A registration number for businesses trading with countries outside the EU customs union — not something most personal senders need.
EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification — a number that identifies a business (or an individual acting as an economic operator) on customs declarations for trade with countries outside the EU customs union. It's referenced across several of Cargosender's own guides, for shipments to the UK, USA and other non-EU destinations, without always being explained on its own — this page fills that gap.
The key distinction: EORI is a commercial customs mechanism, not a general shipping requirement. A private individual sending a personal gift or moving belongings generally doesn't need one. It becomes relevant specifically for businesses (or individuals acting commercially) making customs declarations for imports or exports crossing the EU's external border.
| Situation | EORI needed? |
|---|---|
| Business regularly exporting to non-EU countries (UK, USA, etc.) | Yes |
| Business importing goods from outside the EU | Yes |
| Private individual sending a personal parcel to another EU country | No — intra-EU shipments don't require one |
| Private individual sending a one-off gift to a non-EU country | Generally no — but check the destination's own requirements for higher-value items |
For businesses established in Portugal, an EORI number is often issued automatically, linked to your NIF, the first time you interact with the electronic customs system.
If it hasn't been issued automatically, Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (AT) — Portugal's tax and customs authority — handles EORI registration through its Portal Aduaneiro.
An EORI number issued in one EU member state is valid for customs declarations across the whole EU — you don't need a separate one per country you trade with within the EU.
Since Brexit, a UK EORI (a different number, starting GB) is needed specifically for UK customs declarations — an EU-issued EORI doesn't cover UK-side paperwork.
Generally no for a one-off personal, non-commercial shipment — EORI is a commercial customs mechanism for businesses. If you're regularly shipping commercially, though, it becomes relevant.
No — they're separate registrations, though for a Portuguese business the EORI is typically linked to your NIF. VAT registration and EORI registration serve different purposes (tax vs customs identification) and aren't interchangeable.
No — an EU-issued EORI covers customs declarations within the EU's external border generally, but the UK requires its own separate UK EORI number (format starting GB) since it left the EU customs union.
For Portuguese businesses, it's often issued automatically alongside your NIF when you first use the electronic customs system, with no separate waiting period — check the AT's Portal Aduaneiro if you need to confirm or register one directly.
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