Requirements

Before installing the EU VAT & VIES Checker, verify your WooCommerce store meets these technical requirements. This 5-minute check prevents installation issues and ensures reliable VAT validation from day one.

What each requirement means

WordPress 6.5 or newer

WordPress is the content management system that runs your website. BridgeSync requires WordPress 6.5 or later to function correctly.

Why this matters: WordPress 6.5 includes essential security updates and performance improvements that BridgeSync relies on. Older versions may cause compatibility issues or security vulnerabilities.

WooCommerce 9.0 or newer

WooCommerce is the e-commerce plugin that powers your online store. If you’re already selling products through WordPress, you have WooCommerce installed.

Why this matters: WooCommerce 9.0 introduced the Checkout Blocks system that BridgeSync fully supports. The plugin works with both classic checkout and the newer block-based checkout.

PHP 8.1 or newer

PHP is the server-side programming language that powers WordPress. Your hosting company controls which PHP version your site uses.

Why this matters: PHP 8.1 is significantly faster and more secure than older versions. BridgeSync uses modern PHP features that aren’t available in PHP 7.x. Using outdated PHP also creates security risks for your entire store.

PHP SOAP extension

SOAP is a PHP extension that allows your server to communicate with the EU VIES database. Most hosting providers have this enabled by default, but some budget hosts disable it.

Why this matters: Without the SOAP extension, BridgeSync cannot validate VAT numbers against the official EU database. The plugin will show an error in the Dashboard if SOAP is missing.

HTTPS / SSL certificate

HTTPS encrypts the connection between your website and your visitors. It’s shown as a padlock icon in the browser address bar.

Why this matters: The VIES and Swiss UID APIs require secure connections. Without HTTPS, API requests may fail or be blocked. Most WooCommerce stores already have HTTPS enabled since it’s required for payment processing.

Outbound connections to VIES and Swiss UID

Your server needs to connect to external APIs to validate VAT numbers:

• •VIES: https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/checkVatService.wsdl
• •Swiss UID: https://www.uid-wse.admin.ch/V3.0/PublicServices.svc?wsdl

Why this matters: Some firewalls or security plugins block outbound connections. If validation always fails, this is often the cause.

How to check your WordPress version

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Look at the bottom-right corner of any admin page
3. You’ll see “WordPress X.X.X” (for example, “WordPress 6.5.3”)

Need to update? Go to Dashboard → Updates and click “Update Now” if a newer version is available.

How to check your WooCommerce version

1. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
2. Find “WooCommerce” in the list
3. The version number is shown below the plugin name

How to check your PHP version

1. Go to Tools → Site Health
2. Click the Info tab
3. Expand the Server section
4. Look for “PHP version”

Need to upgrade PHP? Contact your hosting provider. Most hosts offer PHP version switching in their control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.) or via support ticket.

How to verify PHP SOAP is available

After installing BridgeSync, the easiest way to check is from the plugin dashboard:

1. Go to EU VAT Checker → Dashboard
2. Look at the Environment Status section
3. Check that “PHP SOAP extension” shows ✓ Available

If it shows as unavailable, contact your hosting provider and ask them to enable the PHP SOAP extension.

How to verify HTTPS is active

Look at your website URL in the browser address bar:

• •✓ Correct: https://yourstore.com (with padlock icon)
• •✗ Incorrect: http://yourstore.com (no padlock, or “Not Secure” warning)

Need HTTPS? Most hosting providers offer free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt. Check your hosting control panel or contact support.

How to test API reachability

After installing BridgeSync:

1. Go to EU VAT Checker → Dashboard
2. Look at the Environment Status section
3. Check that both show ✓ 200 OK:
   • •VIES WSDL reachability
   • •Swiss UID reachability

If either shows an error, your server may have firewall restrictions. Contact your hosting provider and ask them to allow outbound HTTPS connections to the URLs listed above.