EORI Number for Germany

What is the EORI number in Germany?

In Germany, the EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number is the identifier that Generalzolldirektion (Zoll) - Dienstort Dresden - Stammdatenmanagement assigns to businesses moving goods across the customs border. It starts with the prefix DE followed by a national identifier — for example DE123456789012345, and one registration is valid for customs declarations in every EU member state. Customs will not process imports or exports declared in your name without it.

Who needs a DE EORI number?

Any business established in Germany that lodges customs declarations — or is named as importer or exporter on them — needs an EORI number before goods move. That includes companies, sole traders and partnerships importing stock from outside the EU, exporting to international customers, or selling through online marketplaces that ship across customs borders. Even when a freight forwarder or courier files the declaration for you, the declaration still carries your EORI.

A core rule of the EU system: you register once, in the member state where your business is established — for a business established in Germany, that means applying to Generalzolldirektion (Zoll) - Dienstort Dresden - Stammdatenmanagement. The DE-prefixed number you receive is then valid for customs declarations in all 27 EU member states: you do not need a separate EORI for each country you trade with inside the EU. Non-EU businesses that first declare in Germany can also request their EORI there.

Note that an EU EORI is not valid for Great Britain. If your business in Germany also imports into the UK in its own name, it needs a separate GB EORI from HMRC — see our UK EORI guide.

How to apply for an EORI number in Germany

1. Check whether you already have one. Authorities often assign EORI numbers automatically when a business first interacts with customs. Search old customs correspondence or ask your forwarder, and try our EORI checker with your likely number — the format is usually DE plus your national tax or business identifier.
2. Gather your business details. You will typically need your company registration number, VAT or tax ID, legal form, registered address and contact details of an authorised person.
3. Apply with Generalzolldirektion (Zoll) - Dienstort Dresden - Stammdatenmanagement. Applications go through the official portal — usually completed after customs review; many operators receive their number within days to a few weeks depending on the case. Registration is free of charge; no official authority charges for issuing an EORI.
4. Validate before your first shipment. Once issued, confirm the number is active with our free checker so your first declaration is not rejected over a typo or a not-yet-propagated registration.

Official Germany EORI application page

Checking and using your Germany EORI number

EU EORI validation (EU EOS) + official issuing authority confirmation. Because DE numbers sit in the EU-wide EOS database, any of your European trading partners can verify your number too — many businesses run a quick check on new suppliers and customers before the first shipment.

Once active, your EORI appears on every customs document tied to your business: import and export declarations, transit paperwork, safety and security filings, and any customs authorisations you hold. Couriers such as DHL, FedEx and UPS will ask for it before they can clear commercial goods in your name. Keep the exact string handy in your shipping profiles — a single mistyped character is enough to stop a consignment at the border. You can compare your number against the national pattern in our EORI format hub, which covers every country's structure with valid examples.