Where do I apply for a Maltese (MT) EORI?

Use Malta Customs’ official EORI page for registration guidance.

Is Maltese EORI free?

Yes. EORI registration is free via official procedures.

How do I check an MT EORI?

Validate with the EORI checker .

Is most cargo through Malta actually destined for Malta?

No, not most of it. The Freeport terminal is primarily a transshipment hub, moving containers between larger and smaller vessels — a large share of MT EORI-registered activity is freight-forwarding rather than goods entering Malta's own domestic market.

Malta EORI Number (MT) — Format, Example & Checker

Format & example

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

Valid example MT12345678

Regex (reference):

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

Check an EORI number EORI format hub

Authority & validation

Issuing authority Malta Customs Department
Processing time Typically days to a few weeks depending on review.
Validation method EU EORI validation (EU EOS) + Malta Customs confirmation.

Check an EORI number

Free validation on our website

Notes & what to watch out for

Malta is an island nation whose Freeport terminal is one of the largest transshipment hubs in the Mediterranean, moving containers between larger vessels and smaller regional ships rather than serving as a final import destination for most of the cargo that passes through. This gives Malta an unusually high ratio of freight-forwarding and logistics EORI registrations relative to its small population.

The Malta Customs Department issues EORI numbers free of charge.

What is the EORI number in Malta?

In Malta, the EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number is the identifier that Malta Customs Department assigns to businesses moving goods across the customs border. It starts with the prefix MT followed by a national identifier — for example MT12345678, and one registration is valid for customs declarations in every EU member state. Customs will not process imports or exports declared in your name without it.

Who needs an MT EORI number?

Any business established in Malta that lodges customs declarations — or is named as importer or exporter on them — needs an EORI number before goods move. That includes companies, sole traders and partnerships importing stock from outside the EU, exporting to international customers, or selling through online marketplaces that ship across customs borders. Even when a freight forwarder or courier files the declaration for you, the declaration still carries your EORI.

A core rule of the EU system: you register once, in the member state where your business is established — for a business established in Malta, that means applying to Malta Customs Department. The MT-prefixed number you receive is then valid for customs declarations in all 27 EU member states: you do not need a separate EORI for each country you trade with inside the EU. Non-EU businesses that first declare in Malta can also request their EORI there.

Note that an EU EORI is not valid for Great Britain. If your business in Malta also imports into the UK in its own name, it needs a separate GB EORI from HMRC — see our UK EORI guide.

How to apply for an EORI number in Malta

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 MT 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 Malta Customs Department. Applications go through the official portal — typically days to a few weeks depending on review. 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 Malta EORI application page

Checking and using your Malta EORI number

EU EORI validation (EU EOS) + Malta Customs confirmation. Because MT numbers sit in the EU-wide EOS database, any of your European trading partners can verify your number too — many businesses run a quick check on new suppliers and customers before the first shipment.

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.