Italy has introduced a new rule for household goods (HHGs) shipments entering, leaving, or passing through the country.
FIDI Italy has advised its members that, since December 1, 2024, shippers and importers must provide customs with a valid, registered Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number. The new requirement, which was only announced in mid-November, applies even to individuals who are not considered to be ‘economic operators’.
Similar requirements were introduced across the EU several years ago. However, Italian customs had previously been accepting customers’ Italian fiscal code (codice fiscale) as an equivalent for non-commercial operations involving household goods. Under the new rules, the fiscal code must be prefixed with ‘IT’ and validated by customs, too.
The new rules aim to give EU customs authorities easy and reliable access to operators’ registration and identification data. A centralised electronic system has been developed to store and exchange EORI data across EU member states.
The aim of the EORI requirement
This change ensures that EU customs authorities have easy and reliable access to operators’ registration and identification data. To achieve this, a centralised electronic system has been developed to store and exchange EORI data across EU member states.
How to get an EORI number
Customers can apply for an EORI number at the nearest customs office in their area of residence. However, this process might not be straightforward, and some offices may experience delays due to increased applications.
Alternatively, you should seek assistance from your Italian moving partner. The process typically involves:
- Completing an application form.
- Granting the Italian mover power of attorney to apply for and obtain the EORI on the customer’s behalf.
This service may incur additional costs, which should be confirmed directly with the partner.
Processing time
The time required to process EORI applications varies widely. While some cases may be resolved in one or two days, others could take at least one working week or longer, depending on the workload at customs offices.
Since its implementation, an EORI code has only been required for export. It remains unclear whether this will also be adopted for the import in the near future.
