Licenses and registrations to open an import export business in Bengaluru
7 required licences and registrations, the official fee for each, the office that issues it and the documents to keep ready. Based on a typical small import export business with 1 to 5 staff and turnover of ₹20 to 40 lakh a year.
Fees last checked: 28 Oct 2026
The short answer
To open an import export business in Bengaluru you need 7 licences and registrations:
- PAN
- GST registration
- Import Export Code (IEC)
- AD code registration on ICEGATE
- GST LUT for zero-rated exports (Form RFD-11)
- Shops and Establishments registration
- Professional Tax (enrolment and registration)
Fixed official fees: ₹3,810
+ 2 fees that depend on size or location. See the fee table below
- AD code registration on ICEGATE No official fee published
- GST LUT for zero-rated exports (Form RFD-11) No official fee published
Get this list for your exact business
Change turnover, staff, floor area and extras like alcohol or a DG set. Tick documents as you collect them and share the list on WhatsApp or email.
Required licences and official fees
For an import export business in Bengaluru (GBA), Karnataka.
| Licence | Issued by | Official fee | Time | Apply at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PANCentral | Income Tax Department | Freeinstant e-PAN with AadhaarChecked on 27 Sep 2026 Source | Same day | incometax.gov.in (Instant e-PAN) |
| GST registrationCentral | GST Network / State GST Department | Freeno government feeChecked on 27 Sep 2026 Source | About 7 working days | gst.gov.in |
| Import Export Code (IEC)Central | DGFT, Ministry of Commerce | ₹500one time; yearly update in April to June is freeChecked on 2 Oct 2026 Source | Code is generated after you submit and pay | dgft.gov.in |
| AD code registration on ICEGATECentral | Your bank gives the code; Customs registers it on ICEGATE | No fee listed in the ICEGATE advisorythe ICEGATE advisory shows no fee | Registration appears on your ICEGATE dashboard after approval | icegate.gov.in |
| GST LUT for zero-rated exports (Form RFD-11)Central | GST Department (filed on the GST portal) | No fee listed in the GST portal guidethe GST portal guide shows no fee | Deemed approved if the officer takes no action in 3 working days | gst.gov.in |
| Shops and Establishments registrationState | Labour Department, Karnataka | ₹810for your staff size | Within 30 days of opening | ekarmika.karnataka.gov.in |
| Professional Tax (enrolment and registration)State | Commercial Taxes Department, Karnataka | ₹2,500 a year | Enrol when you start | pt.kar.nic.in |
Fees are the official government fees, not agent charges. Some fees depend on your size or change by office, so confirm on the portal before paying.
Order to apply in
- Identity and tax registration: PAN, GST registration. Do these first. Later forms ask for PAN and GST.
- Sector licence: Import Export Code (IEC), AD code registration on ICEGATE, GST LUT for zero-rated exports (Form RFD-11). The licence that lets you legally run this type of business.
- State labour and tax: Shops and Establishments registration, Professional Tax (enrolment and registration). Registers your workplace and staff with the state.
Documents to keep ready
- Aadhaar linked to your mobile number
- For a firm or company: incorporation certificate or partnership deed
- PAN of the business
- Aadhaar and photo of the owner or partners
- Proof of premises: electricity bill plus rent agreement or owner's NOC
- Bank statement or cancelled cheque
- PAN of the firm or company (DGFT checks it against Income Tax records)
- Proof of establishment: incorporation certificate, partnership deed, society registration, trust deed or HUF details, as it applies to you
- Proof of address: sale deed, rent or lease agreement, electricity or phone bill, MoU or partnership deed. A proprietor can use Aadhaar, passport or voter ID
- No objection letter from the owner of the premises, if the address proof is not in the firm's name
- Bank proof: a cancelled cheque with the firm's name pre-printed, or a bank certificate
- A digital signature token or Aadhaar e-sign of a member of the firm
- Mobile number and email ID for OTPs
- Files must be PDF and not more than 5 MB each
- Your IEC and PAN
- Bank account number held with an authorised dealer bank branch
- The AD code of that branch (ask your bank)
- ICEGATE login ID and password
- Mobile number linked to your ICEGATE profile for the OTP
- GST registration (GSTIN) and login
- Name, address and occupation of two independent witnesses
- Digital signature or EVC of an authorised signatory
- If you already have a manually approved LUT for the year, you may upload one copy (up to 2 MB)
- Photo ID and address proof of the owner
- Proof of premises
- Photo of the shop front with name board
- Employee details (names, roles, wages)
- PAN
- Aadhaar
- Business address proof
- GST or Shops and Establishments certificate
- Employee list with salaries
Also check if these apply
- Udyam (MSME) registration: Free. Free. Gets you the lower trademark fee, MSME loan schemes and protection against delayed payments.Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source
- RCMC from your export promotion council: Set by each council; no amount published. DGFT's Appendix 2T lists which council covers which product. Find yours in the list of councils.
- DGFT licence for restricted items: ₹1,000 for an export licence. Most goods are free to import and export. Check your 8-digit HS code on the DGFT policy search before you ship.Checked on 2 Oct 2026 Source
- Certificate of origin (including e-CoO): ₹200 non-preferential; ₹600 preferential. Apply on trade.gov.in to an agency DGFT authorises. A preferential certificate is needed for tariff benefits under a trade agreement.Checked on 2 Oct 2026 Source
- Trade licence (GBA city corporation): ₹500 to ₹2,00,000. Needed if your activity is a listed trade. Check with your city corporation.
Extra licences for what you trade
The list above covers every import export business. Your product may need more. In the checklist, choose "What do you trade?" to add these to your list, or read each guide below. Fees marked not officially verified were not found on an official page.
Food or agri products
- APEDA registration and RCMC: ₹5,900. For fruit, vegetables, processed food, meat, dairy, basmati rice and other APEDA products.
- FSSAI importer licence and import clearance: ₹1,000 + GST. Needed to import food. Each consignment is cleared at the port.
- Plant quarantine: phytosanitary certificate and import permit: Shown on the DPPQS site when you apply. For plants, seeds, fruit, spices and other plant products.
Spices
- Spices Board registration (CRES): Set by the Board; no current amount published. For spices and spice products. The Board treats CRES as your RCMC.
- FSSAI importer licence and import clearance: ₹1,000 + GST. Needed to import food. Each consignment is cleared at the port.
- Plant quarantine: phytosanitary certificate and import permit: Shown on the DPPQS site when you apply. For plants, seeds, fruit, spices and other plant products.
Marine products (fish, shrimp)
- MPEDA registration and RCMC: ₹5,000 + ₹5,900. For fish, shrimp and other marine products.
- FSSAI importer licence and import clearance: ₹1,000 + GST. Needed to import food. Each consignment is cleared at the port.
Pharma or cosmetics
- RCMC from Pharmexcil: Set by the council; no amount published. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
- RCMC from CHEMEXCIL: Set by the council; no amount published. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
- CDSCO import licence (drugs, devices, cosmetics): ₹1,000 (older edition, not officially verified). Needed to import medicines, medical devices and cosmetics.
Electronics
- RCMC from ESC: Set by the council; no amount published. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
- BIS certification for imported goods: Set by BIS for each scheme; see its fee page. Needed when the product is under BIS compulsory certification.
- Legal Metrology importer registration: Shown on the Legal Metrology portal when you apply. For importers of packaged goods and of weights and measures.
- WPC Equipment Type Approval (wireless devices): Shown on Saral Sanchar when you apply. For importing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other radio equipment.
Textiles and garments
- RCMC from TEXPROCIL: Set by the council; no amount published. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
- RCMC from AEPC: Set by the council; no amount published. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
- Legal Metrology importer registration: Shown on the Legal Metrology portal when you apply. For importers of packaged goods and of weights and measures.
Gems and jewellery
- RCMC from GJEPC: Set by the council; no amount published. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
Chemicals
- RCMC from CHEMEXCIL: Set by the council; no amount published. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
Read the full section: Import and export from India, how to start an export business, how to import goods into India, and import export business in Bengaluru.
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Free formats for this business
Landlord NOC, declarations and consent letters that offices often ask for. Each is a printable sample, so check it with the issuing office. After you apply, the licence pages also show how to track an application and why it gets rejected.
Landlord NOC
A letter from the owner of a shop or office saying the tenant may run a business there.
Free formatSelf-declaration (trade licence)
A short signed statement by the applicant that the details in the trade licence application are true and the business will follow the rules.
Free formatAffidavit (trade licence)
A sworn statement made before a notary, used by some municipal offices as proof that the premises and details in a trade licence application are true.
Free formatPartnership consent letter
A letter signed by all partners of a firm saying one partner may apply for, sign for and hold a licence on behalf of the firm.
Free formatRent agreement
An 11 month agreement between the owner and the tenant of a house or flat that sets out the rent, deposit, notice period and rules of stay.
Free formatShop or office lease agreement
A lease between the owner of a shop, office or godown and a business tenant, with the rent, deposit, yearly increase, lock in and notice terms.
Free formatShops Act declaration
A declaration by the owner of a shop, office or restaurant giving the details asked for when registering under the state Shops and Establishments Act.
Free formatGST authorised signatory letter
A letter in which the owner, partner or director of a business authorises one person to sign and file GST applications and returns on its behalf.
Free formatGST owner consent letter
A letter from the owner of a shop or office saying that the applicant may use the address as the place of business for GST registration.
Free formatReply to ASMT-10 notice
Reply to a notice in Form GST ASMT-10 that points out differences in your returns after scrutiny.
Free formatReply to DRC-01A
Reply to a pre show cause intimation in Form GST DRC-01A.
Free formatReply to GST show cause notice (DRC-06)
Reply to a GST show cause notice for demand of tax, with grounds and a request for a personal hearing, prayer, verification and annexures.
Free formatReply to registration notice (REG-04)
Reply to a notice from the officer asking you to clarify or add details on a GST registration application.
Free formatReply to cancellation notice (REG-18)
Reply to a show cause notice proposing to cancel your GST registration.
Free formatReply to ITC mismatch notice
Reply to a GST notice about input tax credit claimed in GSTR-3B that does not match GSTR-2B, with a reconciliation table you fill in.
Free formatGST notice adjournment request
A letter asking the GST officer for more time to reply, or to move the date of a hearing, with the reason and the new date you ask for.
Free formatGST authorisation letter for a CA
A letter that authorises a chartered accountant, advocate or other representative to appear and file replies for you before the GST officer.
Free formatCommon questions
How much do licences cost for an import export business in Bengaluru?
Which licence should I apply for first?
Do I need an IEC to start an import export business in Bengaluru?
Which export promotion council should I join?
How long does it take to get all the licences?
Is Govt License a government website?
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