Do I need an EORI for a personal China purchase?
You do not need an EORI for goods that are for personal use only and are not controlled goods. If a courier asks for business details, explain the actual use and ask its customs team to review the request. Cambridge China Bridge helps buyers clarify sourcing paperwork.
Check the purpose of the purchase
GOV.UK says you do not need an EORI when the goods are both for personal use only and not controlled goods. Do not assume the exemption applies simply because you paid personally or used your home address.
Describe what you bought and what you will use it for. If it is stock for resale, equipment for your business or a sample for a commercial project, explain that purpose to the courier rather than describing it as personal use.
Find out which details the courier wants
Ask whether the request concerns an EORI, a company registration number, a VAT number or supporting purchase documents. These are different things. Our guide to which UK number a supplier wants explains the identifiers.
Check the request through the courier’s tracking page or an established contact channel. Ask its customs team whether the shipment has been recorded as a business import and what information it needs to review that classification.
Use a factual reply
Adapt this message only where it is true: “I am receiving this shipment as a private individual for my own personal use. The goods are not for resale or business use. I have no company registration details to provide. Please ask your customs team to review whether the personal-use EORI exemption applies and confirm the documents you need.”
Include the tracking reference, a clear product description and the purchase invoice if requested. Explain any business name or address appearing on the paperwork. Do not invent a company number, borrow another importer’s EORI or enter a placeholder unless the courier explains its procedure.
Escalate a form that does not fit
If the form requires business details you do not have, request manual review by the courier’s customs team. Ask whether it considers the goods controlled, whether it disputes the stated use, or whether its form is simply intended for business customers. Keep the reply with your shipment records.
If you plan to import as a sole trader, ask HMRC or a customs broker which registrations you need. If the purchase is actually for your business, follow our guide to importing as a sole trader. Do not register a company solely to complete an unexplained courier field.
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Separate the EORI question from delivery charges
The personal-use EORI exemption does not mean the purchase is free of VAT. GOV.UK explains that VAT is paid when buying the goods or to the delivery company before receipt. Ask the courier to itemise any requested payment and compare it with your order receipt.
GOV.UK says the parcel or courier company is responsible for taking goods through UK customs. Ask it to confirm what remains outstanding before release. For the wider clearance process, see our UK customs clearance guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an EORI for a personal purchase from China?
No, if the goods are for personal use only and are not controlled goods. If either condition is unclear, describe the goods and their use to the courier’s customs team before relying on the exemption.
Why is my courier asking for company registration details?
Ask whether the shipment has been recorded as a business import or the form is intended for business customers. Request a customs-team review and explain that you have no company details, if that is true.
Can I call business samples a personal purchase?
Describe their actual purpose. If the samples are for a commercial project, tell the courier that. Paying from a personal account does not establish that goods are for personal use only.
Does the EORI exemption mean I pay no VAT?
No. EORI identification and VAT payment are separate questions. VAT may be paid at purchase or to the delivery company before receipt. Compare the courier’s request with your order receipt.