How to get an EORI number in Germany

How to get an EORI number in Germany

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An EORI number is the customs identifier you need for most imports, exports and transit movements in the EU. In Germany it is free to apply for and is issued by the Generalzolldirektion in Dresden.

If your company is the importer, exporter or declarant, you should treat EORI as basic setup, not an optional extra. If you want help with the customs side, our customs clearance service covers the filing side, our FAQ covers common process questions, and our contact page is the fastest way to start a quote request.

When you need an EORI number

The European Commission says an EORI number is mandatory for customs clearance in the EU for imports, exports and transit. It is also required for EU-established economic operators, and for some non-EU operators that lodge declarations, summary declarations, temporary storage declarations or act as carriers.

For a German business, the practical rule is simple. If your company is named on the customs declaration, or your activity means you are the declarant, you normally need an EORI before customs can process the goods. That applies to imports into Hamburg, exports from Germany, and many transit movements.

There is one narrow exception for private persons. German customs says occasional declarations by private individuals do not require an EORI, and its guidance defines occasional as fewer than ten customs declarations a year. That exception is for private persons, not trading companies.

Do not assume your freight forwarder’s number replaces yours. The Commission’s rules tie the number to the economic operator, and Zoll’s guidance for customs declarations shows that the declarant’s EORI must be available where the declarant is the party filing the customs entry.

Who should apply in Germany

In Germany, the EORI is issued by the Generalzolldirektion, and Zoll says the number is granted free of charge on application. The German customs guidance also says to use the Zoll Portal for the electronic route, or form 0870 if you need the paper route.

As a rule, the legal entity that trades with customs should hold the EORI. That means the GmbH, AG, GmbH & Co. KG or other legal person that appears on the declaration, not a trading name that has no separate legal status. Zoll’s guidance also notes that branches do not normally get their own EORI when they are not separate legal entities, they are recorded under the head office.

If you operate through more than one EU entity, each legal entity may need its own EORI in the country where it is established. The Commission says a person can have only one valid EORI at a time, and the issuing customs authority depends on establishment and first customs operation.

What you need to prepare

The application is basically a master data check. You should have the exact registered company name, legal form, address, contact details and the right contact person ready. If your business uses a branch or a different trading style, make sure the legal entity details still match the party that will appear on customs paperwork.

The Commission says an EORI number has the country code of the issuing member state followed by a unique identifier. It does not expire, but it can be invalidated if the business stops trading or asks for cancellation.

For an SME, the main risk is not the form itself, it is bad data. A wrong legal name, postcode or entity type can create a mismatch between the EORI record and the declaration, which then slows release and amendments. If your setup is more complex, check with your customs broker before you file.

How the application works in practice

In Germany, Zoll points businesses towards the Zoll Portal for electronic submission. The customs guidance also states that the EORI can be requested using the Internetbeteiligtenantrag, and that changes to business data should be reported through the same route or by form 0870.

German customs also provides a dedicated contact point for EORI questions. Its published contact details include the EORI email address info.eori@zoll.de and a phone line at +49 228 303-26050.

Apply before you book the first shipment, not after the cargo is already moving. The Commission’s guidance and Zoll’s import instructions both make clear that EORI is part of the customs setup that should be in place before you lodge declarations.

Worked example for a Hamburg importer

Imagine a Hamburg buyer imports one 40-foot container of spare parts from Shanghai. The goods arrive for free circulation in Germany, and the customs declaration is lodged in the buyer’s name. That buyer needs an EORI number before the customs broker can submit the entry.

Now take a simple valuation example. If the customs value is EUR 18,500 and the customs duty rate is 3.7 per cent, the duty is EUR 684.50. If import VAT is 19 per cent, the VAT base is EUR 19,184.50 and the import VAT is EUR 3,644.06. Those numbers are not the EORI itself, but they show why the customs record has to be correct before the shipment lands.

If the EORI is missing or tied to the wrong legal entity, the declaration can stall. That affects release, trucking, warehouse booking and cash planning. For an SME, the delay is usually more expensive than the time it takes to apply correctly in the first place.

Practical checklist

  • Confirm which legal entity will be importer, exporter or declarant.
  • Apply for the EORI before the first customs declaration is filed.
  • Use the exact company name and registered address from your legal records.
  • Share the EORI with your freight forwarder, customs broker and finance team.
  • Update customs data if your company name, address or legal form changes.
  • Ask your customs broker if you have branches, multiple EU entities or unusual filing arrangements.

For SMEs that want one point of contact in Hamburg, TradeRoute EU is based in Hamburg and works with air, sea, road, customs and warehousing flows. If you need help aligning the EORI with your customs process, start with our FAQ or use the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an EORI number for export from Germany?

Yes, if your company is the exporter or the declarant for the export entry. The Commission says EORI is mandatory for export customs operations in the EU.

Can a private person import goods without an EORI?

Usually yes, if the person only occasionally submits customs declarations. Zoll says occasional means fewer than ten declarations a year.

Is the EORI number valid across the EU?

Yes. The Commission says the EORI is used across the EU customs territory, and a person can have only one valid EORI at a time.

Can I use my forwarder’s EORI instead of mine?

No, not if your business is the importer, exporter or declarant on the customs entry. The number belongs to the economic operator, so the correct legal entity has to be identified.

Last checked: October 2026.

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