Where to register an EU EORI
Which EU country issues the EORI number: the rules for EU and non-EU operators, several establishments, groups of companies, duplicates and refusals.
The basic rules
Only one customs authority can assign an EORI number, and a person can hold only one valid number (European Commission). The Commission's guidance document adds the detail. The version we read is dated 30 August 2023 and is non-binding: the legal texts take precedence (guidance).
| Situation | Where the guidance says to register |
|---|---|
| Operator established in the EU | The Member State where it is established, even if its first operation takes place in another Member State |
| Operator not established in the EU | The Member State where it first expects to carry out a relevant activity, such as lodging a declaration |
| Non-EU operator with several permanent establishments in the EU | Any Member State where it has an establishment |
Groups and branches
Only a legal person, or an association with legal capacity, can receive an EORI number. A branch or office that is not a person cannot. A parent company can hold a number if it is itself an economic operator. A non-EU company with a registered office in the EU can obtain only one number, from one Member State. Some multinational entities may still need national identifiers such as VAT numbers.
What authorities check
- Refusal. Authorities may refuse a non-EU operator that has no reasonable grounds to expect its first use in that state, or that already holds an EORI from another Member State or from UK customs for Northern Ireland.
- Identity. The data must be authenticated before registration is finished. For a non-EU natural person this can be a passport or travel document, and for a legal person an extract from a business register.
- Duplicates. Authorities check the EORI system for duplicates, using name spelling and identification numbers. The general rule is to keep the first number and invalidate the second, after contacting the operator and checking that the first was validly assigned.
Timing and cost
The guidance says the number is assigned free of charge. Registration can take several days, so the Commission advises starting before customs activities begin. National law governs the process itself.
Finding the authority
The Commission publishes a search for registering authorities. It does not describe the application steps on the page we read, so follow your national customs authority's own instructions.
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