# EORI questions and answers

> Ten short answers on EORI numbers from the Commission and HMRC: format, number of EORIs, expiry, who needs one, checking, consent and Northern Ireland.

- Canonical URL: https://eorilookup.com/faq/
- Source: [European Commission, EORI page; HMRC EORI guidance](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs/customs-procedures-import-and-export/customs-operations/economic-operators-registration-and-identification-number-eori_en)
- Checked: 2026-10-21

**Can a business hold more than one EORI number?**
No. A person can hold only one valid EORI at any time ([European Commission](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs/customs-procedures-import-and-export/customs-operations/economic-operators-registration-and-identification-number-eori_en)).

**Does an EORI number expire?**
No. It can be invalidated on request, or when the business activities cease, and the data is then kept for 10 years.

**Is it free?**
The Commission guidance says the number is assigned free of charge ([guidance](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/bbe4c653-3b6d-4bed-932c-61bb77711384_en?filename=EN_EORI%20Guidance%20document.pdf)).

**Who issues it?**
One customs authority only. In the EU it is the authority of the country of establishment, or for a non-EU operator the country of its first customs operation. In the UK it is HMRC.

**How long does it take?**
The guidance says registration can take several days. It does not give a fixed time.

**What does a number look like?**
A two-letter country code followed by a number of up to 15 letters or digits in the EU. GB and XI numbers are the prefix plus 12 or 15 digits, according to HMRC ([HMRC pattern](https://design.tax.service.gov.uk/hmrc-design-patterns/eori-numbers/)).

**Do I need an EORI for goods for personal use?**
HMRC says no for personal, non-controlled goods. See [Which EORI do I need?](https://eorilookup.com/which-eori-do-i-need/) for other cases.

**Do I need an EORI to move goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland?**
HMRC says you do not need an XI number if you only move goods within the island of Ireland or between Northern Ireland and an EU country ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/eori/eori-northern-ireland)).

**How do I check a number?**
Use the GB checker for GB numbers and the EU checker for XI and EU numbers. See [how to check](https://eorilookup.com/how-to-check-an-eori-number/).

**Why can I not see the name of a business?**
The name and address appear only if the holder has agreed to disclosure.

## More guides

- [Where to register an EU EORI](https://eorilookup.com/where-to-register-in-the-eu/)
- [GB, XI and EU numbers compared](https://eorilookup.com/gb-xi-and-eu-numbers/)
- [Cases from the guidance](https://eorilookup.com/eori-cases-from-the-guidance/)
- [How long a number lasts](https://eorilookup.com/eori-lifecycle/)
- [What the database holds](https://eorilookup.com/what-the-eori-database-holds/)
- [Where the number is used](https://eorilookup.com/eori-on-customs-documents/)
- [When a check goes wrong](https://eorilookup.com/eori-check-problems/)
- [Glossary](https://eorilookup.com/glossary/)

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EORI Lookup Guide · Contact: contact@eorilookup.com