How to Get an Irish EORI Number

An EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number is your unique trader ID for customs in the European Union. If you import or export goods to or from Ireland — even once — you need one. Without it, your shipment will be stopped at the border.

Who Needs an Irish EORI

You need an Irish EORI number if you are:

An Irish business importing goods from outside the EU (UK, US, China, Türkiye, etc.)
An Irish business exporting goods outside the EU
A private individual importing a vehicle, machinery or large goods from the UK
An EU business with no Irish establishment that lodges declarations in Ireland

If your business is already registered with Revenue and has an Irish tax reference (PPS, VAT or TR number), getting EORI is just an activation step.

What an Irish EORI Looks Like

An Irish EORI number is in the format IE + your tax reference, for example:

IE1234567T (for a VAT-registered company)
IE1234567W (for a PAYE registered individual)

It is unique to you and remains valid across the entire EU.

How to Register

Sign in to ROS (Revenue Online Service) or myAccount. Companies use ROS; individuals use myAccount.
Navigate to Manage Tax Registrations → eCustoms.
Click "Apply for EORI Registration" and confirm your business details.
Submit. Most applications are activated within minutes — at most one working day.

If you do not yet have a Revenue tax reference (a non-resident trader, for example), you must register for that first before applying for EORI.

Common Mistakes

Registering on the wrong portal. UK GB EORI numbers (GB prefix) are not valid in Ireland post-Brexit. Northern Ireland businesses moving goods south need both a GB EORI and an XI EORI, plus typically an Irish EORI if they have an Irish establishment.
Letting registration lapse. EORI doesn't expire, but if your underlying VAT or tax registration is cancelled, the EORI is deactivated too.
Using a personal EORI for business shipments. If you incorporate, register a new business EORI rather than continuing on the sole-trader one.

Need Help?

We register Irish EORI numbers on behalf of clients every week — usually with same-day turnaround. If you'd rather we handle the application and check your supporting documents, contact us and we'll have you trading within 24 hours.