Where do I apply for an Irish (IE) EORI number?

Use Revenue’s official EORI system page to follow the correct registration route (typically through Revenue Online Service, ROS, or the relevant supported method).

Is an Irish EORI number free?

Yes. Revenue issues EORI numbers without charging an EORI fee when you apply through official channels.

What do I need before applying?

You typically need Revenue registration access (depending on your circumstances) and accurate company/individual details. Revenue guidance also highlights postcode/Eircode requirements where applicable.

How can I check my EORI number?

Use the EORI checker for EU prefixes. For newly issued numbers, validate before first shipment.

Do I need a specific address format?

Revenue may require a valid Eircode/postcode for registration. Ensure your official address details are complete.

Ireland EORI Number (IE) — Format, Example & Checker

Format & example

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

Valid example IE1234567T12

Regex (reference):

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

Check an EORI number EORI format hub

Authority & validation

Issuing authority Revenue (Ireland)
Processing time For complete registrations, many traders receive their EORI promptly via Revenue’s online services; timing can depend on access and setup.
Validation method EU EORI validation (EU EOS) via official system + Revenue confirmation.

Check an EORI number

Free validation on our website

Notes & what to watch out for

Ireland is the only EU member state with a land border with the United Kingdom — the frontier with Northern Ireland — which puts Irish-established traders at the centre of the post-Brexit customs landscape in a way most other EU countries aren't. After landbridge delays through Great Britain became a recurring problem from 2021 onward, many Irish importers shifted to direct ferry routes to continental Europe instead; both routes still run on the same Irish EORI.

Ireland's EORI system is operated via Revenue's online services (ROS) and registration is free of charge. Include accurate contact details and an Eircode where Revenue requires one.

What is the EORI number in Ireland?

Ireland's customs authority, Revenue (Ireland), identifies traders using the EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number — a single reference quoted on every customs declaration. The number takes the form IE plus a national identifier, shaped like IE1234567T12, and once issued it is recognised for customs purposes across the whole EU, not just Ireland. No EORI on file means no import or export can be declared under your name.

Who needs an IE EORI number?

The rule is simple: if you're established in Ireland 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 Ireland, that is Revenue (Ireland). The IE-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 Ireland if that's where it first lodges an EU customs declaration.

Great Britain sits outside this EU-wide recognition, so a IE EORI on its own will not clear a UK import. If your Ireland 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 Ireland

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 IE 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 Revenue (Ireland). Applications go through the official portal — for complete registrations, many traders receive their EORI promptly via Revenue’s online services; timing can depend on access and setup. 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 Ireland EORI application page

Checking and using your Ireland EORI number

EU EORI validation (EU EOS) via official system + Revenue confirmation. Because the EOS database behind IE numbers is EU-wide, not just Ireland'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.