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Preparations to launch your brand in Europe seems to be moving smoothly. Your products are stocked up in the warehouse, and you have planned the entire logistical route the packages from your magazine will go to reach one or many EU countries. You would be all set, but there's one problem left. Namely, everyone, from Amazon staff to potential logistics partners, ask “Do you have an EORI number?”. And you don't exactly know what it means or what you need to do to obtain one.
Sounds familiar? If yes, then keep reading as in this article, we'll tell you all you need to know about Economic Operators Registration and Identification number - EORI in short. Because without it, your goods can get stuck at the border - literally.
Let’s break those potentially confusing terms down and, this way, get you one step closer to a smooth entry into the EU market.
What is an EORI number, and why does it exist?
You probably came across the name EORI number several times already, if you started reading about the EU regulations sellers based outside the European Union are expected to follow if they want to send products to customers within the EU.
What is it?
EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification, and it's a unique number issued by EU customs authorities to any business or individual who imports or exports goods to or out of the European Union.
Every time your goods enter or leave the EU, that number tells customs:
- who the importer/exporter is,
- whether the business is properly registered,
- and how to process the goods for customs clearance.
If the customs can't find the EORI number in your shipment documents, they can't pass the package further — which usually means your goods will be held until your paperwork is sorted.
The system was created to monitor all shipments entering or leaving the EU and make moving the parcels between different EU countries more efficient. Once your shipment passes the main custom check, it can then move smoothly within the entire EU, without additional border checks. But to manage this flow efficiently and prevent fraud, the EU needs to track who’s bringing goods in and out and make sure all the right duties, taxes, and declarations are in place.
The good news is, you only need to register for an EORI number once, and it will be valid across all EU member states - contrary to VAT, for which you might have to register in every country you want to sell in.
Does your e-commerce business need an EORI number?
Let’s make this clear:
If your business is located outside the EU and you plan to ship physical products to customers in Europe, you almost certainly need an EORI number.
This applies even if:
- you’re not planning to open a company in the EU,
- you don’t have a warehouse in Europe,
- or you’re working with a shipping or fulfilment partner.
As an example, let’s say you are a cosmetic brand based in the US and a customer in Germany places an order through your website. You prepare the shipment and send it via a courier like FedEx, UPS, or DHL. The customs declaration must include a valid EORI number for the importer (and in this case, that’s you) because otherwise the package will be held at customs until you can prove you can legally import products into the EU. And in this case, it doesn't matter that your company is registered and based in the USA - if you want to import anything to the EU, an EORI number is mandatory.
There are a few cases where an EORI number might not be necessary, such as when you only sell digital products or work with a company that acts as the IOR (Importer of records) and handles all customs processes for you. In that case, they might use their own EORI for the customs. However, if you plan to use Amazon’s European fulfilment network (FBA) services, you DO need to have your own EORI record as Amazon won't let you register without one.
The rule of thumb is: If you’re the legal owner of the physical goods when they enter the EU, you are required to have an EORI number.
How to register for an EORI number – step by step
So you’ve confirmed that your business needs an EORI number. The good news? Registering is usually free, fairly quick, and in most cases can be done online. But first, you need to know where to even start. For this, we created a simplified guide on how to register for an EORI number and what you should watch out for while registering.
Step 1: Figure out where to register
This part might be a bit tricky at the start because you can’t just pick any country in Europe to get your EORI. If your company isn’t based in the EU (no branch, office, or tax registration here), then you need to apply in the country where your goods will first arrive, or where you’ll be working with a customs representative.
For example, let’s say you’re based in the US and planning to ship inventory into a warehouse in the Netherlands. Even if your customers are all over Europe, you’ll apply for an EORI number in the Netherlands because that’s your point of entry.
Step 2: Check and choose one of the two main application routes
Depending on your business setup, you’ll follow one of two paths:
- If your business is based in the EU (even just a local branch), you register through your local customs office as an “established” operator.
- If you’re based outside the EU, like most of our readers, then you register in the country where you’ll be importing first, as a “non-established” operator.
Be careful here as many customs websites have separate forms or instructions for non-EU companies and if you use the wrong form, your application will most likely get rejected or delayed.
Step 3: Gather the documents you’ll need
Before you start filling the EORI registration forms, you need to prepare some documents the custom authorities are likely to ask for.
Namely:
- Your company registration certificate (from your home country)
- Proof of your business address
- Your VAT number (if you have one)
- A copy of your ID or passport (for the person applying)
- Basic business info (name, address, contact details)
Sometimes you might also be asked what your business will be doing in the EU, though it's usually enough to say something like “We plan to sell consumer electronics to customers in Germany and France via our own webshop.” Depending on the country, you might also need to name a custom or fiscal representative in the EU, especially if you're also registering for VAT. But for EORI alone, it’s not always required.
Step 4: Apply online (or send in a PDF, depending on the country)
Now's something a bit more tricky to do: you need to find how exactly you can apply for EORI in a given country, as the process varies from company to company. For instance, Germany has a dedicated online portal for EORI registration, but Netherlands will ask you to fill and email them a downloadable form you find on their website while France uses a digital system called Soprano (you’ll need to create an account there)
Important: Most customs websites are only available in their local language. If you can't apply yourself because you don't know the language, the best idea here would be to work with local logistics partners or brokers who can help you submit the form properly.
Step 5: Wait for approval (usually a few days)
Now all that's left is to wait for the approval - and unfortunately, the time varies wildly depending on the country. In Germany, it's common to get the message with the EORI number on the same day or the next working day. In the Netherlands though, you might need to wait around 3–5 business days and in France, it might take up to a week. Once you’re approved, you’ll get your EORI number by email or through the portal. The number will always start with the country's abbreviation, so for registering in Germany, the number might look something like this: DE123456789
Step 6: Use it — and make sure your partners have it too
After you get your EORI number, keep it in an easily accessible place, as you are going to use it often. First, give the number to your shipping carriers and logistics partner (DHL, FedEx, etc). If you work with a 3PL company, fulfilment partner or customs broker, make sure they have your EORI number as well.
Important: You can only have one EORI number tied to your business. If you'll want to expand your brand to another country later on, you don't need to apply for the EORI again - besides, such an application will most likely be rejected.
Signing up for EORI isn't as hard as it might seem
Without an EORI number, your products won’t even reach Europe, so it's worth it to get the application approved before you send your first shipment for Europe. The process itself isn't hard, but the differences in registering depending on the country might get you confused, especially if this is your first time learning about EORI.
And that’s exactly where we can help. At FLEX. Logistics, we work with e-commerce brands outside the EU who are gearing up to launch in Europe, and want to do it right the first time. Depending on what you need, we can help you figure out where (and how) to register for an EORI number, or tell you how to prepare your documents for customs clearance in a given country, to make sure your shipments clear customs without a hitch.
Book a meeting with our team and let’s make your entry into the EU a whole lot smoother.
