Do I need a company to import into 
Spain, and where is the official list of customs representatives? in detail
Foreigners can form a Spanish limited company (SL) after getting an NIE, and all economic operators need an EORI number (ES plus the NIF) to deal with customs; no public online register of customs representatives was found. The EU AEO database can be searched, but it is not a broker licence list.
- Applies to
- Overseas buyers importing small shipments from China into Spain (EU customs territory) who are thinking of setting up a Spanish company, or who want to check a customs representative.
Dear friend,
Welcome! This letter sets out what you need to know, plainly and in order.
Setting up a company
Foreigners can also form a company in Spain. The official start-up platform lists the forms that can be created through the CIRCE system: "Empresario individual (Autónomo); Comunidad de Bienes; Sociedad Civil; Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (SRL)." The most common company form is the SL/SRL. Foreigners use the same electronic process, but must first get a foreigner ID number (NIE).
| Step | What the official page says | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Foreigner ID | "Debe de obtener el Número de Identificación de ciudadano extranjero comunitario (NIE) y realizar la inscripción en el Registro de Extranjeros." | |
| Company name | "La solicitud se realiza ante el Registro Mercantil Central" (name request, online) | |
| One-stop set-up | The DUE (Documento Único Electrónico) "recoge todos los datos necesarios para la constitución y puesta en marcha de una empresa" (holds all data needed to set up a company). It is filed through a PAE and CIRCE, then the company is entered in the Registro Mercantil | |
| Capital | For an SL the share capital must be fully paid in from the start: "el Capital Social debe estar totalmente desembolsado desde su origen" |
The source found no official requirement that a director be a Spanish resident. The company then gets a NIF (tax ID).
Before you can import
The EORI number is the registration needed for customs. AEAT says it is "un número de identificación, único en el territorio aduanero de la Unión, asignado por una autoridad aduanera a un operador económico" (an ID number, unique in the EU customs territory). "Todos los operadores económicos deben tener un número EORI" (all economic operators must have an EORI number). An AEO certificate is voluntary and is not the same thing.
- The Spanish EORI is ES plus the NIF.
- A business not established in the EU with no Spanish tax matters gets ES+K+11 alphanumeric characters (AEAT page).
Source: AEAT, EORI.
Official register of customs brokers
Spain has a Registro de Representantes Aduaneros (customs representatives register), created by Orden HAP/308/2013 of 26 February 2013. Applications are made through the AEAT electronic office (procedure DC17). Pass lists for the competence exam are published in the BOE and on the AEAT electronic office; the latest the source found is the 23 July 2026 exam call.
Result of the search: no public online lookup for this register was found. So we cannot say which fields (name, licence number, phone, email) it shows. None can be assumed.
The only public EU-level search the source found is the European Commission's AEO database: AEO consultation, with the
AEO overview (updated 3 June 2026). It lets you search by holder name, issuing country and authorisation type. AEO is a customs trust certificate, not a broker licence, and we did not check the fields in the results.
What to do yourself
- Get an NIE and register in the Registro de Extranjeros before setting up the company.
- Request the company name at the Registro Mercantil Central, then file the DUE through a PAE and CIRCE.
- Apply for the EORI number with AEAT.
- If you hire a customs representative, ask them for proof of registration. Do not rely on a public list; none was found.
When to use a licensed professional
Spanish customs representatives are registered with AEAT after passing a competence exam or meeting the legal conditions. Under indirect representation a representative with an EORI acts for you. For notary, tax and customs steps, a professional can help.
Still uncertain
- No public online lookup for the Registro de Representantes Aduaneros was found. It may not exist. Someone should confirm.
- We did not check the fields in AEO database results.
- The Plataforma ONE and AEAT EORI pages carry no date.
- This page is general information from official sources, not legal or tax advice.
Sources for this letter
Wishing you good business,
The mouwise team
Checked 2026-10-26
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