense to start the EORI application in parallel with selecting a supplier, not only after the contract is signed.

Because ATLAS identifies solely through this registration, checking its validity should be the first item on any pre-shipment checklist, ahead of booking freight. Get that order right, and an otherwise complete shipment won't stall on nothing more than an outdated or missing number.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get an EORI number? Customs doesn't commit to a fixed deadline. In our experience, confirmation usually arrives within a few working days, provided all company details are submitted in full.

Does an EORI number cost anything? No, applying through customs is free. Paid third-party offers online simply charge a service fee for filling out the official form.

Can I import without an EORI number? No, without a valid EORI number, the ATLAS system will not accept a customs declaration, for imports or exports.

Do private individuals need an EORI number too? Only if they file the customs declaration themselves and in their own name. In most cases, the parcel carrier handles this under its own registration.

How do I check whether an EORI number is valid? Through the European Commission's free EORI validation service, which shows validity and the registered company name.

Conclusion: The EORI number as the first building block of the import process

An EORI number isn't a hurdle, it's a one-time, free registration that makes every later customs declaration possible in the first place. Apply for it early and think of it together with the other import requirements, such as tariff classification and customs value, and you'll avoid the typical delays that come with a first import.

As process specialists, we guide buyers through the entire process, from registration to selecting reliable suppliers in the Far East to smooth customs clearance. 👉 Schedule a free consultation and we'll work out together which steps are still missing for your next import.