VAT Number Validator
Validate an EU VAT number's format. Detects the 2-letter country prefix and checks the national number against that country's expected structure, showing the country, country code and expected format. Structural check only — it does not contact the EU VIES registry.
Input
Include the 2-letter country code. Spaces, dots and hyphens are ignored. Checks format only — validation runs entirely in your browser.
Output
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Guides
Check whether an EU VAT number is written in the correct format. Paste a VAT number that starts with its 2-letter country code — the validator detects the country, checks the national number against that country's expected structure, and reports whether the format is valid along with the country, country code and the format it expected.
How to use it
- Type or paste a VAT number, including the country prefix (for example
DE123456789,ATU12345678orFR12345678901). - The result appears instantly. Spaces, dots and hyphens are ignored, so you can paste the number in whatever grouping you have it.
- Read off the country, country code and expected format. When the format is wrong, the tool tells you the structure that country's VAT number should follow.
What it checks (and what it doesn't)
This is a format-only validator. It confirms the country prefix is a recognised EU member (plus the UK and Northern Ireland) and that the digits and letters after the prefix match the length and shape that country uses. It does not verify the number's internal check digit, and it does not contact the EU VIES registry to confirm the business actually exists — that would require a live network lookup. Use this to catch typos and malformed numbers before you send them somewhere that does a full registry check.
Supported countries
Format rules are included for all 27 EU member states and the UK: Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece (prefix EL, also accepts GR), Hungary, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom (GB) and
Northern Ireland (XI).
Which prefix does Greece use?
On VAT numbers Greece uses the prefix EL, not its ISO country code GR. This
tool accepts either — a number entered as GR… is treated as EL….
Why is Austria written as ATU?
Austrian VAT numbers always begin with the letter U after the AT country
code (for example ATU12345678), so an ATU… prefix is recognised as Austria
automatically.
Privacy
Everything runs in your browser. The VAT number you enter is never uploaded or stored anywhere.