Service Finder
Applying for an EORI number
Service Description
In principle, all economic operators in the European Union receive an individual and EU-wide registration and identification number (EORI number) from the respective member state.
Economic operators are both natural and legal persons, such as public limited companies or associations of persons with legal capacity, for example civil law partnerships (GbR). A business unit without legal capacity, for example a branch office, does not receive its own EORI number. Instead, it is recorded under the EORI number of its head office with its own branch number.
The EORI number consists of up to 17 characters and begins with the two-digit country code of the EU member state that issues the EORI number.
If you do not yet have an EORI number and are based in Germany, you can apply for one from the Directorate General of Customs. If you are based outside the customs territory of the European Union (EU), you apply for your EORI number in the EU country in which you first submit a customs declaration or apply for a decision.
German customs will generally transfer the master data for your EORI number to the European Commission's EORI database. You can call up and check the EORI number online via the EU database.
As a private individual, you generally do not need an EORI number if you submit fewer than 10 customs declarations per year. However, you must have an EORI number in order to be able to declare an export subject to authorization at the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control.
You need an EORI number to participate in ATLAS ("Automated Tariff and Local Customs Clearance System"). The ATLAS specialist procedure is used to process and monitor cross-border goods traffic as far as possible.
Process flow
You can apply for an EORI number online or in writing:
Online application:
- Go to the Customs Citizen and Business Customer Portal (BuG).
- If you do not yet have a personal service account, follow the instructions on the Customs Citizen and Business Customer Portal to set one up.
- For secure electronic identification, you will need an ELSTER certificate issued to your company or to you as a private individual.
- Make sure that the certificate contains the current data of your company or person. These are also part of the master data stored with your EORI number. It is currently only possible to change this data by adjusting the data on which the ELSTER certificate is based.
- The user account gives you access to the "EORI number administration" and you can apply for a new EORI number or change your EORI-specific data at any time.
- Once your details have been checked by Customs, you will automatically receive a confirmation in your electronic mailbox in the Citizen and Business Customer Portal as well as a notification to the e-mail address you have provided.
- You can view the status of your application via the process overview in the citizen and business customer portal.
Written application or application by e-mail:
-
If you want to apply for an EORI number, download the appropriate form from the website of the Directorate General of Customs:
- for companies: Form 0870a
- for a legally dependent company or organizational unit, for example a branch office: Form 0870b.
- for a private individual: Form 0870c from the Internet.
- You will find instructions for completing the form when you open the respective form version.
- Complete the form in full, print it out and sign it.
- Send the completed application together with the required documents by e-mail (scanned PDF document), by post or by fax to the Directorate General of Customs.
- After your details have been checked by customs, you will receive a letter with your EORI number by post.
Requirements
The Directorate General of Customs transmits the master data to the European Commission's EORI database. Consent to this transmission is a prerequisite for participation in the procedure.
Which documents are required?
For companies and branches:
- Current copy of the extract from the commercial register or
- Copy of the business registration
What are the fees?
none
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
none
Processing duration
Online applications via the customs portal for citizens and business customers: Usually up to one week.
Written applications or applications by e-mail: Usually 2 to 3 weeks
Legal basis
- Article 9 Union Customs Code (UCC)
- Article 1 point 18 of the EU Delegated Regulation supplementing the Union Customs Code (UCC-DA)
- Article 3 of the EU Delegated Regulation supplementing the Union Customs Code (UCC-DA)
- Articles 5 - 7 of the EU Delegated Regulation supplementing the Union Customs Code (UCC-DA)
- Annex 12-01 of the EU Delegated Regulation supplementing the Union Customs Code (UCC-DA)
Applications / forms
No legal remedies are provided for.
Appeal
Forms: yes
Online procedure possible: yes
Written form required: yes
Personal appearance required: no
Further Information
- General information on the EORI number on the customs website
- Questions and answers about the EORI number and the establishment number on the customs website
- EORI Guide on the website of the European Commission
- EORI database on the website of the EU Commission
- Procedural instructions for the ATLAS IT procedure on the customs website
- General user information on the citizen and business customer portal
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
- EORI number for the ATLAS IT procedure Issue
Remark: Display of performance in the source portal
Technically approved by
Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF)
Professionally released on
17.11.2021
Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)
Competent Authority
Generalzolldirektion (GZD) Dienstort Dresden Stammdatenmanagement
Postal address
01099 Dresden, Stadt
