Does this confirm the VAT number is registered?

No. It only checks the structural format (prefix, length, character pattern). To confirm a number is registered and active, use the official EU VIES service. This tool performs no network lookup.

Why does Greece use the prefix EL instead of GR?

For VAT purposes the EU uses EL as the country code for Greece, even though its ISO country code is GR. A Greek VAT number entered with GR will not be recognised — use EL followed by 9 digits.

What does an EU VAT number look like by country?

It is always a 2-letter country prefix plus a body that varies by state — for example Germany is 9 digits (DE123456789), Austria is U plus 8 digits (ATU12345678), the Netherlands is 9 digits, a B, then 2 digits, and Italy is 11 digits. The tool's reference list shows all 27 patterns.

Why did my correctly registered VAT number fail the format check?

The most common reasons are a missing country prefix, using GR instead of EL for Greece, or extra characters. This tool only checks structure, so a real number with the wrong format on screen will fail until the prefix and length are corrected.

How accurate is the format check?

The patterns follow the official per-member-state VAT formats. A passing result means the number is well-formed; note that Greece uses the prefix EL (not GR) and some countries accept variable lengths.

Is my VAT number sent anywhere?

No. This validator is privacy-first — every check runs locally in your browser and the number never leaves your device.

EU VAT Number Validator

EU VAT number validator

When you trade across the EU you need to put the right VAT number on invoices, and the format differs in every member state. This tool checks the structure of a VAT number — the country prefix, expected length and character pattern — for all 27 EU countries, so you can catch a malformed number before it reaches an invoice or a VIES lookup. It is ideal for finance teams, e-commerce checkout validation, and developers.

How it works

The validator reads the 2-letter country prefix, looks up that member state’s documented rule, and tests the body (everything after the prefix) against a precise pattern. For example:

DE (Germany) — exactly 9 digits.
AT (Austria) — U followed by 8 digits.
NL (Netherlands) — 9 digits, then B, then 2 digits.
FR (France) — 2 control characters then 9 digits.
EL (Greece) — 9 digits, using the prefix EL, not GR.

A passing result means the number is well-formed. The tool deliberately performs no VIES network call, so it cannot tell you whether the number is actually registered.

Example

Enter DE123456789:

Prefix DE → Germany, rule “9 digits”.
Body 123456789 is exactly 9 digits → Valid format.

Enter GR123456789 and it is rejected, because Greek VAT numbers use the prefix EL.

Selected EU VAT formats (body after the prefix)

Country	Prefix	Format
Germany	DE	9 digits
France	FR	2 chars + 9 digits
Italy	IT	11 digits
Spain	ES	8 chars + 1 control
Netherlands	NL	9 digits + B + 2 digits
Austria	AT	U + 8 digits
Poland	PL	10 digits
Greece	EL	9 digits

Privacy: every check runs locally in your browser and the number never leaves your device. To confirm a number is genuinely registered, use the official EU VIES service.