Applying for an EORI Number: A Guide for Exporters

By Rafael Paulo Krüger · Customs Expert & CEO

Applying for a German EORI number: from 1 October 2026 only via the Zoll-Portal with an ELSTER login. Free of charge. What you need and how the process works.

An online retailer in Saxony wants to ship goods to Switzerland for the first time in October. They download the familiar EORI application form, fill it in and send it to customs — only to learn that the paper form is no longer accepted. Applications now go through the Zoll-Portal, the German customs online portal, and that requires an ELSTER login for the business, which first has to be set up. The shipment is delayed. We explain how to apply for an EORI number today and what to sort out beforehand.

Last updated: 28 September 2026

New from 1 October 2026: Applying for an EORI number, changing its master data and closing it must be done via the Zoll-Portal. Form 0870 may then only be used as a fallback.

What is an EORI number?

EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification. It is a unique identifier for economic operators engaged in trade with third countries — that is, those who export or import. It identifies the company (or natural person) to the customs authorities across the entire European Union and has replaced the former German customs number (Zollnummer).

The EORI number starts with the country code of the issuing member state (for Germany: DE), followed by an identifier. It is valid throughout the EU — a company that has one in Germany does not need to apply for a separate one in France, the Netherlands, or Poland.

In customs declarations — including every export declaration via ATLAS, the German customs IT system — the EORI number identifies the parties involved. Without it, the system will not accept a declaration.

Who needs one?

Every company or natural person that exports goods from Germany to a third country or imports goods from a third country into Germany needs an EORI number. This applies to occasional exports as well — for instance when exporting to the UK, which has been treated as a third country since Brexit.

Private individuals who are not engaged in commercial activity are exempt — they may export within certain limits without an EORI. However, as soon as a commercial activity is present, the EORI is required.

Customs agents and freight forwarders acting in their own name (as indirect representatives) also need their own EORI number — regardless of whether the exporter has one.

What changes from 1 October 2026?

Until 30 September 2026, you could apply either via the Zoll-Portal or with form 0870. From 1 October 2026, the Zoll-Portal is mandatory for:

• applying for a new EORI number,
• changing the master data (e.g. after a move or a change of company name),
• closing an EORI number.

This applies to businesses and private individuals alike. Form 0870 may only be used as a fallback when the Zoll-Portal is unavailable. The legal basis is Article 6(1) of the Union Customs Code (UCC), which requires electronic data exchange with customs.

There is one exception for operators from non-EU countries who cannot get access to the portal: they may continue to use the fallback procedure but must attach an informal statement explaining why they need a German EORI number.

How to apply via the Zoll-Portal

The competent authority is the Generalzolldirektion (Central Customs Authority), Dresden office, master data management (Stammdatenmanagement). The application is free of charge; according to German customs, there is no need to use paid third-party services.

1. Set up ELSTER access: For digital identification you need an ELSTER login option issued to your business, such as a certificate file. ELSTER is the German tax administration’s online portal. Private individuals use their personal ELSTER login; customs also accepts the German online ID card and BundID.
2. Register with the Zoll-Portal: Sign in once at zoll-portal.de with your ELSTER login.
3. Submit the application: In the portal, open “EORI-Nr. Verwaltung” under “Dienstleistungen” (services) and complete the form. It guides you with plausibility checks and drop-down lists; no printing, signing or posting is needed.
4. Wait for confirmation: Once customs has checked your details, you receive a confirmation in your Zoll-Portal inbox and a notification to your registered e-mail address. You can track the status at any time under “Vorgänge” (cases).

Important: The data linked to your ELSTER login becomes part of your EORI master data. It can only be changed via the tax office or the registration authority, not in the Zoll-Portal. Check in advance that your company name and address are up to date in ELSTER.

How long does it take?

Processing usually takes a few working days. Queries or inconsistent details can extend this. Apply in good time before your first export — and allow extra time to set up ELSTER access if your business does not have it yet.

If you need to lodge a customs declaration between applying and receiving the number, save a copy of the application and the submission confirmation and keep both to hand.

What you should do now

• Check whether your business has ELSTER access (e.g. a certificate file) and apply for it if needed.
• Verify your company name and address in ELSTER — they are carried over into the EORI master data.
• Register once with the Zoll-Portal, even if you already have an EORI number: changes and closure will only be possible there too.
• Stop sending the old form 0870, except when the portal is down.

Common problems

No ELSTER access for the business: Without a suitable ELSTER login you cannot access the Zoll-Portal. Setting it up can take some time — so apply early.

Outdated data in ELSTER: If your company name or address at the tax office is no longer correct, the old data ends up in your EORI master data. It can only be corrected via the tax office or the registration authority.

Multiple trading names under a single tax number: If a company trades under several names (e.g. through a registered brand), this can trigger queries. The officially registered company name is what counts.

EORI for foreign subsidiaries: Where a parent company established in Germany exports on behalf of a foreign subsidiary, the situation is more complex. In these cases, it is advisable to clarify in advance who appears as the legal exporter.

Summary

The EORI number remains free and quick to obtain — but from 1 October 2026 only via the Zoll-Portal. The real bottleneck is ELSTER access: set it up early and keep your data with the tax office current, and you will get your number without detours. Later changes and closure will also go through the portal.

Once your EORI is in place, you can begin the actual export process. For a step-by-step guide to how that works, see our Export Declaration Service — where we guide you from the first declaration through to the exit notification.

Sources

• ATLAS-Info 0964/26: EORI number – mandatory use of the Zoll-Portal from 1 October 2026 (German) – Generalzolldirektion, dated 9 June 2026
• Applying for an EORI number and changing party data (German) – zoll.de, accessed 28 September 2026
• EORI number (German) – zoll.de, accessed 28 September 2026