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The EORI number (Economic Institutions‘ Registration and Identification) is the successor to the customs number at European level. It is used to identify economic operators and is intended to facilitate automated customs clearance.

The EORI number can contain up to 17 characters. It begins with the two-digit country prefix (ISO 3166) of the respective member state that assigns it, followed by up to 15 characters. In certain cases, additional country prefixes may be included.

Who needs an EORI number?

As an economic operator, i.e. as a person who, in the course of his business activities, is involved in activities covered by customs law (Art. 1 No. 12 of the Customs Code Implementing Regulation), you need an EORI number.

Persons are exclusively natural or legal persons (e.g. AG, GmbH) or majorities of persons with legal capacity (in particular partnerships e.g. GbR, OHG, KG)

There must be a business activity. In principle, this applies to any activity for which registration with the commercial register and/or a business registration is required, or which is carried out within the framework of a liberal profession.

Finally, there must be an activity that falls under customs law. This is the case, for example, if a customs declaration or a summary declaration is submitted (also as a representative) or goods are presented.

Data transmission service providers and technical news transmitters that exchange messages with the customs administration on behalf of a declarant or his representative are also considered to be economic operators.

Persons who are only indirectly affected by such activities are not considered to be economic operators. In particular, a business activity that falls under customs law does not exist if, for example, a single import is initiated that is not related to the business activity (e.g. ordering chocolate in a third country by a law firm).

Do I need an EORI number as a private individual?

A private individual who does not deal with activities covered by customs law in the course of his business activities is not an economic operator in the sense of customs law and does not need  an EORI number.

Hint
However, this only applies if it is not a matter of exporting goods requiring a licence. When exporting goods subject to authorisation, a private individual must be the holder of an EORI number. It is then not possible to register by providing your address data.

How do I get the EORI number?

The EORI number can be assigned free of charge upon application to the General Customs Directorate – Dresden – Master Data Management (GZD – DO Dresden – Master Data Management). The participant has the option of submitting the application to GZD – DO Dresden – Master Data Management via the Internet application “Internet Participant Application” (IBA) or to submit the application form 0870 (Participant – Master Data EORI number) by e-mail (available for download as a PDF document on our website), in writing or by fax to GZD – DO Dresden – Master Data Management.

Learn more about applying for an EORI number.

Do I have the option of waiving the EORI number?

No, if you are an economic operator within the meaning of Art. 1 No. 12 of the Customs Code Implementing Regulation (ZK-DVO) and are involved in activities covered by customs law, you will need your own EORI number.

Do I need an EORI number as a foreign economic operator?

The EORI number must be applied for by an economic operator established in the customs territory of the European Community in the Member State in which he is established.

An economic operator who is not established in the customs territory of the European Community should apply for the EORI number in the Member State in which he wishes to carry out one of the acts referred to in Article 4l(3) of the implementing regulation for the first time, such as the submission of a customs declaration.

Do I need an EORI number as a private individual? What if I am represented in customs matters by an indirect/direct representative or DÜD (data transmission service provider)?

A private individual who does not deal with activities covered by customs law in the course of his business activities is not an economic operator in the sense of customs law and does not need  an EORI number.

Hint
However, this only applies if it is not a matter of exporting goods requiring a licence. When exporting goods subject to authorisation, a private individual must be the holder of an EORI number. It is then not possible to register by providing your address data.

Do I need an EORI number for mail or travel?

Where customs declarations are made by the post office or by express and courier services for customers who are not economic operators within the meaning of Article 1(12) of the Customs Code Implementing Regulation, there is no obligation to provide an EORI number for the postal or courier service concerned. An EORI number is also not required if written customs declarations are submitted by persons other than economic operators in tourist traffic.

Do I need the EORI number if I use the ATLAS procedure?

Since the live operation of ATLAS Release 8.4 and AES Release 2.1, you as an economic operator must have an EORI number. Since then, it has generally no longer been possible to use or identify oneself in ATLAS without an EORI number.

Exception:
 Until further notice, you as an economic operator can submit a customs, export or transit declaration if you do not yet have an EORI number, even if you can prove that you have applied for an EORI number at the General Customs Directorate – Dresden – Master Data Management (GZD – DO Dresden – Master Data Management). To do this, you must submit a copy of the printout of the Internet participant application or form 0870 submitted to GZD – DO Dresden – Master Data Management (Art. 4l para. 1 sentence 3 of the Customs Code Implementing Regulation) and provide proof of the application, for example in the form of the transmission report of a fax machine. This does not apply to ATLAS participants, who must have an EORI number.