Every EORI number follows the same global rule — a country prefix plus a national identifier — but the details differ by jurisdiction. Use this page as your format hub before you check a number or file a customs declaration.
New to EORI? Read what is an EORI number first. Ready to validate? Use the EORI checker.
Basic EORI structure
An EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number always has:
- Country code — two letters (GB, DE, FR, NL, XI, etc.)
- Identifier — up to 15 letters or digits assigned by the issuing customs authority
Total length: maximum 17 characters. No spaces or special characters in the canonical form (though forms may display them grouped for readability).
UK EORI formats: GB and XI
GB EORI (Great Britain)
Pattern: GB + 12 digits
Example: GB123456789000
For VAT-registered businesses, the core is often the 9-digit VAT registration number with a 3-digit suffix. Non-VAT traders receive a different numeric identifier.
XI EORI (Northern Ireland)
Pattern: XI + 12 digits
Example: XI123456789000
XI numbers exist for traders moving goods under Northern Ireland protocol rules. They are checkable in the EU EORI database unlike GB numbers. Full details in our XI EORI guide.
See also: EORI number UK for application and checking guidance.
EU member state formats
Each EU country issues EORI numbers based on its national business identifiers. Once issued in one member state, the number works across the entire EU.
EORI format reference table
| Country | Prefix | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (GB) | GB | GB + 12 digits | GB123456789000 |
| Northern Ireland (XI) | XI | XI + 12 digits | XI123456789000 |
| Germany | DE | DE + up to 15 digits | DE123456789012345 |
| France | FR | FR + 2 digits + 9 digits | FR12345678901 |
| Netherlands | NL | NL + 9 digits | NL123456789 |
| Belgium | BE | BE + 10 digits | BE0123456789 |
| Ireland | IE | IE + 7 digits + letter + 2 digits | IE1234567T12 |
| Italy | IT | IT + 11 digits | IT12345678901 |
| Spain | ES | ES + NIF (up to 17 chars) | ESX1234567X |
| Poland | PL | PL + 10 digits | PL1234567890 |
| Sweden | SE | SE + 10 digits | SE5561234567 |
| Austria | AT | AT + identifier (often ATEOS…) | ATEOS1234567890 |
Country-specific application links and processing times are published on dedicated /eori-number/{country} pages. Browse all verified countries:
How to validate an EORI format
- Strip spaces and convert to uppercase.
- Confirm the two-letter prefix matches the trader's country of registration.
- Check length and character pattern against the table above.
- Run the number through our EORI checker for live registration status.
Format validation alone is not enough — a correctly formatted number can still be inactive or belong to another entity.
Common format mistakes
- Using VAT number without country prefix — customs systems expect the full EORI, not bare VAT.
- GB vs XI confusion — wrong prefix for Northern Ireland movements causes rejection.
- Spaces or dashes — remove formatting before submission.
- Lowercase letters — always use uppercase (GB not gb).
- Company number instead of EORI — UK Companies House number is not an EORI.
Related guides
Apply, find or check EORI numbers.
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