How to Find or Get Your EORI Number

Before you can file an export customs declaration, you need an EORI number. It’s the reference HMRC uses to identify businesses that move goods in and out of the country, and it goes on the declaration itself. The good news is that sorting it out is quick, it’s free, and there’s a fair chance you already have one without realising.

What is an EORI Number?

EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification. It’s a unique reference that identifies your business to customs whenever you import or export goods. A UK number starts with the letters GB, followed by twelve digits, fourteen characters in total. You use the same number for both importing and exporting.

Do you already have one?

Many businesses do without knowing it. When the rules changed, HMRC automatically enrolled most VAT-registered UK businesses and issued them an EORI number. So, if you’re VAT-registered, check first before applying for a new one. You’ll find your number in the confirmation HMRC sent when it was issued, on any previous customs paperwork, or on earlier declarations. If you’re still not sure, HMRC can confirm it for you.

How to get one if you don’t

If you don’t have an EORI number, you apply directly through GOV.UK. You’ll need a Government Gateway account and your business details. The application is free, and it only takes around ten minutes.

Most applications are approved straight away. If HMRC needs to run any checks, it can take up to five working days, so it’s worth applying before you have a shipment waiting rather than at the last minute.

Cost
Free

Where to apply
Online via GOV.UK

What you need
Government Gateway account and your business details

How long it takes
Usually immediate, up to five working days if HMRC runs checks

Format
GB followed by twelve digits

Where the EORI number fits in

Once you have your EORI number, it becomes part of every declaration you file. It goes in at the first step, and once it’s saved to your account you won’t need to enter it again. If you’d like to see how it slots into the wider process, the guide to making your first export declaration walks through the whole thing from start to finish.

What it costs to file once you’re set up

The EORI number itself is free. Filing the declaration through ExportDocuments is a flat £29.50 per declaration, with no subscription and nothing to pay until you submit. So, the only cost of getting export-ready is the declaration itself, once you’re ready to file.

If you get stuck

Most people find getting an EORI number and filing straightforward, but help is there if you want it. If you’d like a second opinion on a declaration before you submit, or you just want to know what support is available, our customer support page sets out what’s on offer, including the optional expert review.

Further reading

For a deeper look at how EORI numbers work in practice, including the situations that trip businesses up, our EORI number guide for UK exporters goes into more detail than this page has room for.

Once your EORI number is sorted, you’re ready to file. Creating an account is free and you only pay when you submit, so you can get set up now and be ready the moment a shipment is. You can create a free account and file your first declaration whenever you’re ready.