ΑΦΜ (VAT number) validator — Greece

Greece ΑΦΜ (VAT number) validator

Enter a ΑΦΜ (VAT number)

How the ΑΦΜ (VAT number) format works

Format: EL + 9 digits
Example: EL123456789

Things to watch for

Greek VAT numbers use the EL prefix, not GR, even though the ISO country code is GR
This tool checks the format only; no check-digit validation is performed

Regex for ΑΦΜ (VAT number)

^EL[0-9]{9}$

Greece is the one EU country where the VAT prefix doesn’t match the ISO country code, and it trips up more people than any other quirk in this list. A Greek VAT number is “EL” plus 9 digits — EL123456789 — even though Greece’s ISO 3166 code is “GR”. The underlying number is the ΑΦΜ (Arithmos Forologikou Mitroou), Greece’s general tax registry number, issued to individuals and businesses alike.

Because address forms, spreadsheets, and even some invoicing software auto-fill “GR” for any Greek entry, a perfectly valid ΑΦΜ often gets typed with the wrong prefix — not because the digits are wrong, but because the country-code assumption is. This is worth checking first if a Greek VAT number fails validation unexpectedly.

How this check works

This tool checks specifically for the “EL” prefix — not “GR” — followed by exactly 9 digits, run entirely client-side with nothing sent to a server and no signup needed. It’s a structural check: Greece’s own check-digit formula on the ΑΦΜ isn’t calculated here yet.

What a pass doesn’t mean

A correctly prefixed, correctly counted number isn’t proof of an active VAT registration. Confirm current status through the EU’s VIES lookup or Greece’s AADE (Independent Authority for Public Revenue) before treating it as verified.

Scope: EL-prefixed format validation only — not ΑΦΜ check-digit calculation, registration status, or filing obligations.

Content last reviewed 2026-07-07.

ΑΦΜ (VAT number) FAQ

Why does a Greek VAT number start with EL instead of GR?

It's a genuine EU exception: every other country's VAT prefix matches its ISO country code, but Greece's VAT numbers use 'EL' (from Elláda) while its ISO code is 'GR'. Both refer to Greece — they're just different codes for different purposes.

I typed GR and the check failed — is my number wrong?

Probably not the number itself — just the prefix. Swap 'GR' for 'EL' and keep the same 9 digits; that's the format Greece's tax authority and VIES actually expect on a VAT number.

What does ΑΦΜ stand for?

Arithmos Forologikou Mitroou — Greece's tax registry number, used domestically and, with the 'EL' prefix added, as the country's VAT number for EU trade.