EORI: What Changes in 2026 and How to Prepare for the Transition

Customeo

March 16, 2026

France is progressively aligning its customs identification system with the European standard, and 2026 marks a decisive acceleration. Since November 2023, the EORI number — the identifier every economic operator uses for customs formalities — is moving from a SIRET-based format to a SIREN-based format. Old identifiers will be deactivated during the year and only the new format will be accepted by customs systems. For companies that import or export, it is better to anticipate now rather than face the migration at the last moment.

What is the EORI Number and Why is it Changing?

The EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification) number is a unique identifier assigned to each economic operator carrying out customs operations within the EU. Established by Regulation EC 312/2009 and governed by the Union Customs Code, it allows customs administrations to reliably identify companies in import, export or transit declarations.

In Europe, the logic has always been simple: one EORI number per legal entity. But France was an exception — until recently, each establishment of the same company had its own EORI based on its 14-digit SIRET number, meaning a company with five warehouses could have five different customs identifiers. The European Commission pushed France to align with the standard, resulting in the transition to a single EORI per company based on the SIREN.

From SIRET to SIREN: What Exactly Changes?

The old EORI format consisted of the prefix "FR" followed by 14 SIRET digits. The new format uses the prefix "FR" followed by 9 SIREN digits (the company's registered office number). A multi-site company will now have only one customs identifier regardless of the number of establishments, eliminating the management of multiple EORIs for the same group.

This transition is part of a broader movement. The DGDDI is preparing integration with the European CDS (Customs Decision System) portal, which will eventually centralise the 22 Annex A customs authorisations, while the national SOPRANO portal continues to manage French-specific authorisations.

The EORI Transition Timeline in 2026

Since 5 April 2023: companies can request their new EORI SIREN via the SOPRANO portal
As of 1 January 2026: EORI SIREN has become the reference format for customs declarations
DELTA I/E and national applications continue to accept old EORI SIRET numbers for a transitional period whose duration remains to be specified
DELTA H7, the e-commerce system, already exclusively requires EORI SIREN
SIRET-based EORIs will be deactivated during the second half of 2026, at a date the DGDDI will communicate in advance

Who Is Concerned?

Every company established in France carrying out customs operations is concerned: importers, exporters, transit operators, customs authorisation applicants. For AEO-certified companies, the good news is they already have an EORI SIREN and need no further action. The most sensitive case remains multi-establishment companies: moving from several EORI SIRETs to a single EORI SIREN means revising declarative parameters in information systems, updating ERP master data, and coordinating all logistics sites to ensure no warehouse is still sending the old identifier.

How to Obtain Your New EORI SIREN

The process is free and entirely digital: check if you already have an EORI SIREN via the European Commission's EORI database, if not apply on the SOPRANO portal, and integrate the new number into your declarative systems once obtained. Beware of third-party sites offering to obtain an EORI number for a fee — the DGDDI regularly reminds operators that this process is completely free via the official service.

Risks of Not Anticipating the Transition

The first risk is pure declaration rejection: when DELTA I/E stops accepting EORI SIRETs, any declaration using the old format will be rejected — no clearance, no cargo release. For a company with regular flows, this means cascading delays, unexpected storage costs and disruption throughout the supply chain.

There is also a link to CBAM: since 1 January 2026, the importer's EORI must be linked to a valid CBAM authorisation to import certain products (steel, aluminium, cement). If your customs identifier is not up to date, this link cannot be made.

How Customeo Supports Clients Through This Transition

Customeo's teams of registered customs representatives (RDE) handle identifier updates in declarative flows. The platform provides real-time visibility of all declarations, immediately identifying any anomaly linked to an obsolete EORI. Our experts verify your declarative parameters and guide you through the process before the definitive migration.

Frequently Asked Questions about EORI 2026

Is my old EORI SIRET still valid in 2026?

Yes, temporarily. DELTA I/E and national applications still accept EORI SIRETs from 1 January 2026, but this tolerance will end in the second half of 2026. DELTA H7 (e-commerce) already exclusively requires EORI SIREN.

Do AEO companies need to make a new request?

No. AEO-certified companies already have an EORI based on their SIREN. No further action is required.

How much does obtaining an EORI SIREN cost?

It is completely free. The application is made online via the SOPRANO portal of French customs. Beware of third-party sites that charge for this service.

What happens if I don’t complete the EORI transition in time?

Your customs declarations will be rejected by the DELTA I/E system once the tolerance period ends. This will block your import and export operations until your identifier is regularised.

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