Germany – Online obligation from 1 October 2026 for EORI forms

Starting from 1st October 2026, businesses will be required to apply for, change, or cancel their EORI numbers exclusively online. Paper forms will no longer be accepted.

An EORI (Economic Operators’ Registration and Identification) number is an ID code used by customs authorities across the European Union to identify businesses and track shipments. If your company imports or exports goods, you need an EORI number to clear customs.

Currently, businesses can fill out paper forms or send PDFs to the German customs office (General Customs Directorate). Starting 1st October 2026, this changes and under Article 6 of the Union Customs Code (UCC), companies will have to process all EORI tasks digitally via the official Portal. The old paper forms in the 0870 series will only be allowed in rare emergency situations where the digital portal goes down.