EORI Number: The Key to Importing into the United Kingdom

What is an EORI number? An EORI number (Economic Operators Registration and Identification number) is required if you move goods:

• between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) or the Isle of Man and other countries (including the EU)
• between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• between Great Britain and the Channel Islands
• between Northern Ireland and countries outside the EU

An EORI number is also required to register for an export licence on the SPIRE system. You do not need an EORI number if the goods you're moving are both:

• uncontrolled goods
• for personal use

How do you get an EORI number? To get an EORI number, your business usually needs to be based in the country you want to import into or export from — this is called being "established". Your base must be one of the following:

• a registered office
• a central headquarters
• a permanent place of business — premises where some of your customs-related activities take place and where your HR and technical resources are permanently located

If your business is not based in the country you're moving goods to or from, you should still get an EORI number if you:

• lodge a customs declaration for transit
• lodge a customs declaration for temporary admission
• apply for a customs decision
• lodge an entry summary declaration
• lodge an exit summary declaration
• lodge a temporary storage declaration
• get a customs guarantee for a temporary admission declaration or a re-export declaration
• act as a carrier transporting goods by sea, inland waterway or air
• act as a carrier connected to the customs system and want to receive notifications about lodging or amending entry summary declarations
• are based in a transit country where a declaration is lodged instead of an entry summary declaration, or is used as a declaration before departure

If you're not eligible to apply for an EORI number yourself, you must appoint someone to deal with customs on your behalf. The person you appoint will need to get an EORI number instead of you. If you're based in the Channel Islands and move goods to or from the United Kingdom, you don't need an EORI number. You will need an EORI number if you use HMRC customs systems such as Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF). When will you need an EORI number? You will need an EORI number if you:

• appoint someone to deal with customs for you and you are "established" in the country you're importing into or exporting from
• lodge customs declarations - check whether you're eligible to lodge a customs declaration
• use customs systems such as the CDS system
• and the Import Control System Northern Ireland (ICS NI)
• apply for a customs decision

Remember that the above is general guidance and may vary depending on your business's specific circumstances. It's always advisable to consult a customs or legal advisor for accurate information relevant to your situation.