VAT Number Validator
Validate any EU VAT number in two steps — format check against the country pattern, then a live VIES lookup that confirms the number is registered and returns the company behind it.
Format validation vs. VIES validation
“Validating” a VAT number means two different things. This tool does both, in order.
1. Format check (syntax)
Offline and instant. Confirms the number has the correct shape for its country — prefix, length, and check digits. Catches typos before you waste a lookup, but a well-formed number can still be fake.
2. VIES validation (existence)
Queries the official European Commission VIES database in real time. Confirms the number is actually registered and active, and returns the company name and address on file with the national tax authority.
For compliance — for example before applying the B2B reverse charge on a cross-border sale — you need VIES validation, not just a format check. A format check alone never proves a VAT number is real.
What a validation returns
Validity status
Whether the VAT number is currently registered and active in VIES.
Company name & address
The registered trader details exactly as held by the national tax authority.
VAT rates
Standard, reduced, super-reduced, and parking rates for the country.
Consultation number (API)
Audit-grade proof the check was performed, returned by the vatnode API when you supply your own VAT details.
Validate VAT numbers programmatically
This validator is powered by the vatnode API. Add VAT validation to your invoicing, checkout, or onboarding flow with a single call — including the VIES consultation number for audit trails.
VAT number validator — FAQ
What does the VAT number validator check?
Two things. First, the format: the number is matched against the official syntax for its country (length, prefix, check digits). Second, validity: the number is looked up in real time against VIES, the European Commission database, to confirm it is registered and currently active. A number can be the right format but not exist in VIES — only a VIES lookup proves it is real.
Which countries are supported?
All 27 EU member states plus Northern Ireland (XI), which VIES treats as an EU member for VAT purposes. Format checks are also available for several non-EU European countries, but live VIES validation is EU-only — Great Britain (GB), Norway, and Switzerland are out of scope because they are not in VIES.
Is it free, and do I need an account?
The validator on this page is free and requires no account. If you need to validate VAT numbers programmatically — in invoicing, checkout, or onboarding — the vatnode API offers a free tier with a monthly request quota.
What information is returned for a valid VAT number?
A successful VIES validation returns the registration status (valid or invalid), the registered company name and address as held by the national tax authority, and the current VAT rates for that country. The vatnode API additionally returns a VIES consultation number — audit-grade proof that the check was performed — when you supply your own VAT details.
What is the difference between format validation and VIES validation?
Format validation is offline and instant: it only confirms the number has the correct shape for its country. VIES validation queries the live EU database and confirms the number actually exists and is active. For compliance — for example, before applying the B2B reverse charge — you need VIES validation, not just a format check.