EU VAT guide
EU VAT number format
EU VAT numbers follow country-specific formats. Format checks help catch obvious input mistakes before querying VIES.
Format vs validation
Format check
A format check only confirms that a VAT number looks plausible for the selected country.
VIES validation
VIES validation is a live upstream check that asks whether the number is currently registered for intra-EU VAT purposes.
Practical input rules
- Country prefix and separators
Use the two-letter country prefix once, remove spaces, and avoid adding punctuation unless a local official source explicitly requires it.
- Greece: EL in VIES
For Greece, VIES uses the EL country code even though Greece's ISO country code is GR.
Validating VAT numbers at volume?
Join the batch/API list for CSV validation, retries, audit exports, and developer access.
Related VIES guides
- VAT number format checkCheck whether a VAT number format looks valid before running a VIES lookup.
- VIES VAT number validation: name and address resultsVIES VAT number validation may return a company's registered name and address. Learn why fields can be blank and how to read the result.
- Batch VAT validationHow batch EU VAT validation should handle VIES retries, evidence, and privacy.
- VAT validation for invoicesWhen to validate VAT numbers before issuing cross-border EU invoices.
- Reverse charge VAT number checkUse VIES as part of a reverse-charge VAT number check workflow.
- Keep VIES validation recordsWhy finance teams keep evidence of EU VAT number validations.