Do I need a company to import into 
France, and where is the official list of customs representatives? in detail
A foreigner can form a company in France without living there, and you apply for an EORI number through French customs (SOPRANO) before importing; no public list of registered customs representatives (RDE) 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 France who are thinking of setting up a French 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, including Chinese nationals, can also form a company in France. Service-Public says: "Un étranger peut créer une entreprise en France sans y résider" (a foreigner can create a company in France without living there). If you will run the business in France yourself, you may also need a residence permit. Common forms are SAS and SARL.
| Step | What the official page says | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare | Domiciliation (registered address), deposit of share capital, naming the manager, writing the statutes, publishing a legal notice | |
| Register | "une demande d'immatriculation de l'entreprise doit être transmise sur le site internet du guichet des formalités des entreprises" | |
| Listing | "l'entreprise est automatiquement inscrite au répertoire national des entreprises (RNE), ainsi qu'au RCS, le cas échéant" | |
| Manager residence | "Il est possible de diriger une société en France [...] sans résider en France." | |
| Company numbers | SIREN identifies the company and must appear on invoices and quotes. SIRET identifies the business site. An APE activity code is also given |
Before you can import
You need an EORI number. French customs' SOPRANO guide says: "First create an account on douane.gouv.fr... Then, click on EORI... Choose OEA/RDE/EORI in the list."
- A company registered in France gives its SIRET number.
- A company not registered in France attaches "a document proving the existence of your company (certificate of incorporation)". It can choose the status "société étrangère non immatriculée au RCS".
Source: douane.gouv.fr, SOPRANO EORI step-by-step (PDF). The guide is undated.
Official register of customs brokers
In France a customs representative must be a registered customs representative (RDE, représentant en douane enregistré). Customs says: "À partir du 1er janvier 2018, tous les opérateurs qui souhaitent agir en représentation en douane directe ou indirecte doivent être préalablement enregistrés et remplir les conditions fixées par l'arrêté." Page: douane.gouv.fr, RDE.
Result of the search: that page explains how to register, but no public, searchable list of RDEs was found. So we cannot say which fields (name, licence number, phone, email) such a list would show. None can be assumed.
The only public EU-level search the source found is the European Commission AEO database: AEO consultation, with the
AEO overview (updated 3 June 2026). It says it holds "Information on companies with AEO status that are established in the EU". You can search by holder name, issuing country and authorisation type. AEO is a customs trust certificate, not a broker licence. We did not check the fields in the results.
What to do yourself
- Prepare the address, share capital, manager and statutes, then file the registration on the business formalities portal.
- Note the SIREN and SIRET numbers you receive.
- Create an account on douane.gouv.fr and apply for the EORI number through SOPRANO.
- If you hire a customs representative, ask them to confirm in writing that they are a registered RDE.
When to use a licensed professional
Acting as a customs representative for others, directly or indirectly, requires prior registration as an RDE. How VAT applies to you depends on your own tax status, so ask a tax professional for that.
Still uncertain
- No public RDE list was found. Someone should confirm whether one exists.
- We did not check the fields in AEO database results.
- Most Service-Public and customs 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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