# EORI number for private individuals

> Whether a private person needs an EORI number, what German and Finnish customs say, and when an online shop or carrier may still ask for one.

- Canonical URL: https://eorilookup.com/eori-for-private-individuals/
- Source: [German Customs (Zoll), EORI questions and answers](https://www.zoll.de/EN/Businesses/Movement-of-goods/Import/Duties-and-taxes/EORI-number/Questions-and-answers/questions-and-answers.html)
- Checked: 2026-10-22

## Short answer
An EORI number exists mainly for people who deal with customs as part of a business. Customs authorities in at least two Member States say that a private person does not normally need one. The rules are applied nationally, so check your own customs authority before you decide.

## What German customs say

German customs state that private individuals do not need an EORI number if they lodge customs declarations only occasionally, which they define as fewer than ten times a year. Postal, express and courier services acting for customers who are not businesses have no EORI obligation either. An occasional customs declaration for private travel is exempt too. An exception: for exports that need an authorisation, a private person may have to give an EORI number where the authorising body's procedure asks for it ([Zoll](https://www.zoll.de/EN/Businesses/Movement-of-goods/Import/Duties-and-taxes/EORI-number/Questions-and-answers/questions-and-answers.html)).

## What Finnish customs say

Finnish customs do not require an EORI number from private individuals; import declarations use the personal ID instead. A private person may still need one if a foreign online shop, a transport company or another EU country asks for it. Finnish customs have a separate application for private persons (form 1162e) with a copy of an ID, sent by secure email, with a stated processing time of about two to three working days. The number is valid in all EU Member States, and the applicant can choose whether name and address are publicly shown ([Tulli](https://tulli.fi/en/businesses/services-for-businesses/e-services/eori)).

## When you might still want one

- You buy from outside the EU often and a seller or carrier asks for it on the declaration.
- You sell goods as a hobby that is turning into regular trade. At that point you may be an economic operator in the customs sense, whatever you call it.
- You export goods that need a licence.

## Where to apply

In the Member State where you live. German customs issue the number free of charge through the customs portal; from 1 October 2026 the portal is mandatory there and the paper forms are kept for emergencies ([Zoll](https://www.zoll.de/EN/Businesses/Movement-of-goods/Import/Duties-and-taxes/EORI-number/Questions-and-answers/questions-and-answers.html)). The page for Finland does not state a fee.

## Public listing and privacy

In Finland the application lets you choose whether your name and address are shown publicly. We did not check other countries. Check the form of your own country before you apply. The [database page](https://eorilookup.com/what-the-eori-database-holds/) explains what the EU validation service returns.

## What we have not checked

We read two national pages, not all 27. Rules and thresholds can differ. Our own [lookup](https://eorilookup.com/) checks the format of a number; it does not decide whether you need a number. Last checked 22 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

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