Europe Information Gateway

Common Rejection Reasons

Generic patterns behind “not found”, “invalid format”, and “mismatch” results across systems.

Scope
  • Informational guidance
  • No account, no submissions
  • Links to official sources where possible
This gateway explains systems; it does not replace authorities.

Key point

Most rejections are format, timing, or mismatch issues—not necessarily fraud.

Typical categories

  • Format errors (spaces, punctuation, missing country prefix, check digits)
  • Timing and propagation (new registrations not yet visible everywhere)
  • Entity mismatch (legal name differs from trading name, branch vs head office)
  • Jurisdiction mismatch (using the wrong country system for the record)
  • Scope mismatch (using VAT where EORI is required, or vice versa)

What to do first

  • Re-check exact formatting used by the authority/system
  • Confirm you are using the correct identifier family (VAT vs EORI vs registry ID)
  • Confirm jurisdiction and the relevant authority for the record

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