Importing from China to Greece: EORI registration
For a business in Greece, EORI registration is the starting gate for importing from China. Confirm it with your own customs broker, then agree product checks, shipment documents and a quote to your Greek port. Your broker confirms the final entry. China-side sourcing and inspections are coordinated by Cambridge China Bridge.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for businesses outside the UK
Start with the importing business’s registration
An EORI number is mandatory for businesses importing into the EU. AADE’s guidance specifies that a business established in Greece deals with the customs authority responsible for its place of establishment. Ask your own Greek customs broker to check your registration before you commit to production, using the details of the business that will import the goods.
Registration and product conformity are separate checks. CE marking is required only for products covered by harmonised EU rules that specifically mandate it. Give your adviser the product specification and intended use, then agree the testing, label artwork and instructions before printing. The Italy guide explains the shared EU starting point; establish the Greek arrangements with your own broker.
Define exactly what a quote to your Greek port covers
Tell us your destination port, specification, quantities and packing needs. We can coordinate Chinese factory sourcing through our UK company and quote to your Greek port. Record the delivery term, named port, freight and insurance arrangements, and any destination charges included. Ask your broker to estimate clearance and onward transport separately.
For an island delivery or a route involving another port, ask where the quoted journey ends and who books the remaining transport. Our overseas buying guide covers the general service. Use the buy-through-UK-company service to agree the seller, payment recipient and scope of our work.
Agree who supplies each shipment document
For a direct factory sale, the Chinese factory supplies the commercial invoice and packing list. We collect and cross-check the drafts against your order: product descriptions, buyer and seller details, quantities, carton counts and weights. If Cambridge China Bridge sells you the goods, agree the commercial invoice arrangement with us and your broker before dispatch.
Ask your broker whether this shipment needs a certificate of origin and what form it should take; we coordinate its preparation in China when agreed. We also collect relevant factory test reports and arrange agreed additional testing. Match each report to the actual model, materials and configuration. Send the draft document pack to your broker while corrections can still be made.
Give your own broker a clear arrival brief
Appoint your own Greek customs broker to review the documents, prepare the import entry and confirm classification, customs value, duties, import VAT and any product-specific permissions. Ask for its document checklist before shipment. The buyer’s own customs broker confirms the final entry.
Agree who answers customs queries, arranges payments, coordinates release with the carrier and books delivery after clearance. Keep the final invoice, packing list, transport document and product evidence together. If comparing destinations, the Turkey guide covers that market’s separate arrangements; obtain Greek clearance instructions for this order.
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Check the supplier and inspect before shipment
Our own staff in China check the supplier’s identity, actual production site, equipment and ability to make your specification. Agree an approved sample, written acceptance criteria and permission rules for material or component changes. Ask for findings and supporting photographs so you can decide whether to proceed with the factory.
Before shipment, we inspect the agreed scope of finished goods against the sample and specification, including function, dimensions, finish, packing and approved labels. Record defects, agree corrections and recheck before shipment approval. Keep inspection findings alongside the laboratory reports and broker’s document review. For pricing, factory audits and inspections are usually included in the quote; complex checks that need a third party are charged separately and agreed in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an EORI number to import from China to Greece?
Yes, for business imports. Have your Greek broker check the importing business’s EORI status before ordering and identify the customs authority responsible for its establishment.
Can I buy through a UK company and ship directly to Greece?
Yes. Agree a China-to-Greece shipment and a quote naming your Greek port. Confirm the seller, delivery term and included charges, then appoint your own broker for arrival clearance.
Which documents should my Chinese factory provide?
Request its commercial invoice and packing list for a factory sale, plus relevant test reports. Confirm any certificate of origin with your broker; we coordinate the agreed pack and check it against the order.
Does every product imported into Greece need CE marking?
Only products within EU rules that specifically require CE marking need it. Have the exact model and intended use assessed before approving tests, packaging or production.
Sources
Buying from China for a business outside the UK? China sourcing agent for businesses outside the UK →