What Is an EORI Number?
EORI — Economic Operators Registration and Identification — is the unique identifier EU customs use for businesses involved in international trade. Irish EORI numbers start with IE, followed by the company's VAT or CRO reference (e.g. IE1234567T).
Every business or individual importing goods into Ireland must hold an EORI. Without it, an AIS import declaration cannot be filed and the cargo cannot clear Dublin or Rosslare.
Who Needs One?
- Businesses importing from Turkey to Ireland for the first time
- Businesses that previously imported only from within the EU (Turkey is non-EU, so a fresh EORI is required)
- Individuals importing commercial volumes (e-commerce, personal-use volumes that exceed thresholds)
What You Need
- PPSN (individuals) or Tax Reference Number (businesses)
- VAT number if registered
- CRO number for limited companies
- A Revenue ROS (Online Service) account
Step-by-Step
1. Sign in to ROS
Sign in to your business or personal account at ros.ie. If you do not yet have a ROS account, you first need to request a TAIN/RAN activation code (this takes 5–7 working days).
2. Find the EORI Application
In the ROS dashboard go to "Other Services" → "Trade & Customs" → "EORI Number Application". Make sure you submit under the correct (business, not personal) profile.
3. Complete the Form
The form is short; most fields auto-fill from your ROS account:
- Business name
- Address
- VAT number
- Trade activity type (import / export / both)
- Estimated annual import value
4. Approval
Routine applications are approved in 1–3 working days and the EORI is delivered to your ROS inbox. Check your spam folder if you don't receive the email.
Validation
You can verify your EORI in the European Commission's official lookup:
ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/eos
This page shows the registered name and address. Always validate before submitting an AIS declaration.
FAQs
Q: Can a Turkish company get an EORI? A: No — EORI numbers are only issued to companies established in the EU. The Turkish exporter clears under its Turkish tax ID; the Irish importer holds the EORI.
Q: Do I need an EORI for a one-off import? A: Yes. AIS won't accept the declaration without one, even for a single shipment, if the volumes are commercial.
Q: Does the EORI expire? A: No — once issued, an EORI is valid indefinitely. It is automatically revoked if the business is dissolved.
How Irlanda Transit Helps
If your Irish consignee does not have an EORI we guide them through the Revenue.ie process. The application has to be filed by the Irish importer itself — we cannot file on their behalf. Contact us.