Home โ†’ EORI Formats

EORI Number Format by Country

Comprehensive reference guide to EORI number structures, formats, and examples for all EU member states. Learn how to identify and verify EORI numbers from any country.

Understanding EORI Number Structure

All EORI numbers follow a standardized structure defined by EU customs regulations. The basic format consists of two components: a two-letter country code identifying the issuing member state, followed by a unique identifier that varies in format and length by country.

The general structure is: [Country Code][Unique Identifier]

While the country code is always two letters following the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 standard, the unique identifier portion can contain up to 15 characters and may include numbers, letters, or both depending on the country's implementation. Understanding these formats helps verify that an EORI number is correctly structured before validating it against the official database.

Maximum Length: An EORI number can have up to 17 characters total: 2-letter country code + up to 15 characters for the unique identifier. However, most countries use significantly shorter formats.

Country Code Reference

The two-letter prefix identifies which EU member state issued the EORI number. Here are all EU country codes used in EORI numbers:

Code Country Code Country Code Country
ATAustriaFIFinlandMTMalta
BEBelgiumFRFranceNLNetherlands
BGBulgariaDEGermanyPLPoland
HRCroatiaGRGreecePTPortugal
CYCyprusHUHungaryRORomania
CZCzech RepublicIEIrelandSKSlovakia
DKDenmarkITItalySISlovenia
EEEstoniaLVLatviaESSpain
GBUK (post-Brexit)LTLithuaniaSESweden
XIN. IrelandLULuxembourg

Complete EORI Format Reference

The following table provides detailed format information for all EU member states, including typical length, structure, and examples:

Country Prefix Format Total Length Example Notes
Austria AT AT + alphanumeric Variable ATU12345678 Often based on VAT number
Belgium BE BE + 10 digits 12 BE0123456789 Enterprise number format
Bulgaria BG BG + 9-10 digits 11-12 BG123456789 Based on tax ID (EIK)
Croatia HR HR + 11 digits 13 HR12345678901 OIB personal ID format
Cyprus CY CY + 8 digits + letter 11 CY12345678A VAT number format
Czech Republic CZ CZ + 8-10 digits 10-12 CZ12345678 DIฤŒ tax number
Denmark DK DK + 8 digits 10 DK12345678 CVR business number
Estonia EE EE + 9 digits 11 EE123456789 Registry code format
Finland FI FI + 8 digits 10 FI12345678 Y-tunnus format
France FR FR + 14 digits (SIRET) 16 FR12345678901234 Based on SIRET number
Germany DE DE + up to 15 chars Up to 17 DE123456789012345 Custom authority assigned
Greece GR/EL GR + 9 digits 11 GR123456789 AFM tax number
Hungary HU HU + 8 digits 10 HU12345678 Tax number format
Ireland IE IE + 7-8 chars 9-10 IE1234567A Similar to VAT format
Italy IT IT + 11 digits 13 IT12345678901 Partita IVA (VAT)
Latvia LV LV + 11 digits 13 LV12345678901 Registration number
Lithuania LT LT + 9-12 digits 11-14 LT123456789 Tax payer code
Luxembourg LU LU + 8 digits 10 LU12345678 Often = VAT number
Malta MT MT + 8 digits 10 MT12345678 VAT number format
Netherlands NL NL + 9-12 chars 11-14 NL123456789 Fiscal code based
Poland PL PL + 10 digits 12 PL1234567890 NIP tax number
Portugal PT PT + 9 digits 11 PT123456789 NIF tax number
Romania RO RO + 2-10 digits 4-12 RO12345678 CUI fiscal code
Slovakia SK SK + 10 digits 12 SK1234567890 IฤŒ DPH format
Slovenia SI SI + 8 digits 10 SI12345678 Tax number
Spain ES ES + 9 chars (CIF) 11 ESA12345678 CIF/NIF format
Sweden SE SE + 12 digits 14 SE123456789012 Org number + 01
UK (GB) GB GB + 12 digits 14 GB123456789000 Post-Brexit format
N. Ireland XI XI + 12 digits 14 XI123456789000 Special NI prefix

Major Country Format Details

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany (DE)

German EORI numbers are among the longest in the EU system. The format consists of "DE" followed by up to 15 characters, typically all numeric. The number is assigned by the Generalzolldirektion (Central Customs Authority) and is not necessarily based on existing tax identifiers.

Format: DE + up to 15 digits
Example: DE123456789012345
Total length: Up to 17 characters

โ†’ Complete Germany EORI Guide

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France (FR)

French EORI numbers are based on the SIRET business registration number. The format is "FR" followed by the 14-digit SIRET number that identifies French business establishments. For non-EU operators registered in France, the format includes the ISO country code of their origin country.

Format (French business): FR + SIRET (14 digits)
Example: FR12345678901234
Format (Non-EU): FR + ISO country code + customs number
Total length: 16 characters (French), varies (non-EU)

โ†’ Complete France EORI Guide

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑ Netherlands (NL)

Dutch EORI numbers are typically based on the fiscal identification number (BSN for individuals or RSIN for businesses). The format is "NL" followed by 9 to 12 alphanumeric characters. Companies may have EORI numbers matching their BTW (VAT) number structure.

Format: NL + 9-12 characters
Example: NL123456789 or NL123456789B01
Total length: 11-14 characters

โ†’ Complete Netherlands EORI Guide

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italy (IT)

Italian EORI numbers are directly based on the Partita IVA (VAT number). The format is "IT" followed by 11 digits representing the VAT identification number. This tight integration with the tax system simplifies registration for VAT-registered businesses.

Format: IT + 11 digits (VAT number)
Example: IT12345678901
Total length: 13 characters

โ†’ Complete Italy EORI Guide

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spain (ES)

Spanish EORI numbers incorporate the CIF (Cรณdigo de Identificaciรณn Fiscal) or NIF (Nรบmero de Identificaciรณn Fiscal) tax identification number. The format begins with "ES" followed by one letter, 7 digits, and ends with a letter or digit for verification.

Format: ES + letter + 7 digits + control character
Example: ESA12345678 or ESB12345678
Total length: 11 characters

โ†’ Complete Spain EORI Guide

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง United Kingdom (GB/XI)

Following Brexit, the UK operates its own EORI system separate from the EU. GB EORI numbers consist of "GB" followed by 12 digits, often incorporating the VAT number with additional digits. Northern Ireland uses the special "XI" prefix for certain EU-related customs operations.

GB Format: GB + 12 digits
GB Example: GB123456789000
XI Format: XI + 12 digits
XI Example: XI123456789000
Total length: 14 characters

โ†’ Complete UK EORI Guide

How to Identify EORI Country of Origin

When you receive an EORI number from a trading partner, you can quickly identify the issuing country by examining the first two letters. This information is valuable for understanding where your partner is established and which customs authority maintains their registration.

Quick Identification Tips

Format Validation Before Database Check

Before submitting an EORI number to the official validation tool, you can perform a basic format check:

  1. Confirm the first two characters are valid EU country codes
  2. Check that the total length is within expected range (typically 10-17 characters)
  3. Verify the identifier portion matches the country's expected format
  4. Look for obvious errors like missing characters or incorrect code placement
Remember: Format validation only confirms the number is structured correctly. It does not confirm the EORI is valid, active, or belongs to your trading partner. Always use the official EU EORI validation tool for definitive verification.

Non-EU EORI Formats

Businesses established outside the European Union can also obtain EORI numbers when they need to conduct customs operations in the EU. These EORI numbers follow a special format that identifies both the EU country of registration and the operator's country of origin.

Non-EU EORI Structure

When a non-EU business registers for EORI in an EU member state, the format typically includes:

Example (US company registered in France): FRUS123456789
Example (Chinese company registered in Germany): DECN123456789012
Interpretation: FR = registered in France, US = company from USA

This format allows customs authorities to immediately identify both where the EORI was issued and where the economic operator is established, facilitating risk assessment and regulatory compliance.

Country guides

Practical issuance notes and examples for selected countries:

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑ Netherlands EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italy EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spain EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง UK EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ช Belgium EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ Poland EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช Ireland EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ช Sweden EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portugal EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น Austria EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ฐ Denmark EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฎ Finland EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ Czech Republic EORI Guide๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด Romania EORI Guide
Note: Formats can vary by legal entity type and by issuing system. Use the EU validator to confirm existence.

See also: Validate an EORI number and Common EORI errors.