EORI Number: What it is and How to Get One

Nowadays, many foreign goods can be found at almost every corner market or even small local shop. 

This is thanks to new systems and ways of transporting, exporting and importing, which have been developed. Such is the EORI number.

Even if you are not a trader or own such a business, it is still good to be acquainted with one of the reasons you have access to items you would not typically find in your own country.

What Is an EORI Number

The EORI number stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification. 

In essence, the EORI system represents the use of unique identification numbers for customs procedures across the EU countries and the UK as part of customs declarations when importing or exporting cargo.

Overall, this unique code determines economic operators and persons. Once you have obtained your EORI number, you must provide it to customer authorities in EU Member States for customs operations.

Besides that it contributes to better statistics and greater security, it is mandatory for businesses and traders to have such an identification number in order to exchange information with Customs authorities.

Formats of EORI Number

To understand the EORI number even better it’s worth exploring its format.

The EORI number consists of the country code of the issuing Member State and a unique identifier in the Member State. The first is made up of two letters, while the second consists of up to fifteen alphanumeric characters.

For example, an EORI number in the UK will start with GB and will be followed by your UK VAT registration number and three zeroes at the end. 

Who Needs an EORI Number?

Now that we’ve covered the basics of what EORI means, it’s time to answer two other fundamental questions – do you need an EORI number and when is an EORI number required?

The Economic Operator Registration and Identification number is a must-have when it comes to moving goods between Great Britain or the Isle of Man and any other country (including a European country or non-EU country, Northern Ireland, as well as the Channel Islands).

Traders and businesses need to acquire such to settle matters related to: 

• Custom declarations;
• Registrations for an export licence;
• Applying for a customs decision or using customs systems like the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) and the Import Control System Northern Ireland (ICS NI).

The type of EORI one needs solely depends on where goods are being moved from and to, which may cause the necessity of two or multiple such numbers. 

In case the trader or business cannot provide the proper one, there is a high chance of experiencing delays at customs (e.g. goods being stored until the right one is available), as well as increased costs.

You won’t be obliged to have an EORI number if you’re transferring controlled goods or products for personal use only. 

Additional Cases When You Need an EORI Number 

Apart from the above-mentioned information, you’ll also need to consider a few other cases when an EORI number application might be required.

In case your company is not located in the country you’re moving goods to or from, you should still apply for an EORI in the following scenarios:

• You’re making a customs declaration for transit;
• You’re making a customs declaration for temporary admission;
• You’re applying for a customs decision;
• You’re making an entry summary declaration;
• You’re making an exit summary declaration;
• You’re making a temporary storage declaration;
• You’re getting a customs guarantee for temporary admission or re-export declarations;
• You’re a carrier for moving goods by sea, inland waterway or air;
• You’re a carrier connected to the customs system and you wish to be notified about the lodging or amendment of entry summary declarations;
• You’re established in a common transit country where the declaration is lodged rather than an entry summary declaration or is used as a pre-departure declaration.

These are all important points to consider when planning export or import activity. 

Tools to Check EORI Numbers in the UK 

Due to changes following Brexit, the EU EORIs are no longer valid in the UK and now a UK one must be received from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). However, such numbers will not be valid in the European Union.

This means that an EU-based business or trader must obtain a UK identification number in order to import goods into the UK and vice versa for UK-based ones. 

There are tools to help check an EORI code in the UK, which can be easily found online, such as the European Commission’s EORI number validation tool and the UK Government’s EORI number check service.

How to Apply for an EORI Number

When it comes to requesting an EORI number, keep in mind that only the customs authority has the right to allocate an EORI number to an economic operator or an individual.

Once you have prepared all the needed documents, you can use the HMRC portal to submit the online application form for an EORI number using one’s Government Gateway account.

Let’s explore what information you will need to present and how long it takes to get an EORI number. 

EORI Number Application Requirements

To apply for an EORI number as a business that’s registered in the country you’re moving goods to or from, your business premises will need to be either a registered office, central headquarters, or a permanent business establishment.

Once you are ready to submit an EORI application form, you’ll need to prepare to provide certain details and information during your EORI registration.

If you’re a UK business, during the EORI application process, you’ll need to share the following:

• Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR);
• Online access details to the HMRC portal (including government gateway user ID and password);
• National Insurance Number (only applicable to sole traders);
• Value Added Tax (VAT) number and effective date of registration (only applicable to VAT-registered businesses);
• Start date of your business and SIC code (Standard Industrial Classification) (you can find this data on the Companies House database).

Note that if your business is not registered in the UK, you won’t need to provide all of this information. 

How Long Does the Process Take?

If you’re ready to present all the required information, it will take no longer than 5 minutes to acquire the number. 

In most cases, GB EORI numbers are ready instantly, with the exception of cases where the HMRC must conduct checks. If additional checks are required, the process could take a few working days, meaning that you won’t be able to receive your EORI number immediately.

After you’ve been provided your EORI number, keep in mind that it may take around 48 hours until it’s completely activated and ready for use. 

Conclusion

To sum up, the EORI is a trader’s or trading business’s way to import to and export from the UK and other countries mentioned above. It is not only mandatory to acquire it, but it certainly comes in handy when customs matters must be settled when freight is being moved.

Thanks to such policies, transporting cargo is easier than ever and allows countries to experience foreign markets along their local.

Disclaimer: Please be aware that the contents of this article and the myPOS Blog, in general, should not be interpreted as legal, monetary, tax, or any other kind of professional advice. You should always seek to consult with a professional before taking action, since the particulars of your situation may materially differ from other cases.