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
A format check only confirms that a VAT number looks plausible for the selected country.
VIES validation is a live upstream check that asks whether the number is currently registered for intra-EU VAT purposes.
Practical input rules
Use the two-letter country prefix once, remove spaces, and avoid adding punctuation unless a local official source explicitly requires it.
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
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- VIES errors explainedUnderstand common VIES errors such as MS_UNAVAILABLE, TIMEOUT, and SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE.
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- Is VIES down?Check whether the VIES gateway appears reachable and learn what VIES downtime means.