EORI Number for Amazon Sellers: How to Apply in the EU and Germany

The EORI number is one of those requirements nobody thinks about until the first container from China is on the water. Without it, customs cannot clear your goods, and every day at the port costs money. On my own setup checklist, EORI comes right after business registration.

What you will have after this guide: an EORI number, free of charge, that identifies your business to customs authorities across the EU.

What an EORI Number Is

EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification. According to the European Commission, it is mandatory for customs operations in the EU — imports, exports and transit. Key facts:

• One number per business. You can hold only one valid EU EORI number at a time, and it is used across the EU.
• Format: a two-letter code for the issuing country followed by an identifier of up to 15 characters.
• No expiry date. It stays valid until it is invalidated, for example when the business stops trading.

When Do You Need One?

You need an EU EORI number if:

• your business is established in the EU and imports goods from outside the EU (China, Turkey, the UK, the US, India, Vietnam and so on) or exports to non-EU countries; or
• your business is based outside the EU and lodges customs declarations in the EU — for example, a US or Chinese company importing stock for Amazon FBA in Europe in its own name.

You do not need one if you only buy from suppliers inside the EU, because goods moving between EU countries do not go through customs.

UK is separate. For moving goods into or out of Great Britain you may need a GB EORI number from HMRC. An EU EORI does not replace it.

Where to Apply

• Businesses established in the EU apply to the customs authority of the country where they are established.
• Businesses outside the EU apply in the EU country where they plan their first customs declaration. You register in one country only.

The rest of this guide shows the process in Germany, where many Amazon FBA sellers import for Amazon.de. Other countries have their own portals; the European Commission’s EORI page links to each country’s registering authority.

Applying in Germany: What You Need

• Access to the Zoll-Portal, which for most businesses means an ELSTER certificate (from the German tax authorities’ online system). If you do not have one yet, set it up first — German customs advises doing this early because it can take time.
• Your company details, as registered with the tax office.
• VAT ID, if you have one. If you get it later, report it to customs and quote your EORI number.

From 1 October 2026, the online Zoll-Portal is mandatory in Germany for applying for, changing or cancelling an EORI number. The paper forms (0870 series) are now only for a contingency procedure when the portal is unavailable.

Step 1: Log In to the Zoll-Portal

Go to zoll-portal.de and register or log in as a business, usually with your ELSTER certificate.

Step 2: Open the EORI Application

In the portal’s services, choose the EORI number application and start a new request for your company.

Step 3: Enter and Check Your Details

Fill in the form and check that your company name, legal form and address match your registration exactly. If you are a non-EU business, add a short explanation of why you need an EORI number and why German customs is responsible — German customs rejects applications from non-EU businesses without one.

Step 4: Submit and Track the Status

Submit the application. You can follow its status in the portal under “Operations”. Applications are handled by the master data management team of the Central Customs Authority (Generalzolldirektion) in Dresden. German customs does not publish a fixed processing time, so apply well before your first shipment.

Step 5: Receive and Use Your EORI Number

When the number is assigned, you get a confirmation in your Zoll-Portal inbox and by email. Then:

• Send it to your freight forwarder or customs broker before they book the first shipment.
• Check it in the European Commission’s EORI validation service.
• Keep it in your compliance records with your VAT and packaging registration numbers.

The number is free. German customs explicitly advises against third-party services that charge for an EORI application.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Booking the container before you have the number. Apply first, then book. Clearing goods without an EORI is not possible.
2. Leaving portal access until the last minute. Without it (for most businesses, an ELSTER certificate), you cannot apply online.
3. Paying an agency for something free. The application costs nothing in Germany.
4. Applying in several countries. One valid EU EORI number per business is the rule. Non-EU businesses register in the country of their first customs declaration.
5. Assuming an EU EORI covers the UK. For Great Britain you may need a separate GB EORI number.
6. Not telling your forwarder. If the forwarder does not have your number, the customs declaration cannot be lodged.

What’s Next After This Tutorial?

With a valid EORI number, you can import goods from outside the EU, have your forwarder or broker lodge the import declarations, and prepare for Pan-EU FBA.

Next compliance steps:

1. LUCID registration — required before selling packaged goods in Germany
2. Amazon Brand Registry application — for A+ Content and protection against listing hijacking
3. VAT registration in the countries where you store or sell goods — discuss this with a tax adviser

The complete setup guide (in German) is in the Amazon FBA in Germany 2026 article.

If you are stuck on the EORI application, reach out through my contact form.

Sources

• European Commission: Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI)
• German Customs (Zoll): Requesting an EORI number and amending an operator’s particulars
• GOV.UK: Get an EORI number