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MPEDA registration and RCMC for marine product exporters
Register with MPEDA to export shrimp, fish and other marine products. Official exporter registration fee ₹5,000, RCMC ₹5,900, documents and online steps.
Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026
The short answer
Register with MPEDA to export shrimp, fish and other marine products. Official exporter registration fee ₹5,000, RCMC ₹5,900, documents and online steps. Key facts: Issued by: Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA); Validity: RCMC valid 5 financial years; Time: Online application to the MPEDA registering office.
Source: mpeda.gov.in, checked 2 Oct 2026.
What it is
MPEDA registers exporters of seafood and marine products under the MPEDA Act, 1972. Registration as an exporter comes first, and then you can apply for the RCMC for marine products. MPEDA has been designated as the authority to issue the RCMC for seafood items.
MPEDA separates manufacturer exporters, who own an approved processing plant or vessel with processing facilities, from merchant exporters, who use the spare capacity of an approved plant.
Who needs it
Exporters of marine products including shrimp, prawn, lobster, crab, fish, shellfish and other aquatic animals, plants or parts of them, as DGFT's Appendix 2T describes MPEDA's coverage.
Official fees
| Fee | Official amount |
|---|---|
| Registration as an exporter | ₹5,000Checked on 2 Oct 2026 SourceMPEDA's page also mentions an online application fee of ₹200 for the application. |
| RCMC | ₹5,900 (₹5,000 + 18% GST)Checked on 2 Oct 2026 SourceValid for 5 financial years ending 31 March. |
Fees and rules change and can differ between offices. Confirm the fee on the official portal before you pay. Amounts marked Not officially verified could not be checked on an official page.
Documents to keep ready
- IEC issued by DGFT
- Passport size photograph of the applicant and proof of address
- For manufacturer exporters: registration of the processing plant or handling facility
- For merchant exporters: a written agreement to use the surplus capacity of an approved processing or handling facility
- Certificate from a scheduled bank on financial soundness, as MPEDA lists
- Copy of the purchase order
Steps to apply
- Get your IEC from DGFT. IEC code guide Fee: ₹500
- Apply for exporter registration on MPEDA's online system, to the registering office for your head office location. MPEDA: become an exporter Fee: ₹5,000
- Once registered, apply for the RCMC. MPEDA RCMC Fee: ₹5,900
- For each shipment, apply for the export certificates the buyer country asks for. MPEDA certificate fees Fee: See MPEDA
Where to apply
- MPEDA: become an exporter: Exporter registration
- MPEDA: certificate fees: RCMC and export certificate fees
Govt License is not a government website. We never take government fees or apply for you.
Export certificates
Besides registration, MPEDA issues several certificates used on shipments, such as catch certificates. Their fees are listed on MPEDA's certificate fee page and differ by certificate and by whether the product is frozen, chilled, dried or live.
After you apply
What to do once the form is submitted: where to track it, how long it takes, why it gets rejected and what the law says if you do not have it.
Track your application
Typical time
Online application to the MPEDA registering office, certificate issued online
Checked on 5 Oct 2026 Source
If you operate without it
Exporting marine products without MPEDA registration is against the rules and can bring a penalty under the Foreign Trade Act of at least ₹10,000. We could not confirm the MPEDA Act penalty on an official page.
Law: Marine Products Export Development Authority Act 1972; Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act 1992 section 11
Not officially verified Source
Common reasons for rejection and how to fix them
| Reason | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Documents or photo missing | Upload every document in the checklist, such as photo, address proof and plant papers. |
| Applied to the wrong registering office | Apply to the office that covers your registered or head office address. |
| Fee not paid online | Pay the registration fee (₹5,000 for a manufacturer exporter) when you submit. |
Not officially verified Source
Govt License is an independent guide. Fines and rules change, so confirm on the official portal. Items marked Not officially verified could not be checked on an official page.