Resources · Customs
EORI number: check it, or get one
To ship outside the European Union, your company needs an EORI number. First check whether it already has one; if not, you can apply online, free of charge, with French customs.
What is an EORI number for?
The EORI number (Economic Operator Registration and Identification) identifies your company to the customs authorities of the European Union. It is unique, valid throughout the Union, and must appear in your dealings with customs.
For a shipment leaving the European Union (United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Switzerland…), the export declaration for your shipment is made under this number: you are asked for it on the shipper details step, and it appears on your commercial invoice. It is not needed for shipments within the Union.
In France, it takes the form “FR” followed by the company’s SIREN number (9 digits). Some companies still hold an older number built on their SIRET (14 digits): it remains valid.
1. Check whether your company already has an EORI number
Many companies already have one without knowing it, assigned during an earlier customs operation. The Annuaire des Entreprises, the French government’s public business directory, lets you check in seconds.
Search for your company
Enter its company name, SIREN or SIRET in the Annuaire des Entreprises search bar.
Open its page
The company page shows its EORI number and whether it is valid, when one exists.
Write the number down
If it is valid, that is the number to use for your shipments: no need to apply for a new one.
No EORI number on the page, or one flagged as invalid? Move on to the next step.
2. If not, get one from French customs
Applications are made online only, on douane.gouv.fr, through the SOPRANO service (EORI section). The official customs page details the procedure and offers a step-by-step tutorial, including in English.
Sign in to douane.gouv.fr
Create your business account if you do not have one yet, then open the SOPRANO service, EORI section.
Fill in the application
Enter the company’s details (SIREN, address, legal representative). A company without a French VAT number attaches a Kbis extract or equivalent.
Receive your number
An EORI number becomes active 24 hours after it is issued.
- Getting an EORI number is free. Beware of websites offering to obtain one for you for a fee: French customs stresses that the application is made on douane.gouv.fr only.
- The application is made by your company, in its own name: Vastorg cannot file it on your behalf.
Number in hand
Enter it on the shipper details step of your next shipment. Saved with your address in your address book, it will be prefilled on the shipments that follow.
Prepare a shipment