What is the EORI number in Italy?
In Italy, the EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number is
the identifier that Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM)
assigns to businesses moving goods across the customs border. It starts with the prefix
IT followed by a national
identifier — for example IT12345678901, 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 an IT EORI number?
Any business established in Italy 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 Italy, that means applying to
Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM). The
IT-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 Italy can
also request their EORI there.
Note that an EU EORI is not valid for Great Britain. If your business
in Italy 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 Italy
- 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 IT plus your national tax or business identifier.
- 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.
- Apply with Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM).
Applications go through the official
portal — often assigned automatically at the first customs operation; direct applications to ADM usually take a few working days once the information is complete.
Registration is free of charge; no official authority charges for
issuing an EORI.
- 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 Italy EORI application page
Checking and using your Italy EORI number
Italian (IT) EORI numbers are registered in the EU-wide EOS database, so they can be validated with our EORI checker; ADM can also confirm registration status directly.
Because IT 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.
Country guide — IT
