Where do I apply for a French (FR) EORI?

Apply through the official douane.gouv.fr EORI registration page (SOPRANO EORI). The portal explains the required steps and what information you need to provide.

Is the French EORI registration free?

EORI registration is free when you apply through the official customs portal. Avoid third-party providers that charge for services you can submit yourself.

What information is required for a French EORI application?

You typically need business registration details, the legal entity information, and identifiers used for customs administration. Some operator types may require additional information and/or a digital account setup.

How do I check if my French EORI is valid?

Use the EORI checker . For GB numbers, use HMRC’s checker; for EU prefixes, our checker validates against EU services when available.

Do I need to reapply for a French EORI if I move my business?

If your establishment changes, customs may require updates or changes to your EORI data. Keep your business details correct before submitting declarations.

France EORI Number (FR) — Format, Example & Checker

Format & example

FR + up to 15 alphanumeric characters (EORI prefix + national identifier).

Valid example FR12345678901

Regex (reference):

^FR[A-Z0-9]{8,15}$

Check an EORI number EORI format hub

Authority & validation

Issuing authority Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (Douane française)
Processing time Often fast for complete applications, but timing depends on the type of operator and the review carried out by customs.
Validation method EU EORI validation (EU EOS) + official SOPRANO EORI confirmation.

Check an EORI number

Free validation on our website

Notes & what to watch out for

The FR EORI covers more than mainland France. French overseas departments — Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion and Mayotte — are part of the EU customs territory as outermost regions, so businesses trading through them use the same FR-prefixed EORI even though some sit far outside continental Europe. On the mainland, Le Havre and Marseille-Fos are the two largest container ports and the main entry points for cargo arriving from outside the EU.

France processes EORI registrations through the official SOPRANO EORI online service, and registration is free of charge.

What is the EORI number in France?

France's customs authority, Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (Douane française), identifies traders using the EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number — a single reference quoted on every customs declaration. The number takes the form FR plus a national identifier, shaped like FR12345678901, and once issued it is recognised for customs purposes across the whole EU, not just France. No EORI on file means no import or export can be declared under your name.

Ces informations existent aussi en français: Qu’est-ce que le numéro EORI · Demander un numéro EORI · Vérifier un numéro EORI

Who needs an FR EORI number?

The rule is simple: if you're established in France and your name appears on a customs declaration as importer or exporter, you need an EORI number first. That applies whether you're a limited company, a sole trader or a partnership, and whether the goods are inbound stock from outside the EU, outbound sales to overseas customers, or cross-border orders placed through an online marketplace. A forwarder or courier can submit the declaration on your behalf, but it will still show your EORI, not theirs.

There is only one place to register: the EU member state where your business is legally established. For a company based in France, that is Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (Douane française). The FR-prefixed EORI it issues is then usable on customs declarations across the entire EU, all 27 member states, so there's no need to apply again elsewhere in the bloc. A non-EU business can likewise obtain its EORI in France if that's where it first lodges an EU customs declaration.

Great Britain sits outside this EU-wide recognition, so a FR EORI on its own will not clear a UK import. If your France business imports into the UK in its own name, apply separately to HMRC for a GB EORI — see our UK EORI guide.

How to apply for an EORI number in France

Check whether you already have one. Authorities often assign EORI numbers automatically when a business first interacts with customs. Search old customs correspondence or ask your forwarder, and try our EORI checker with your likely number — the format is usually FR plus your national tax or business identifier.
Gather your business details. You will typically need your company registration number, VAT or tax ID, legal form, registered address and contact details of an authorised person.
Apply with Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (Douane française). Applications go through the official portal — often fast for complete applications, but timing depends on the type of operator and the review carried out by customs. Registration is free of charge; no official authority charges for issuing an EORI.
Validate before your first shipment. Once issued, confirm the number is active with our free checker so your first declaration is not rejected over a typo or a not-yet-propagated registration.

Official France EORI application page

Checking and using your France EORI number

EU EORI validation (EU EOS) + official SOPRANO EORI confirmation. Because the EOS database behind FR numbers is EU-wide, not just France's own system, counterparties anywhere in the bloc can look your number up too — a routine step many businesses take before trading with a new supplier or customer.

Once active, your EORI appears on every customs document tied to your business: import and export declarations, transit paperwork, safety and security filings, and any customs authorisations you hold. Couriers such as DHL, FedEx and UPS will ask for it before they can clear commercial goods in your name. Keep the exact string handy in your shipping profiles — a single mistyped character is enough to stop a consignment at the border. You can compare your number against the national pattern in our EORI format hub, which covers every country's structure with valid examples.