How to get EU VIES VAT Number Validator with the API
Batch-validate EU VAT numbers via the official European Commission VIES REST API. A run saves one row per result.
Set up the Apify actor
Apify is where this run is collected. An actor is the program that collects the rows. A task is that program saved with your settings, so the next section can ask for the latest rows. You need a free Apify account.
- 01Open EU VIES VAT Number Validator and click Try for free. Create an Apify account if you do not have one. The Free plan does not ask for a card.
- 02You are on the input form. Keep the sample for this first run.
{ "vatNumbers": [ "IE6388047V" ], "maxItems": 5 } - 03Leave the proxy setting as it is. Click Start and wait until the run says Succeeded.
- 04Open Storage, then Dataset. You should see
inputVat,countryCode,vatNumber,isValid. - 05When you want the real list, raise maxItems. The sample cap is only there so the first run stays small.
- 06Go back to the input and choose Save as a new task. Name it after this list.
- 07Open the task. Copy the task ID from the address bar. Excel, Sheets, Power BI, and the other guides ask for this ID.
- 08On the task, open Schedules and add a weekly run if you want fresh rows. Each run pays the start charge and the charge for the rows. The amounts are in the price list on this page.
- 09Open Settings, then API & Integrations, and copy an API token. Excel, Sheets, and the other guides put this token in a download link. Anyone with that link can download the rows, so treat it like a password.
How to set up with the API
- 01Use the API token from Set up the Apify actor, above.
- 02Send this request. Replace
YOUR_TOKEN. It waits up to 120 seconds.curl -X POST "https:// api.apify.com/ v2/ acts/ bakos_bence~vies-vat-validator/ runs? token=YOUR_TOKEN& waitForFinish=120" \ -H "Content-Type: application/ json" \ -d '{ "vatNumbers": [ "IE6388047V" ], "maxItems": 5 }' - 03From the response, copy
defaultDatasetId. - 04Fetch the rows. Replace
DATASET_IDandYOUR_TOKEN.https:// api.apify.com/ v2/ datasets/ DATASET_ID/ items? format=json& clean=true& token=YOUR_TOKEN - 05To repeat it, use the task and the weekly schedule from Set up the Apify actor, above. A scheduled task's newest rows are this URL, with your task id and token:
https:// api.apify.com/ v2/ actor-tasks/ TASK_ID/ runs/ last/ dataset/ items? format=json& clean=true& status=SUCCEEDED& token=YOUR_TOKEN - 06Anyone with a URL that contains the token can read the rows.
Schema
Examples come from the actor sample, not a live result.
| Name | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
inputVat | Input Vat | IE6388047V |
countryCode | Country Code | IE |
vatNumber | Vat Number | 6388047V |
isValid | Is Valid | true |
requestDate | Request Date | 2026-09-11T12:00:00Z |
userError | User Error | VALID |
name | Name | GOOGLE |
address | Address | GORDON |
sourceUrl | Source Url | https:/ |
scrapedAt | Scraped At | 2026-09-11T12:00:00+00:00 |
inputVatInput VatIE6388047VcountryCodeCountry CodeIEvatNumberVat Number6388047VisValidIs ValidtruerequestDateRequest Date2026-09-11T12:00:00ZuserErrorUser ErrorVALIDnameNameGOOGLEIRELAND LIMITED addressAddressGORDONHOUSE, BARROW STREET, DUBLIN 4 sourceUrlSource Urlhttps:// ec.europa.eu/ taxation_customs/ vies/ rest-api/ ms/ IE/ vat/ 6388047V scrapedAtScraped At2026-09-11T12:00:00+00:00
The same row as JSON
{
"inputVat": "IE6388047V",
"countryCode": "IE",
"vatNumber": "6388047V",
"isValid": "true",
"requestDate": "2026-09-11T12:00:00Z",
"userError": "VALID",
"name": "GOOGLE IRELAND LIMITED",
"address": "GORDON HOUSE, BARROW STREET, DUBLIN 4",
"sourceUrl": "https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/rest-api/ms/IE/vat/6388047V",
"scrapedAt": "2026-09-11T12:00:00+00:00"
}