INVALID_INPUT VIES error
INVALID_INPUT usually means the submitted country code or VAT number cannot be accepted by the VIES service.
INVALID_INPUT usually means the submitted country code or VAT number cannot be accepted by the VIES service.
Common causes
The VAT number may include an unsupported country code, extra spaces, punctuation, or characters that are not part of the local VAT format.
Some users paste the full VAT ID into the number field after already selecting the country code.
Before retrying
Remove spaces and separators, confirm the country code, and check the expected format for that member state.
If the format looks correct but VIES still rejects it, ask the customer to confirm the VAT ID from an official document.
Validating VAT numbers at volume?
Join the batch/API list for CSV validation, retries, audit exports, and developer access.
Related VIES guides
- EU VAT number formatCountry-by-country basics for EU VAT number formats before a VIES check.
- VAT number format checkCheck whether a VAT number format looks valid before running a VIES lookup.
- VIES name and address resultsWhy VIES sometimes returns a company name and address and sometimes does not.
- 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.