EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification)

An EORI number is a unique identifier assigned to businesses and individuals who import or export goods within the European Union. The system was introduced in 2009 to replace the older TURN (Trader Unique Reference Number) system and streamline customs processing across all EU member states. Every entity that files a customs declaration in the EU, whether a manufacturer in Germany, a distributor in France, or a U.S. company shipping goods into Rotterdam, needs an EORI number to clear customs.

Structure and Format

An EORI number consists of two parts: a two-letter country code identifying the EU member state that issued the number, followed by a unique alphanumeric string. In Germany, the format is DE followed by up to 15 digits. In the Netherlands, it is NL plus a string that often mirrors the company’s existing tax registration number. The number is registered in a centralized EU database, and customs authorities in any member state can validate it instantly during the declaration process. A single EORI number is valid across all 27 EU countries, so a company importing through both the Port of Hamburg and the Port of Antwerp uses the same identifier for both.

Who Needs an EORI Number

Any business entity that acts as an importer or exporter within the EU must hold an EORI number. This includes EU-based companies that regularly ship goods across external borders, as well as non-EU companies that file customs declarations in their own name. A U.S. seller who ships products from a Chinese factory directly to a warehouse in Poland, for example, would need an EORI number if they are listed as the importer of record on the customs entry. Third-party logistics providers, customs brokers acting as direct representatives, and freight forwarders who take ownership of goods in transit may also need their own EORI registrations depending on how the customs declarations are structured.

The registration process varies by country but generally involves submitting an application to the national customs authority along with proof of business registration, a VAT identification number (if applicable), and identification documents for the company’s legal representative. Processing times range from same-day approval in some countries to several weeks in others.

EORI and Non-EU Sellers

U.S.-based Amazon sellers expanding into European marketplaces frequently encounter the EORI requirement when setting up their import logistics. Selling on Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, or Amazon.co.uk (post-Brexit, the UK has its own EORI system separate from the EU) requires getting inventory into fulfillment centers within those territories. If the seller is the importer of record, they need an EORI. Many sellers delegate this to a fiscal representative or use a third-party importer of record service, in which case the IOR’s EORI number appears on the customs declarations instead.

Post-Brexit, the UK now issues its own EORI numbers with a GB prefix. Companies that previously had only an EU EORI and were importing through the UK needed to obtain a separate GB EORI after January 1, 2021. This caught several sellers off guard during the transition period.

Consequences of Not Having One

Attempting to clear goods through EU customs without a valid EORI number results in the declaration being rejected outright. The shipment sits at the port or airport until the issue is resolved, accumulating storage fees, demurrage charges, and potential delays that ripple through the entire supply chain. For time-sensitive inventory, particularly seasonal products destined for FBA warehouses, a rejected customs entry can mean missing a critical sales window.

Relationship to U.S. Importing

The EORI system has no direct equivalent in the United States. U.S. imports are processed through CBP using an importer’s EIN (Employer Identification Number) or CBP-assigned importer number. However, sellers who operate on both sides of the Atlantic need both: an EORI for European imports and an EIN or CBP number for U.S. imports. Companies like MeisterPrep handle the U.S. side of inbound logistics, receiving ocean and air freight at domestic warehouses and prepping goods for Amazon’s U.S. fulfillment network, while the seller’s EU logistics partners handle the European leg independently.