EORI Number: A Must-Have for International Art Shipments

 

 

Attention artists shipping outside the EU:

You'll need an EORI number for almost all customs declarations. This unique identifier is essential for anyone involved in import or export activities, including artists like you who send their creations worldwide.

 

 

 

 

What is an EORI Number?

 

EORI:  stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification.

This number is a unique ID assigned to businesses and individuals outside the EU to monitor and track shipments. ( EORI number is important identifier in customs transactions). 

 

A Must for Customs: It's crucial for customs clearance within the EU. Whether you're exporting, importing, or in transit, you need this number.

Unique Identification: It uniquely identifies businesses and individuals involved in shipping goods. You can only have one valid EORI number at a time.

 

 

 

 

Who Needs an EORI Number?

 

Businesses in the EU: Any business established within the EU needs to register for an EORI.

Non-EU Businesses: Those outside the EU but involved in customs activities in the EU also need to register. This includes handling customs declarations and storage.

Others: Sometimes, individuals or entities other than businesses need to register, depending on national EU laws or specific activities requiring an EORI.

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Your EORI Number: A Must-Know

 

Eligibility

To apply for an EORI number, you need to be registered for TAX and VAT. This is a prerequisite and is crucial for the application process.

 

How to Apply

Apply through the customs website of the EU country where you based. It's usually a simple online process if you already registrated.

 

Information Needed

Get ready to provide details like your VAT number and other relevant business or personal information.

 

Timing is Key

Apply well before your shipment date to avoid any last-minute hiccups.

 

EORI Number For Individuals

 

 

 

 

 

Timeframe for Obtaining an EORI Number in Different Countries

 

Getting an EORI number can take different amounts of time, depending on the country:

Germany:  

Expect up to three weeks to get your EORI number. This delay is due to the process involved in issuing these numbers.

The procedure is the same for 2 categories:

Economic operators established in this country.

Economic operators not established in the EU: The EORI number is issued by the Central Customs Authoriy (Generalzolldirektion).

To formally apply for assignment of an EORI number, the Portal for citizens and business customers (www.zoll-portal.de) or form 0870 (Operator - Master Data - EORI number) shall be used.

 

 

Sweden:  

Most applications from economic operators established in Sweden can be managed automatically and they receive their EORI number in about ten minutes. Some applications have to be handled manually. If you have all information that the authority need - you can receive an EORI number in about 24 hours. If you need to be registrated it can take longer time. 

Links to the application forms in  Swedish or in English 

 

 

France:

Here, you could get your EORI number within just a few hours if you are already registrated. The process are for :

Economic operators established in France: These operators must make a request of EORI registration. It must be made near the customs economic action pole on which they depend on the online service Soprano. If they are in the SIREN register, their EORI number will have this form : FR + SIRET

Economic operators not established in France and in the EU: These operators must take a request of EORI registration. This one must be made to the OEA/RDE/EORI desk on the online service Soprano. Their EORI number will have this form : FR + « country code » (ISO) + custom number (or SIREN number if registered in France)

 

 

Spain:  

In Spain, you can apply for an EORI number via the online platform of the Spanish tax office – the AEAT. In order to do so, you will need a digital certificate which acts as an online identification document. 

Any Spanish or Foreign citizen, older than 18 years old, who holds a DNI, NIE or NIF, will be able to apply for and obtain their digital certificate free of charge.  This certificate is a digital file containing the user’s identification data. You can apply for this certificate here.  Obtaining the Digital Certificate allows the holder to do online procedures with the Spanish Public Administration. 

Getting a Digital Certificate involves three steps. Both steps 1 and 3, the application procedure as well as the certificate download, must be done on the same computer and with the same user. At this time, the computer cannot be reset or updated. Prior to starting the process to obtain the Digital Certificate, it is necessary to complete a set of settings in the browser following the instructions provided by the FNMT It opens in new window.

Step 2 you will need to make a personal visit ( follow the instractions on FNMT ) to the tax office or some authorities who can verify your identinty. So when you get your certificate you can go to the next step for tax registrations.

 

If you already have a tax identification number in Spain, you'll likely get your EORI number in under a week, typically within 5-7 working days. Without a tax ID, it might take around 14 working days or more, as you'll need to obtain the tax ID first.

If your company is not registered in Spain but it has a tax representation or is VAT-registered in Spain, then you still need an EORI number.

 

 

Finland: 

Expect here to be a delay of two working days at most. Applications will usually be processed within one working day. ( Try this link if  you can not open the first one).

 

 

Portugal:

For new economic operators established in PT, the register and assign them an EORI number immediately, as they enter the tax number in the customs declaration field or in another customs document required for other customs operations that requires an EORI number, once it is confirmed that they meet the legal requirements for economic operators through an interface with the tax database opened automatically by the various declaration systems.

So, if they do not yet have a tax number (NIF), they must obtain it in advance from the PT authorities responsible for assigning the NIF.  In cases where additional documentation is required, and if you are already registered, it may take 1 to 2 working days to process. 

EORI registration for non-EU economic operators click here.   

Under Portuguese law, if the EO is not registered with the tax administration or has no business registration, he is not an authorised economic operator for customs purposes.

For non- EU economic operators, the time taken may vary and will depend on the number of days taken to receive the application together supporting documents submitted by post and the work needed to check their validity and legality. This may be between one or two weeks.

 

 

The Netherlands:

For Dutch businesses, it usually takes just between 1 -5 working days to manually assign an EORI number. 

Outside the EU: If your company is not based in the EU, getting a manually assigned EORI number could take up to 5 working days.
These timeframes give you a general idea of what to expect, but it's always good to check the latest information, as processes can change.

 

 

 

 

Understanding the Format of the EORI Number

 

The EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number is structured to ensure unique identification within the European Union.

It is composed of two parts:

 

Country Code: This is a two-letter code that identifies the Member State which has issued the EORI number. Each EU country has its specific code, such as "DE" for Germany, "FR" for France, "FI" for Finland,  "ES" for Spain, etc.

 

Unique Identifier: Following the country code, this section can be up to 15 alphanumeric characters. This identifier is unique to each economic operator within the Member State and is assigned to ensure there are no duplicates within the EU.

 

The combination of the country code and the unique identifier allows for easy and efficient recognition of economic operators across all EU Member States, facilitating customs and trade operations.

 

 

 

 

 

Examples of EORI in Different Countries: 

 

The EORI number of a Finnish company has the format FI + Business ID, e.g. FI1234567-8.

The EORI number of a Finnish private individual has the format FI-running date-yymmdd-hhmmss

 

 

An EORI number issued in Sweden consists of the country code SE + 10 digits: for example SE5512345678 

 

 

In Spain, for public limited companies (whose tax identification numbers ( NIF) start with an "A") and limited liability companies (whose tax identification numbers (NIF) start with a "B"), their EORI number is the same as their VAT Tax Identification Number, but with "ES" added at the beginning.

For example, if a company's VAT number is A08536583, their EORI number would be ESA08536583.

 

In Germany, for example, EORI code features the letters DE followed by

14 numbers -  DE 123456789 12345.

 

 

 

 

 

Overview of Data Stored in the EORI Central System

 

When you register for an EORI number, the central system keeps a record of several key details. Here's a straightforward breakdown of what's stored:

 

EORI Number : This is your unique EORI number, which includes your country code and a distinctive identifier.

Full Name: The complete name of the individual or business entity registered under the EORI.

Address: This includes the full address of your establishment or residence. Indicates whether you have a business setup within the customs territory of the European Union.

VAT Identification Number: Lists any VAT numbers assigned to you by EU Member States, if applicable.

Consent to Disclosure: Shows whether you have agreed to allow the disclosure of your EORI number, name, and address.

Short Name: If applicable, a shorter or abbreviated name for your business.

Start Date: The date from which your EORI number is valid.

Expiry Date: If there is an end date to your EORI number’s validity, it will be listed here.

This information is crucial for customs and trade activities within the EU, ensuring transparency and efficiency in operations.

 

 

Checking an EORI Number

 

Public Access: You can verify EORI numbers online through the EORI validation interface.   

It can be checked if an EORI number or the name and address of a registered person are valid, provided that publication of information was authorized.