GLOSSARY
EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification)
A unique customs identification number required for any business importing to or exporting from the EU.
An EORI is a unique identifier assigned to economic operators who interact with customs authorities in the European Union. The number consists of a two-letter country code followed by up to 15 alphanumeric characters, such as DE123456789000123.
Why it matters
Any business lodging customs declarations, applying for authorizations, or moving goods across EU borders must hold a valid EORI. Without one, your shipment stalls at the port. Registration is free and typically handled through your national customs authority. You can verify any trading partner's EORI via the European Commission's EOS validation database at ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/eos.
Post-Brexit, GB-prefixed EORI numbers are no longer valid for EU customs. UK traders shipping to the EU now need a separate EU EORI, usually registered in Ireland or the Netherlands.