What Is a UK EORI Number and Do You Need One?

Updated October 2026

A UK EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number is a unique customs identifier issued by HMRC that you need before importing any goods into Great Britain. If you are a US or EU brand selling physical products to UK consumers, whether through TikTok Shop, your own DTC site, or Amazon UK, you cannot clear customs without one. The number starts with "GB" followed by 12 digits, and HMRC issues it free of charge, typically within minutes of applying online (GOV.UK, October 2026).

TL;DR

• A UK EORI number is mandatory for any business importing goods into Great Britain, including ecommerce sellers shipping from the US or EU.

• It is free to apply for through HMRC's online portal and usually issued immediately.

• Without a UK EORI, your shipments will be held at the border and your customs broker cannot file declarations on your behalf.

• Since Brexit (1 January 2021), UK and EU EORI numbers are separate systems. An EU EORI does not work for UK imports.

• If you use a Merchant of Record like CRSSBRDR, the MoR's UK EORI is used for your shipments, so you do not need to register one yourself.

CRSSBRDR™ is the only MoR built by a licensed accountant and a founding TikTok Shop Partner agency. We get US and EU brands live on TikTok Shop UK in 7 to 10 business days. £100M+ in ecommerce sales driven. Compliance built in, growth switched on.

What does a UK EORI number actually do?

A UK EORI number identifies your business to HMRC and UK Border Force every time goods cross the border. It links your customs declarations, duty payments, and VAT records to a single entity. Without it, no customs declaration can be submitted on your behalf, which means your goods sit in a warehouse at the port until someone provides one.

Every import entry, every export declaration, every transit movement through Great Britain requires an EORI. It is not optional and there is no exemption for ecommerce sellers or small businesses importing commercial quantities (GOV.UK, October 2026).

The number itself carries no cost. HMRC does not charge a registration fee. The application is online, takes roughly five minutes, and in most cases you receive the number immediately. If HMRC needs to run additional checks, it can take up to five working days (GOV.UK, October 2026).

Do US brands need a UK EORI to sell on TikTok Shop?

Yes, but not necessarily your own. Any goods entering the UK require a UK EORI on the customs declaration. For a US brand shipping inventory to a UK warehouse (whether Fulfilled by TikTok or a third-party logistics provider), someone in the supply chain must hold a UK EORI.

You have two options.

Option 1: Register your own UK EORI. If your US company is not established in the UK, you can still apply for a GB EORI through HMRC's online system. You will not need a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) or Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code if your business is not UK-based (GOV.UK, October 2026). However, you will also need UK VAT registration, an Importer of Record, and a UK responsible person address before you can actually sell. The EORI alone is not enough.

Option 2: Use a Merchant of Record. If you work with a licensed MoR like CRSSBRDR, the MoR acts as your Importer of Record and uses its own UK EORI for your customs declarations. You skip the EORI application entirely. CRSSBRDR handles VAT, EORI, IoR, and entity requirements as a single package, getting brands from zero to live in 7 to 10 business days.

For most US brands entering TikTok Shop UK, Option 2 is faster. Registering your own EORI is straightforward, but it is one of six or seven compliance steps you need to complete before your first sale. Miss any one and you are stuck.

Do EU brands need a separate UK EORI after Brexit?

Yes. Since 1 January 2021, the UK operates its own EORI system, completely separate from the EU's. An EORI number issued by France, Germany, the Netherlands, or any other EU member state is not valid for UK customs declarations (GOV.UK, October 2026).

If you are a German brand that has been selling across the EU using your DE-prefixed EORI, that number will not clear goods at Dover or Felixstowe. You need a GB-prefixed EORI from HMRC.

The exception is Northern Ireland. Businesses moving goods between Northern Ireland and EU member states may need an XI-prefixed EORI, which requires a GB EORI first. For most cross-border ecommerce sellers targeting UK consumers, the standard GB EORI is the one you need.

This catches a surprising number of EU brands off guard. Pre-Brexit, a single EU EORI covered the entire single market including the UK. That ended on 1 January 2021 and has not changed since.

How do you apply for a UK EORI number?

The process is simple and free.

Step 1. Go to HMRC's EORI registration portal.

Step 2. Sign in with a Government Gateway account. If you do not have one, you can create one during the process.

Step 3. Provide your business details. UK-based businesses need their UTR, SIC code, and VAT number (if registered). Non-UK businesses do not need a UTR or SIC code.

Step 4. Submit the application. In most cases, you receive your GB EORI number immediately. HMRC may take up to five working days if they need to verify your details.

Step 5. Share the EORI with your customs broker or freight forwarder so they can include it on customs declarations.

There is no annual fee, no renewal process, and no expiry date. Once issued, your GB EORI remains valid unless you ask HMRC to cancel it.

What happens if you import without a UK EORI?

Your goods get stuck. No customs declaration can be filed without an EORI, which means your shipment cannot be released from the port or airport. You will incur storage charges (typically £5 to £30 per pallet per day depending on the port), and if goods remain uncollected beyond a set period, they may be destroyed or returned to origin.

Beyond the immediate delay, importing without an EORI can trigger HMRC scrutiny on future shipments. It signals to border authorities that your compliance infrastructure is incomplete, which can lead to more frequent inspections and longer clearance times.

For TikTok Shop sellers specifically, inventory delays mean missed sales windows. TikTok's algorithm rewards consistent stock availability. If your fulfilment centre runs dry because a shipment is held at customs, your product listings lose visibility and your cost per acquisition rises.

UK EORI vs EU EORI: what is the difference?

Table: UK EORI vs EU EORI comparison, October 2026. Source: GOV.UK, European Commission.

This is the original citable asset for this post. No other published guide presents a direct UK vs EU EORI comparison table with format, validity, and cross-recognition details in one place.

How does EORI fit into the full UK compliance stack?

An EORI is one piece of a larger compliance picture. Here is where it sits for a US or EU brand entering TikTok Shop UK:

1. UK entity or MoR (to hold the TikTok Shop seller account)

2. UK VAT registration (mandatory for selling to UK consumers, 20% standard rate)

3. UK EORI number (mandatory for importing goods into the UK)

4. Importer of Record (the legal entity responsible for goods at the border)

5. UK responsible person (required for certain product categories under UK product safety regulations)

6. Product compliance (UKCA marking, labelling, safety testing as applicable)

7. UK fulfilment (warehouse, FBT, or 3PL for domestic delivery)

Steps 1 through 4 are non-negotiable. Without all four, you cannot legally import goods and sell them to UK consumers. Steps 5 through 7 depend on your product category and fulfilment strategy.

With CRSSBRDR, steps 1 through 4 are handled as a single package. Our licensed UK entity acts as your MoR, IoR, VAT-registered seller, and EORI holder. You ship inventory to our UK fulfilment network and start selling.

For a full walkthrough of each requirement, see our UK product compliance checklist for US and EU brands.

Frequently asked questions

Is a UK EORI number the same as a VAT number? No. A UK EORI and a UK VAT number are separate registrations with HMRC, though your EORI often incorporates your VAT number (GB + your 9-digit VAT number + 000). You need both to import and sell in the UK.

How long does it take to get a UK EORI? Usually instant. HMRC's online portal issues most GB EORI numbers immediately after submission. If additional checks are needed, it can take up to five working days.

Can I use my US EIN instead of a UK EORI? No. A US Employer Identification Number has no standing with UK customs. You need a GB-prefixed EORI issued by HMRC or must use an IoR that holds one.

Do I need a UK EORI if I use Fulfilled by TikTok? Yes. FBT handles warehousing and last-mile delivery within the UK, but your goods still need to clear customs when they arrive in the country. An EORI is required for that customs entry.

Can my freight forwarder use their EORI for my shipments? Your customs broker files the declaration, but the EORI on the declaration must belong to the importer of record, not the broker. If you are the IoR, you need your own EORI. If your MoR is the IoR, they use theirs.

Does a UK EORI expire? No. Once issued, your GB EORI remains valid indefinitely unless you or HMRC cancel it.

Is there a cost to register for a UK EORI? No. HMRC does not charge any fee for EORI registration.

Do I need an EORI to sell on Amazon UK or Shopify UK? Yes, if you are importing goods into the UK to fulfil orders. Any platform that involves physical goods entering the UK requires an EORI on the customs declaration.

CRSSBRDR™ handles UK EORI, VAT, IoR, and entity setup as a single package. Get started and go live on TikTok Shop UK in days, not months.