# EU VIES API

> EU VIES returns VAT number validity and registered business details as a workflow and API.

EU VIES checks an EU VAT number and returns its validity, registered name, and address when available. Validate vat number needs a VAT number and may need a country when the number lacks a prefix.

- Page: https://fous.com/workflows/eu-vies
- Handle: `@eu-vies`
- Category: [Government](https://fous.com/workflows/category/government)
- Source website: https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with EU VIES.

## Methods

### Validate vat number

Operation `validate_vat_number`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

Check an EU VAT number in VIES and return its validity, registered name and address when available. Country services may temporarily be unavailable.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `country` | string | no | `"Ireland"` | Country name or two-letter VAT code when the number has no prefix; for example Ireland or IE. |
| `vat_number` | string | yes | `"IE6388047V"` | VAT number as shown on an invoice, with or without country prefix, spaces, dots or dashes; for example IE6388047V. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "vat_number"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "country": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Country name or two-letter VAT code when the number has no prefix; for example Ireland or IE.",
      "examples": [
        "Ireland",
        "Germany"
      ]
    },
    "vat_number": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "VAT number as shown on an invoice, with or without country prefix, spaces, dots or dashes; for example IE6388047V.",
      "examples": [
        "IE6388047V",
        "6388047V",
        "000000000"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "vat_number": "IE6388047V"
    },
    {
      "country": "Ireland",
      "vat_number": "6388047V"
    },
    {
      "country": "Germany",
      "vat_number": "000000000"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `note` | string or null | `"The country’s VAT service is currently unavailable. Please try again later."` | Reason the check could not be completed, if any. |
| `valid` | boolean or null | `true` | Whether VIES confirms this VAT number; null if validation could not be completed. |
| `address` | string or null | `"3RD FLOOR, GORDON HOUSE, BARROW STREET, DUBLIN 4"` | Registered address if made available by the country. |
| `country` | string | `"Ireland"` | Country where the VAT number is registered. |
| `page_url` | string | `"https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/"` | European Commission VIES validation page. |
| `checked_at` | string | `"2026-09-28T23:02:28.713000+00:00"` | Time of the VIES check with timezone. |
| `vat_number` | string | `"IE6388047V"` | VAT number without punctuation, including the country prefix. |
| `registered_name` | string or null | `"GOOGLE IRELAND LIMITED"` | Registered name if made available by the country. |
| `raw_service_status` | string | `"VALID"` | Original VIES service status. |
| `request_identifier` | string or null |  | VIES request identifier when issued. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "vat_number": "IE6388047V"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "note": null,
  "valid": true,
  "address": "3RD FLOOR, GORDON HOUSE, BARROW STREET, DUBLIN 4",
  "country": "Ireland",
  "page_url": "https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/",
  "checked_at": "2026-09-28T23:02:28.713000+00:00",
  "vat_number": "IE6388047V",
  "registered_name": "GOOGLE IRELAND LIMITED",
  "raw_service_status": "VALID",
  "request_identifier": null
}
```

## Quick start

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@eu-vies",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "validate_vat_number",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "vat_number": "IE6388047V"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@eu-vies\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"validate_vat_number\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"vat_number\": \"IE6388047V\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=120) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@eu-vies",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "validate_vat_number",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "vat_number": "IE6388047V"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@eu-vies","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## Use cases

- Check VAT numbers supplied by customers
- Confirm VAT details before processing invoices
- Match registered business names to customer records
- Review the registered address associated with a VAT number

## FAQ

### Is Fous affiliated with EU VIES?

No. Fous is not affiliated with EU VIES. This workflow reads the public ec.europa.eu website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. With pay-as-you-go, a credit costs 1¢; monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a EU VIES account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from ec.europa.eu when you run it; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check on Sep 29, 2026.

### Is this EU VAT number valid?

Validate vat number checks the number in VIES and returns whether it is confirmed as valid, or a note if the check could not be completed.

### What business name is registered to this VAT number?

Validate vat number returns the registered name when the country makes it available.

### What address is registered to this VAT number?

Validate vat number returns the registered address when the country makes it available.

## Related

- [Annuaire des Entreprises API](https://fous.com/workflows/annuaire-des-entreprises.md): French government directory of public company registrations.
- [Wise API](https://fous.com/workflows/wise.md): Wise provides current mid-market exchange rates, optional daily rate history, published transfer cost comparisons and delivery estimates, and bank SWIFT/BIC codes and branch locations when available.
- [IRS API](https://fous.com/workflows/irs.md): IRS provides tax information and public organization records, including charity status and current-directory forms, instructions, and publications with revision and posting dates.
- [ABN Lookup API](https://fous.com/workflows/abn-lookup.md): Search Australian businesses by name or ABN and check public registration details.
- [EU Sanctions Map API](https://fous.com/workflows/eu-sanctions-map.md): EU Sanctions Map returns regimes, consolidated financial listings, name matches and linked acts, plus country measures and available counts; linked acts may be later amendments.
- [Vinted API](https://fous.com/workflows/vinted.md): Search public second-hand listings on Vinted country sites.
- [Companies House API](https://fous.com/workflows/companies-house.md): Companies House returns UK public-register company details, officers, people with significant control and recent filings; records may be incomplete, and ceased entries are optional.
- [Eurostat API](https://fous.com/workflows/eurostat.md): Official European statistics from Eurostat.
- [All Government workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/government)