When your goods are shipped from a country outside the European Union and you plan to supply them to the European customers under DDP terms – Delivered Duty Paid (which are required by Amazon), all landed costs, including transportation charges, import VAT and duties are paid by an importer. The importer doesn’t have to be a business or an induvidual established in the European Union. If you run an offshore company you may also register for EORI number in one of the EU countries in order to be able to import goods into the European Union and sell them on Amazon. EORI number is required by and delivered to the customs authorities of the first European country where imports are made (where you have to clear the customs). You can have only one EORI number, no matter how many markets in the EU you import to.

EORI stands for “Economic Operators Registration and Identification number”. All the businesses and individuals who wish to trade within the European Union as well as import from suppliers e.g. China or export to business partners in countries outside the EU, must apply and obtain the EORI number which will be used as an identification number in all customs procedures when exchanging information with Customs administrations in any coutry in the EU. Common type of identification number across the EU is more efficient, both for businesses and customs authorities, statistical and security purposes.

The EORI number is formed with two parts: the country code of the issuing Member State e.g. DE, GB, PL; followed by a code or number that is unique in the Member State. Usually local VAT or Tax registration numbers are used to create EORI numbers followed by 5 zeros. Unfortunately each EU Member State has developed its own EORI system, which is part of the EU EORI system. The time required to obtain the EORI number differ from country to country and can last as little as 3-4 days in the UK to over 30 days in some parts of Europe.

EORI registration can be achieved in many different ways depending on the local requirements:

• by submitting or sending an email registration request,
• on the internet via online form,
• personally by the applicant or by a representative of the applicant at the customs offices or branches,
  but always before the first customs operation or during this action.

Typical situations when EORI number is needed to proceed with local officials include:

• to lodge a customs declaration in the customs territory of the Union;
• to submit an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) Search for available translations of the preceding;
• to lodge an Exit Summary Declaration (EXS) Search for available translations of the preceding;
• to lodge a temporary storage declaration in the customs territory of the Union
• to act as a carrier for the purposes of transport by sea, inland waterway or air;
• to act as a carrier who is connected to the customs system and wishes to receive any of the notifications provided for in the customs legislation regarding the lodging or amendment of entry summary declarations.

Individual persons other than businesses must be registered in the following situations:

• where such registration is required by the national legislation of a Member State;
• where the person engages in operations for which an EORI number must be provided according to the EU customs legislation.

EORI registration differ from country to country. Business operators established in the customs territory of the European Union should request the assignment of the EORI number to the customs authorities of the EU country in which they are established (businesses) or reside (persons). Persons not established in the customs territory of the Community should request the assignment of the EORI number to the customs authorities of the EU country responsible for the place where they first lodge a declaration or apply for a decision.

EORI number can be validated online on the official website of European Commision.