What is an EORI number?

EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification. It is the identifier that EU customs authorities use to track who is importing or exporting goods across EU borders. Every customs declaration filed anywhere in the EU — whether for an import from China, an export to the USA or a transit through France — must include the EORI number of the economic operator responsible.

In Spain, the EORI is issued by the AEAT (the Spanish Tax Agency). For Spanish companies, it is simply the letters ES followed by the company's NIF number. In most cases, Spanish companies that already have a NIF are automatically registered and already have an EORI without knowing it.

Spanish EORI format
ES + B12345678
Country code (ES) + Spanish NIF or NIE — valid across the entire EU

Who needs an EORI number in Spain?

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Spanish importers Any Spanish company receiving goods from outside the EU on a regular basis
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Spanish exporters Companies shipping goods to non-EU markets and filing export declarations
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Non-EU companies Foreign businesses acting as importer of record in Spain need an EU EORI
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Customs agents Any agent filing declarations on behalf of importers or exporters

If you are a UK company shipping to Spain after Brexit, or a US company shipping from the USA to Spain and you want to act as the importer of record, you will need to obtain an EU EORI number — your domestic customs registration is not valid in the EU.

How do you get an EORI number in Spain?

For most Spanish companies the process is straightforward. If your business already has a NIF registered with the AEAT, your EORI is automatically generated as ES + NIF. You can verify it on the European Commission's EORI validation portal using that format.

If you are a non-EU business that needs a Spanish EORI, or an individual without a Spanish NIF, you will need to register directly with the AEAT. The process involves submitting an application with your identification and business details. A freight forwarder with experience in Spanish customs can confirm whether you already have a valid EORI or guide you through the registration if you do not.

Do not leave this until your goods are already moving. The EORI registration step is simple, but if it is missing when your shipment arrives at the Spanish port or airport, the customs agent cannot file the declaration and your goods go on hold. Get it sorted before you book the freight. Contact us and we will check your EORI status as part of the first conversation.

Frequently asked questions

An EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number is a unique EU customs identifier. In Spain it is issued by the AEAT and takes the format ES + NIF. It is required for any business or individual filing customs import or export declarations within the EU.
Any company or individual that regularly imports or exports goods to or from Spain needs an EORI. This includes Spanish importers and exporters, non-EU companies acting as importers of record in Spain, and customs agents filing declarations. Spanish companies with a NIF are typically already registered automatically.
Spanish companies that already have a NIF are usually automatically assigned an EORI (ES + NIF). You can verify yours on the European Commission EORI validation portal. Non-EU businesses without a Spanish NIF need to apply directly through the AEAT. A freight forwarder can check your status and advise on the process.
No. Since Brexit, UK EORI numbers (beginning with GB) are not valid in the EU. UK companies that need to act as importer of record in Spain must obtain an EU EORI number — which can be registered in any EU member state and is valid across all 27.
Yes, for commercial shipments from outside the EU. The EORI number identifies the importer in the customs declaration. Without it, the goods cannot be cleared. For small personal parcels handled entirely by a courier, the courier manages the declaration — but for commercial imports, the importer of record must have a valid EORI.
Yes. The EORI is a single identifier that covers all customs activities — imports, exports, transit and any other customs interaction across all EU member states. One number, registered once, valid everywhere in the EU.