EORI (EU) Validator

EORI: the EU customs identifier for traders

An EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number identifies a business that imports or exports goods across the EU customs border. It starts with a 2-letter country code (an EU member state, or XI for Northern Ireland) followed by a national identifier of country-specific length. This tool checks the country prefix and that the length matches that country's rule — e.g. DE1234567 for Germany.

An economic operator needs only one EORI, issued by the customs authority of the member state where it's established, and it's valid across the whole Union. Without it, a customs declaration can't be lodged.

How the number is built

• Country code (2 letters): the issuing member state — DE, FR, NL… or XI.
• National part: length varies by country (e.g. Germany 7–17, France 14, Netherlands 9–17).
• Often VAT-based: many countries derive the EORI from the company's VAT number.
• No universal checksum: validity is the country rule plus the customs registry (the EU EORI validation service).

Where it matters

• Customs declarations: import/export entries require a valid EORI for the operator.
• Post-Brexit GB/XI: moving goods to/from Great Britain or Northern Ireland needs the right EORI prefix.
• Logistics: freight forwarders quote and clear shipments against the EORI.
• Mock data / testing: validating the country + length shape before the EU lookup.

Common pitfalls

• Length is per-country: don't apply one country's length to another — this tool uses the right rule per prefix.
• XI ≠ GB: Northern Ireland uses XI; Great Britain uses GB (a non-EU EORI since Brexit).
• Format ≠ registered: only the EU's EORI validation service confirms an active number.
• One EORI only: an operator established in the EU should not hold several.

FAQ

Is the EORI the same as a VAT number? Often derived from it, but conceptually distinct — the EORI is specifically for customs.

What is the XI prefix? It identifies Northern Ireland operators under the post-Brexit protocol, separate from GB.

Do I need an EORI in every country? No — one EORI from your establishing member state works across the EU.