Do You Need an EORI Number to Import from China as an Individual? (UK)

"EORI number" is one of those terms that makes beginners stop. You want to order something from Alibaba, you start reading about UK customs, and suddenly it sounds like you need a company and a customs registration before you can buy anything.

I import from China as a private individual. I have no company. But I should be clear from the start: I live in Portugal, in the EU, and I've never imported into the UK. So I can tell you how my side works, and then, in a separate section, what the UK government says about EORI numbers for individuals.

How I import without a company

My process is simple, and none of it needed a company:

• I buy from the supplier on Alibaba and pay with Trade Assurance, by card.
• The supplier sends the goods to my own shipping agent's address in China. I hired the agent myself, as a private individual.
• The agent checks the goods, sends me photos, and ships them to my home on DDP terms, with taxes and duties already paid.

DDP is the key part. I don't have a company or a customs team, and DDP means I don't have to become a customs expert to get my order home. Customs is handled for me. I explain the whole process in How I Import from China as a Private Individual, and DDP in What Is DDP Shipping?

One more honest detail: I don't only buy for myself. My first order was 50 phone chargers, and I sold them on Vinted and Wallapop. That matters for the EORI question in the UK, as you'll see below.

EORI for UK individuals: general information, not my own experience

This section is not from my own orders. It summarises GOV.UK guidance as of October 2026. It's general information, not legal or tax advice. If you're unsure about your situation, check the linked pages or ask HMRC.

What an EORI number is

EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification number. To import goods into England, Scotland or Wales, the number must start with GB. If you move goods to or from Northern Ireland, you may need one starting with XI. (GOV.UK: import goods into the UK)

When you don't need one

GOV.UK is clear on this. You do not need an EORI number if the goods you're moving are both:

• not controlled goods, and
• for personal use only.

(GOV.UK: who needs an EORI)

So if you're buying something for yourself, and it isn't controlled, GOV.UK says you don't need an EORI number. Some goods need a licence or certificate to import, for example certain medicines, chemicals, plants, animal products and weapons. GOV.UK lists them in step 6 of its import guide, so check there if your product might be one of them.

When you may need one

You may need an EORI number if you move goods between Great Britain and another country, including China. GOV.UK's import guide puts getting a GB EORI number under "get your business ready to import". So if you're buying to resell, even small quantities like my chargers, you're no longer importing "for personal use only", and you should check the EORI guidance properly.

GOV.UK also says you'll need your EORI number if you:

• appoint someone to deal with customs for you and you're established in the UK
• make customs declarations yourself
• use customs systems, such as the Customs Declaration Service

How to get one

You apply online through GOV.UK. For a GB EORI number, you'll need:

• your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)
• your National Insurance number, if you're an individual or a sole trader
• your VAT number and registration date, if you're VAT registered
• your business start date and Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code, which GOV.UK says are in the Companies House register

You'll usually get your GB EORI number immediately. If HMRC needs to make checks, it can take up to 5 working days. (GOV.UK: apply for an EORI number)

Parcels by post or courier

GOV.UK has separate guidance for goods sent to you from abroad by post or courier. It says Royal Mail, Parcelforce or the courier contacts you if there's VAT, duty or a fee to pay. (GOV.UK: tax and duty on goods sent from abroad)

What DDP changes, and what it doesn't

With DDP, your agent or carrier deals with customs and pays the import taxes. That's why I've never had to handle a customs declaration myself.

But DDP doesn't remove the customs declaration. Someone is still named on it. GOV.UK says that when you get someone to deal with customs for you, they need your written instructions, showing whether they act for you directly or indirectly. And you're still responsible for due diligence on your declarations. (GOV.UK: get someone to deal with customs for you)

So before you pay for a DDP shipment to the UK, ask your agent in writing:

1. Whose name and details go on the import declaration? Yours or theirs?
2. Do you need my EORI number? If they say yes, ask why, and check against GOV.UK.
3. Are UK VAT, duty and the carrier's fees all included?

If you do end up with an unexpected courier bill, I explain why it happens and how to challenge it in Why DHL or UPS Sends You a Customs Bill for Alibaba Orders.

A quick checklist

1. Buying for yourself, non-controlled goods? GOV.UK says you don't need an EORI number.
2. Buying to resell? Read the GOV.UK EORI guidance before you order.
3. Using DDP? Ask your agent whose name goes on the declaration.
4. Not sure? Check GOV.UK or ask HMRC. Don't guess.

For the rest of the UK rules, like 20% VAT and the £135 rule, read Importing from China to the UK.

You don't need a company to start importing from China. I don't have one. What you need is to know who handles customs, and to have it confirmed before your goods leave China.