EORI glossary

Definitions restate the sources. Where a source does not define a term, the entry says so.

EORI – Economic Operators Registration and Identification number. A unique identifier in the EU customs territory, assigned to an economic operator or other person for customs purposes (guidance, Art. 1(18) UCC DA).

Economic operator – A term defined in Article 5(5) of the Union Customs Code. The guidance lists who counts and who is only an "other person".

Person – Defined in Article 5(4) of the Union Customs Code. Only a legal person or an association with legal capacity can receive an EORI number.

Permanent business establishment – Defined in Article 5(32) of the Union Customs Code. It matters for deciding where an operator is established.

UCC – The Union Customs Code. The guidance cites it for the rules on registration and invalidation, for example Article 9.

Registering authority – The customs authority that assigns the number. The Commission publishes a search for registering authorities.

Invalidation – The act of making a number invalid, at the holder's request or when the activities stop. The data is kept for 10 years.

XI – The prefix of EORI numbers issued by HMRC to operators for Northern Ireland. GOV.UK does not define the prefix in detail; it says GB and XI numbers are in HMRC's database (HMRC).

GB – The prefix of EORI numbers issued by HMRC to UK-established operators.

CDS – The Customs Declaration Service of HMRC. A GB EORI is needed to use it, and the holder can find the number in its financial dashboard.

AEO – Authorised Economic Operator. The guidance says an EORI number is required to obtain AEO facilitations.

Entry summary declaration (ENS) and exit summary declaration (EXS) – Declarations listed by the Commission as ones that make a non-EU operator need an EORI. The sources we read do not define them further.

Temporary storage declaration – A declaration listed in the same way. Not further defined in the sources we read.

Carrier – An operator that moves goods. The Commission names carriers by sea, inland waterway or air as needing registration if not established in the EU.

Declarant – A role in customs declarations. The number is mandatory or conditional in the declarant data field.

TCUIN – Third-country unique identifier. The guidance says it may be used where a recognised trader partnership programme applies; it is not an EORI.

ATA and CPD carnets – International customs documents. EU-established holders must be registered, and the number goes in box A or box 1.

Indirect representative – A person who deals with customs on another's behalf. HMRC says a business that cannot register can appoint one, and that the representative needs their own EORI.