EORI number, basic to imports and exports

In order to carry out any transport, in addition to having the necessary means or, failing that, the appropriate service providers, there are certain basic concepts that should be borne in mind. Even more so if the transport to be carried out includes customs formalities.

Although it has not meant a radical change in the guidelines for managing imports or exports, Brexit has brought back to the table the basic processes that were previously used by those who carried out transport to or from Switzerland, Morocco, Andorra… to give just a few nearby countries as examples.

Without going into the details of the documentation required to manage a shipment to each of the aforementioned points, we are going to focus on the EORI number.

An acronym for Economic Operators Registration and Identification Number, the EORI number is nothing more than an identifier issued by the customs authorities of each country, which is valid in the member countries of the European Union.

Despite being a simple concept, its existence is essential for different aspects, such as facilitating registration and identification by the corresponding customs department, so that legal control is impossible to avoid. In the absence of such a number, it would not be possible to import or export into the EU.

So, what steps must be taken to obtain the EORI number? The first and logical step is to apply to the Customs and Excise Department. This can be done as long as you are a natural person who does not exceed five customs operations in a year, or if you are a legal person or an entity. It must have a tax domicile in one of the 27 countries that make up the EU, carry out an economic activity, and in relation to this activity import or export goods.

In compliance with these precepts, the information to be provided would be simple: the name and tax domicile, the date of birth of the natural person (or the date of incorporation of the company), and the NIF or CIF of the applicant, depending on its legal status.

With all this, in a maximum of 48 hours, the EORI number is generated with a format similar to this: ES00000000 (or, in other words, the ISO code of the country, followed by the tax identification number or DNI). This code opens the door to importing or exporting in order to continue with the transport and related customs formalities.

In short, if you or your company needs to import or export for the first time, you must apply for the EORI number, regardless of the route by which the goods enter. Once applied for, validation is practically immediate (available here: “EORI number validation”).

With the EORI number validated, at HTG Express we will look for the option that best suits your needs, and we will guide you so that you do not have any doubts during the transport of your goods from their origin to their destination. As our motto says: we deliver peace of mind.