New VIES Verification API: Check European VAT Numbers for Intra-EU Transactions

For companies operating in the European market, correctly verifying customers, suppliers and business partners is an important step before starting a B2B transaction.

A VAT number may be valid at national level but not enabled for intra-EU transactions. To automate this check, OpenAPI introduces VIES Verification, the new service that allows you to query the VAT Information Exchange System (VIES) directly via API and integrate the verification into your software and business processes.

What is VIES and why is it important?

The VIES (VAT Information Exchange System) is the European VAT information exchange system that allows you to check whether a company is enabled to carry out cross-border transactions between EU Member States.

VIES verification is particularly useful for companies working with customers, suppliers or business partners located in other EU countries and therefore needing to quickly verify their status for intra-EU transactions.

With OpenAPI's new API, this verification can be performed in real time and directly within your systems, without having to manually check each individual VAT number.

Verify VIES status directly via API

The VIES Verification API is designed to automate European VAT number checks within management software, ERP systems, CRMs, e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, SaaS platforms and other business applications.

Integration is simple: just make a request specifying the country and VAT number to be verified.

GET /EU-vies/IT/12485671007

The API response allows you to determine whether the VAT number is valid for intra-EU transactions and, when available, also returns the company name and its registered office.

This makes the check an integral part of your company's digital processes, reducing manual verification and speeding up the management of European B2B transactions.

VIES Verification and European VAT: what's the difference?

VIES verification should not be confused with a standard European VAT number validity check.

The European VAT service allows you to verify the existence and validity of a European VAT number and, when available, retrieve information such as the company name and registered office.

VIES Verification, on the other hand, addresses a more specific need: checking whether that VAT number is enabled for cross-border transactions within the European Union.

A VAT number may therefore be formally valid in its own country but not valid for intra-EU transactions.

Automate checks on customers, suppliers and partners

One of the main advantages of API integration is the ability to add VIES verification directly to your existing business workflows.

A B2B e-commerce platform, for example, can automatically perform the check when a new European customer registers. An ERP or management system can verify VIES status when creating a customer or supplier record.

A marketplace can use the service during seller onboarding, while a SaaS platform can integrate the check into billing or transaction management processes.

The verification can therefore be performed automatically exactly when needed, without interrupting the user's workflow.

What happens if VIES registers are unavailable?

The verification depends on the availability of the official VAT registers of the individual EU Member States.

During periods of particularly high traffic, some registers may experience slowdowns or become temporarily unavailable. In these cases, the endpoint returns an HTTP 429 response and the request can be retried after a short interval.

This allows developers to handle temporary service unavailability directly within their software, for example by implementing automatic retry mechanisms.

Why integrate OpenAPI's VIES Verification API?

Integrating VIES Verification means turning an external check into an automated process fully integrated into your systems.

With a single API call, you can check in real time whether a European VAT number is enabled for intra-EU transactions and immediately use the result within your workflows.

The service is particularly suitable for B2B companies, e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, ERP systems, CRMs, management software and SaaS platforms that handle large volumes of European customers, suppliers or business partners.

Bring VIES verification directly into your software

With the new VIES Verification API, OpenAPI expands its tools for verifying European company data and makes it possible to automate an essential check for businesses that regularly work with companies in other EU Member States.

Integrate VIES Verification into your software, automate European VAT number checks and verify their validity for intra-EU transactions in real time. Discover the VIES Verification API