EORI · Union Customs Code Reg. (EU) 952/2013

EORI number checker: GB, EU and XI numbers

EORI at a glance

Already have a number and want to check it? GB numbers are validated in HMRC's free checker; EU and XI numbers are validated in the European Commission's EOS database — the HMRC service does not check XI. Which checker for which prefix ↓

An EORI number is the customs identifier needed to move goods across an EU or UK customs border. No number yet? The need-check below resolves which of the three registries — GB, EU, or XI — your trade flow requires.

Do you need a GB, EU, or XI EORI? Run the free need-check

Tell us about your trade flow

Your EORI verdict

Dataset retrieved 2026-06-09 — verify with the authority before applying.

GB EORI(not required)
EU EORI(not required)
XI EORI(not required)

No EORI required

Legal basis

UCC — Intra-EU movements do not require an EORI; non-customs movements between member states fall outside UCC scope (Reg. (EU) 952/2013 Art. 9).· retrieved 2026-06-09 · v2026.06

No registration required for this trade flow.

Validate an existing EORI number. There is no single EORI checker: the prefix of the number decides which official database answers, and both services below are free and need no account. Checking a supplier's or customer's number works the same way as checking your own.

GB EORI checker

Number starts with GB

HMRC's free Check an EORI number service validates numbers beginning with GB only. It tells you whether the number is valid and also shows the registered business name and address — if that business agreed to share the information. It does not check any other prefix.

Check a GB EORI number on GOV.UK →

EU EORI checker

Number starts with an EU country code (DE, ES, FR, IE, NL…)

EORI numbers issued by any of the 27 member states live in one EU-wide register: the European Commission's EOS database. Enter the number, press Validate, and it returns whether that EORI exists and is currently valid. One EU EORI is valid in every member state, so there is no per-country checker to hunt for.

Validate an EU EORI number in the Commission EOS database →

XI EORI checker

Number starts with XI (Northern Ireland)

This is the one that trips people up: HMRC does not check XI numbers. GOV.UK sends any non-GB prefix — XI included — to the European Commission's EOS validator, because Northern Ireland stays inside the EU customs territory for goods under the Windsor Framework. So an XI EORI is issued by HMRC (and only once you hold a GB EORI) but validated in the EU database.

Validate an XI EORI number in the EU EOS database →

Both validators are official and free — no account, no third-party “EORI check” service needed. Checked 4 Aug 2026 against GOV.UK “Check an EORI number” (which states it only checks GB-prefixed numbers and links XI and all other prefixes to the EU service) and the European Commission EORI number validation service. A valid number is not the same thing as the right number for your flow — use the need-check above for that.

  • WhoAny economic operator established in the EU that lodges customs declarations needs one EORI, issued by the customs authority of the member state where it is established — and a single EU EORI is valid across all 27 member states (only one valid EORI per person).
  • Non-EUOperators not established in the EU get their EORI from the first member state where they carry out customs activity — often through an indirect representative / fiscal rep; you cannot freely self-select the country.
  • GB / XISince the Brexit cutoff of 1 Jan 2021 a GB EORI is not valid for EU customs. Great Britain has its own GB EORI, and movements involving Northern Ireland need a distinct XI EORI (held alongside the GB EORI) under the Windsor Framework.
  • HowThe number is built on your VAT / business identifier and validated in the EU EORI database. Applying directly with the responsible authority (an EU portal or HMRC) is free; lead time is typically a few working days.

Sources: European Commission — EORI (one per person, valid EU-wide) · gov.uk — GB EORI for GB↔EU movement · HMRC — GB + XI EORI for Northern Ireland.

Last updated 9 Jun 2026 · Data verified 9 Jun 2026 against the European Commission EORI guidance (ruleset v2026.06). Informational, not legal advice — EORI rules per the Union Customs Code (Reg. (EU) 952/2013) and national customs.

This tool is an orientation aid. It does not replace legal or customs advice. Final EORI eligibility depends on case-specific facts and the determining member-state authority. Consult a qualified customs adviser before applying or submitting customs declarations.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check whether an EORI number is valid?

With the official validator for that prefix, free of charge. A GB number goes into HMRC's “Check an EORI number” service; an EU or XI number goes into the European Commission's EOS validation page — the HMRC service checks GB numbers only and routes every other prefix there.

Is a GB EORI valid for EU customs?

No. Since the Brexit cutoff of 1 Jan 2021 a GB EORI is only valid for Great Britain customs. To clear goods in the EU you need a separate EU EORI issued by a member-state authority — one EU EORI is then valid across all 27 member states.

Can I hold more than one EU EORI number?

No. The European Commission states that “at any point in time, a person can be assigned only one valid EORI number,” and that one EU EORI is recognised by every EU member state.

I'm a GB business moving goods to or from Northern Ireland — what do I need?

You need two EORI numbers: a GB EORI and an XI EORI. Under the Northern Ireland customs arrangements (the NI Protocol, continued by the Windsor Framework) the XI number covers Northern Ireland movements, and HMRC requires you to hold the GB EORI before it issues the XI number.

Where does a non-EU company register its EU EORI?

In the EU country where it carries out its first customs operation — you cannot freely self-select the member state. The classifier defaults to a likely first-activity country and flags that you must confirm it with that member-state authority.

I only sell B2C through a marketplace under IOSS — do I still need an EORI?

Often not as the seller. For low-value B2C distance sales the importer of record (and therefore the customs EORI obligation) frequently sits with the marketplace or a customs intermediary, not with you. This tool resolves the customs EORI question; it does not assess your IOSS/VAT position — check the VAT OSS threshold tool linked below for that side.

Does an EORI cost anything?

No. Applying for an EORI number directly with the responsible customs authority (HMRC or an EU member-state portal) is free. This tool is also free and is an orientation aid, not legal or customs advice.

EU VAT OSS threshold checkerAn EORI is a customs ID, not a VAT registration. Check whether your distance sales cross the €10,000 OSS threshold and where you owe VAT.EU authorised representative finderNon-EU sellers placing CE-marked goods on the EU market need an authorised representative — see when one is mandatory and what they do.UKCA vs CE marking checkerMoving goods GB↔EU after Brexit? Work out whether your product needs UKCA marking, CE marking, or both for each market.Guide: OSS registration for EU VATHow the One Stop Shop replaces per-country VAT registrations once your distance sales pass the €10,000 threshold.Guide: IOSS registration for non-EU sellersWhen IOSS pays off for consignments under €150, how to register, and when you need an EU-established intermediary.

All Seller Guardrails tools — free EU compliance checkers for sellers