You need an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number to trade goods with countries outside the EU.

Who needs an EORI

You need an Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI number) if you move goods:

• between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) or the Isle of Man and any other country (including the EU)
• between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• between Great Britain and the Channel Islands
• between Northern Ireland and countries outside the EU

You’ll need your EORI number if you:

• appoint someone to deal with customs for you
• make customs declarations
• use customs systems, such as the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system and the Import Control System Northern Ireland (ICS NI)
• apply for a customs decision

Which type of EORI number you need and where you get it from depends on where you’re moving goods to and from. You may need more than one.

If you do not have the right EORI number, you may have delays at customs and increased costs, for example your goods may have to be stored until you get an EORI.

Check which EORI number you need

If you’re based in the UK you must get an EORI number that starts with GB. If you already have an EORI number and it does not start with GB, you must apply for a GB EORI number.

You may also need an EORI number starting with XI if you move goods to or from Northern Ireland.

If your business will be making certain declarations or getting a customs decision in the EU you may need an EORI number from an EU country. Contact the customs authority in an EU country to get an EU EORI number. You do not need an EORI number from an EU country if you already have an XI EORI number.

If you move goods to or from Northern Ireland

You must have an Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI number) that starts with XI if you:

• move goods from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) to Northern Ireland
• move goods from Northern Ireland to another non-EU country
• make a declaration in Northern Ireland
• apply for a customs decision in Northern Ireland

You only need to declare certain goods you move from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. Check if you need to make an export declaration and will need an XI EORI number.

Only people or organisations based in Northern Ireland or the EU can be named as the ‘declarant’ on import and export declarations made in Northern Ireland.

You do not need an EORI number if you only move goods on the island of Ireland or between an EU country and Northern Ireland.

Find out how to apply for an XI EORI number.

Get help and advice if you move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Sign up for the Trader Support Service to get advice on EORI numbers and moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

You must declare your goods arriving or leaving the European Union within set time limits. If you supply normal import or export declarations, you will be covered, but if you're not declaring them in the usual way, you will need an EORI number to complete an Entry Summary Declaration or an Exit Summary Declaration.

Traders wishing to register or who are already registered as an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) will need an EORI number.

What is an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) certificate?

An AEO certificate is an internationally recognised quality mark that proves your role in the international supply chain is secure and that your customs controls and procedures are efficient and compliant.

For more information and to find out whether AEO status is available to you, see Authorised Economic Operators.

How to check for EORI status

You can check for EORI status If you have a UK VAT number. Please prefix your nine digit VAT number with 'GB' and suffix with '000', eg GB123456789000 (do not put any spaces between the digits).

Use the EORI EU Checker.

You need an EORI number to move goods between the UK and non-EU countries.

If you do not have one, you may have increased costs and delays. For example, if HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) cannot clear your goods you may have to pay storage fees.

Apply for an EORI number that starts with GB

To apply for an Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI number) you need your:

• Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) - find your UTR if you do not know it
• business start date and Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code - these are in the Companies House register
• Government Gateway user ID and password
• VAT number and effective date of registration (if you’re VAT registered) - these are on your VAT registration certificate
• National Insurance number - if you’re an individual or a sole trader

If you do not already have a Government Gateway user ID, you’ll be able to create one when you apply.

Get a GB EORI number

You’ll get your GB EORI number immediately unless HMRC needs to make any checks on your application. If they do, it can take up to 5 working days.

Apply for an EORI number that starts with XI

You must have applied for a GB EORI number before you can get an XI EORI number.

Once you have your GB EORI number then fill in an enquiry form, making sure you:

• tick the box to say you will be trading with Northern Ireland or are based in Northern Ireland
• tick the box saying your enquiry is a “Query regarding a current EORI number application”

You’ll get your XI EORI within 4 days.

Get help with an EORI number

You can check the status of an application you have already made.

Fill in an enquiry form if you have forgotten your EORI number, your details have changed or you have a question about your application.

Telephone: 0300 322 9434
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (closed bank holidays)
Find out about call charges

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Traders must provide their unique Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number in all dealings with customs officials.

How are EORI numbers used?

The EORI must be included on all pre-arrival and pre-departure information on goods entering or leaving the customs territory of the European Community, and when importing, exporting and moving goods under a transit procedure.

The number must also be used for customs authorities to exchange information and, where appropriate, to share information with other government departments and agencies.

It will also be used to analyse and exchange risk information between customs authorities and the European Commission.

Read more about how you can get an EORI number.

Only legal business entities (eg sole proprietors, partnerships or companies) can be assigned an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number.

Identifying branches and divisions under the EORI scheme

Measures have been put in place to identify individual branches or divisions under EORI. This will involve HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) setting up two Additional Information Statement Codes at header level in Box 44 of the C88 declaration. These codes will be BR followed by a three-digit numeric code for importers/exporters and AG followed by a three-digit numeric code for agents/declarants.

The code will also be used in Management Support System data, available to traders from HMRC. Read more about registering for EORI reports.

You can call the HMRC Excise & Customs Helpline on Tel 0300 200 3700 for further advice.

Read more about how you can get an EORI number.

You need an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number to trade goods with countries outside the EU.

Read more about how you can get an EORI number.

Your EORI number is held on both a national and European Commission database. Data is exchanged between member states and the European Commission.

How do I find my EORI number?

After you have applied for an EORI number you will receive it via email, usually within three working days.

If you have a UK VAT number, you can check to see if it has EORI status. You should prefix your nine digit VAT number with 'GB' and suffix with '000', eg GB123456789000.

EORI number checker

Before registering for a new EORI number, you should check if your company already has one.

Access the EORI number checker.

If your company is registered for VAT, it may have already been issued an EORI number automatically.

Who has access to my EORI number?

The general public can access limited data via the EU EORI validation checker. When you are notified of your EORI number, you will be asked whether you object to this data being published on the site.

Your data will only be published with your express consent.

Who can I contact about my EORI number?

You can contact the EORI team using the application contact form.

You can also call the HMRC Excise & Customs Helpline on Tel 0300 200 3700.

The purpose of Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) reports is solely to assist traders that, prior to EORI were issued Trader's Unique Reference Numbers (TURNs), with separate suffixes to identify branches that are not themselves legal entities.

The reports list entries made by the trader where a Header Additional Information Statement starting with 'BR' (or 'AG' if the trader is acting as a declarant/representative) is entered in box 44. If no such code is entered the entry will not appear on the reports.

The reports are intended to assist reconciliation to be carried out, in particular against C79s or Duty Deferment Statements. They will only contain information that will enable entries to be correctly referenced, as follows:

• EORI number of customer
• entry processing unit number
• entry number
• date of entry
• declaration Unique Consignment Reference (UCR)
• master UCR
• declarant reference number (box 7)
• BR/AG statement

No other entry information will be available on these reports.

Read more about the form to register for EORI reports.

Read more about how you can get an EORI number.