What Is a Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC)?

An RCMC is an official certificate granted to an Indian exporter by a government-authorised body (an Export Promotion Council, a Commodity Board, or a Development Authority) confirming that the business is a registered member dealing in a defined category of goods or services.

The certificate registers the exporter with a government-recognised agency and simultaneously enrols the business as a member of the council or board responsible for its sector, which is why the process is also commonly known as<a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/engineering-export-promotion-council"> Export Promotion Council registration</a>. It is issued by a DGFT-authorised Registering Authority, such as an Export Promotion Council, Commodity Board or Development Authority, under the Foreign Trade Policy.

The validity of an RCMC runs for five financial years, from 1st April of the licensing year of issue until 31st March of the fifth year. Across India, 26 Export Promotion Councils and 9 Commodity Boards are authorised to issue RCMCs, each covering a specific set of products or services.

An RCMC is not a shipping document. Unlike consignment level paperwork such as a<a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/certificate-of-origin"> Certificate of Origin</a>, it plays no role in customs clearance and replaces no part of standard export documentation.

RCMC registration is important because it is the gateway to the export incentives, scheme benefits, and trade facilitation support the Foreign Trade Policy extends to Indian exporters. Here's what a valid RCMC unlocks:

What Are the Benefits of an RCMC Certificate?

The principal RCMC certificate benefits include access to FTP incentive schemes, duty concessions on imports, market development support through the EPC, stronger credibility with buyers and banks, and eligibility for status holder recognition.

Here is what each of those advantages means in practice for a registered exporter.

Without a valid RCMC, exporters may be unable to access FTP authorisations, concessions and other benefits where the Foreign Trade Policy requires one. However, post-export remission schemes such as RoDTEP, RoSCTL and Duty Drawback can still be claimed without an RCMC.

An RCMC certificate is not required for every export. Most goods and services leave India without one. It only becomes necessary once an exporter wants to claim a benefit, concession, or incentive.

DGFT regulations are specific on this point. Any exporter who wants concessional customs duty rates, or who plans to avail authorisations, licences, or benefits under the FTP, must hold a valid RCMC. Export volume makes no difference here. Without the certificate, those incentives stay out of reach.

Service exporters, including IT firms, consultancies, tourism operators, and education providers, generally do not need RCMC unless they are claiming FTP benefits. Many still register anyway, as RCMC membership adds credibility with international clients and brings sector specific support from the relevant Export Promotion Council.

First-time exporters should obtain the certificate early, as it smooths the path for future licence applications and access to schemes. An RCMC certificate is mandatory for export benefits, not for exporting itself.

An RCMC certificate is issued by Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), Commodity Boards, and Development Authorities, all authorised by the Government of India under DGFT oversight. The right body follows the product: manufactured goods and services sit with an EPC, commodities such as tea, coffee, and spices with their Commodity Board, and agricultural or processed foods with a Development Authority like APEDA.

As of 2026, India has more than two dozen authorised councils, boards, and development authorities in operation. Each exporter registers with the body whose jurisdiction covers its principal line of business.

The table below maps the major issuing bodies to the exporter categories they serve:

Multi-category exporters may register with FIEO instead of joining several councils. Since 17 July 2023, every APEDA RCMC certificate has been issued through the DGFT portal,thereby bringing agricultural and processed food exporters onto the same single-window platform as all other categories.

How to Apply for an RCMC Online: A Step-by-Step Guide

To apply for an RCMC certificate online, log in to the DGFT Common Digital Platform, complete form ANF 2C, upload your documents, pay the council fee, and submit with a DSC or Aadhaar e-Sign. A complete file is typically processed within 7 to 10 working days.

Here is how to apply for an RCMC certificate online:

What Documents Do You Need for an RCMC Registration?

An RCMC registration requires a valid IEC, the entity's PAN and GST certificates, proof of business constitution, verified bank details, CA-certified foreign exchange earnings and a board resolution, where applicable.

The checklist below organises the required documents into three categories for ease of preparation:

These documents establish who the applicant is and confirm its standing as a registered trading entity:

These documents confirm the legal form of the business and the signatory's authority to act on its behalf:

These documents evidence the exporter's financial credentials and complete the application file itself:

Note: Requirements differ slightly across councils and boards. Hence, confirm the final list with your issuing authority before submitting. Renewal applications additionally require export turnover details.

How Long Is an RCMC Certificate Valid, and How Do You Renew It?

An RCMC certificate is valid for five financial years, running from 1st April of the licensing year in which it is granted until 31st March five years later, and is renewed online through the DGFT portal before expiry.

The points below cover the renewal timeline, the procedure itself, and the compliance obligations that apply throughout the validity period:

A standard RCMC certificate is a single-page digital document that records who issued it, who holds it, which products it covers, and how long it remains valid. The sample design differs across issuing authorities such as FIEO, APEDA, and the Spices Board, but every e-RCMC contains the same seven elements:

Check every detail as soon as the certificate is issued. A wrong product group or a misspelt name, discovered only when you claim a benefit, means filing an amendment before the claim can move.

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<a></a>What Is an Export Value Declaration?

Simply put, an Export Value Declaration (EVD) is where you declare the true value of the goods leaving India. It's prescribed as <a href="https://howtoexportimport.com/ANNEXURE---A-EXPORT-VALUE-DECLARATION-1357.aspx">Annexure A</a> under Rule 7 of the Customs Valuation (Determination of Value of Export Goods) Rules, 2007.

This declaration helps customs understand how you arrived at your export value. It covers the transaction itself, the valuation method used, whether the buyer and seller are related, and the commercial terms involved in the shipment.

Customs then uses all of this to confirm your declared FOB value is genuine and lines up with the rest of your export paperwork.

<a></a>Why Is an Export Value Declaration Required?

An Export Value Declaration (EVD) is required for several reasons, including customs verification, regulatory compliance, accurate valuation, smoother customs clearance, and proper export documentation. Below is the explanation of each of these in detail:

<a></a>Who Needs to File an Export Value Declaration?

Anyone exporting commercial goods from India. It doesn't matter how big your business is or how much the shipment is worth. Whether you export regularly or this is your very first international order, the declaration is part of the paperwork you'll need.

Here's who's typically on the hook for it:

Manufacturers and Commercial Exporters: If you're shipping out machinery, textiles, chemicals, electronics, engineering goods, or agricultural products, you'll need to file this for your shipments.

Merchant Exporters: If goods are purchased from Indian suppliers and exported overseas, the exporter is responsible for submitting the Export Value Declaration.

MSMEs and E-commerce Exporters: Even smaller businesses selling through their own site or a global marketplace need to comply here.

Exporters Sending Samples or Gifts: No money changing hands doesn't mean you're off the hook. Customs still wants the market value declared. That includes product samples, promotional items, and gifts.

Are There Any Exceptions to Filing Export Value Declaration?

For physical goods, not really. Any shipment leaving India by sea, air, or land customs station needs a shipping bill, and the value declaration is part of that package. If you're not sure how it applies to your specific case, it's worth checking with your customs broker.

<a></a>What Happens If an Export Value Declaration Is Not Filed?

Failing to file an Export Value Declaration (EVD) can affect your export process in several ways, including customs delays, delayed issuance of the Let Export Order (LEO), and potential compliance issues. Here are the details:

Before you submit anything, it's worth double-checking that your shipping bill, commercial invoice, and export value declaration all agree, especially on the FOB value.

<a></a>What Is the Format for an Export Value Declaration?

The Export Value Declaration (EVD) has a standard format prescribed by customs to ensure consistent and accurate reporting of export values. Below, we'll look at the format and the key information it includes.

The prescribed export value declaration format is <a href="https://howtoexportimport.com/ANNEXURE---A-EXPORT-VALUE-DECLARATION-1357.aspx">Annexure A</a> under Rule 7 of the Customs Valuation (Determination of Value of Export Goods) Rules, 2007.

There are 10 fields in the Export Value Declaration format. Each field plays a part in helping customs verify your declared export value.

The declaration at the bottom confirms that everything you've entered is true and complete, and that you'll notify customs if anything changes that affects the declared value later on. You'll wrap up the form with the place, date, and signature of the authorised signatory.

<a></a>How to Fill an Export Value Declaration

An Export Value Declaration (EVD) includes several fields related to your export shipment, invoice, valuation, payment terms, and transaction details. The section below explains what information you need to enter in each field.

Once your Export Value Declaration has been submitted and your shipment is cleared, the next step is receiving payment from your overseas buyer and completing the <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/export-realisation-guide">export realisation</a> process.

<a></a>Fields 1-4: Shipment and Valuation Details

Field 1: Shipping Bill Number &amp; Date

Copy the shipping bill number and date exactly as they appear on the actual shipping bill.

Field 2: Invoice Number &amp; Date

Enter the commercial invoice number and date here. Your FOB value needs to match both the invoice and the shipping bill.

Pick whichever best describes your shipment:

Most commercial exports will simply fall under "Sale."

Choose the valuation rule that applies. For arm's-length commercial deals, that's usually Rule 3 (Transaction Value).

<a></a>Fields 5-8: Relationship and Commercial Terms

Field 5: Buyer-Seller Relationship

Select "Yes" if the buyer and seller are related. The form doesn't spell this out, but "related" generally covers things like family members, business partners, an employer-employee relationship, or two entities with cross-shareholding, not just the obvious case of a parent company and its overseas subsidiary. Otherwise, go with "No."

Field 6: Did the Relationship Influence the Price?

Only fill this in if you answered "Yes" to Field 5. Customs may ask you to back this up with supporting documents if the relationship affected pricing.

Note down the agreed terms: Advance Payment, Letter of Credit (LC), 30-day Credit, and so on.

Enter the agreed Incoterm, whether that's FOB, CIF, or EXW. This helps customs pin down the correct FOB value.

Field 9: Previous Exports of Identical or Similar Goods

If you've shipped this same product before, note the earlier shipping bill details here. Leave it blank only if this is genuinely your first time exporting that product.

Field 10: Other Relevant Information

This is where you'd reference supporting documents, including price lists, cost sheets, transfer pricing documentation, that kind of thing.

Read through the declaration carefully before signing. Signing it means you're confirming the information is correct and that you'll let customs know if anything later affects the declared value.

Make sure the person signing is the authorised signatory whose details match your IEC records.

<a></a>Export Value Declaration vs. EDF: Key Differences

While both documents are mandatory for international trade clearance, they serve two entirely different regulatory frameworks: the <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/export-declaration-form">Export Declaration Form (EDF)</a> is a foreign exchange monitoring tool regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under FEMA to track and ensure the repatriation of export proceeds via the EDPMS system, whereas the Export Value Declaration is a customs-specific pricing document used by Indian Customs to verify transaction fairness, evaluate buyer-seller relationships, and calculate the precise Free on Board (FOB) value necessary for determining export incentive payouts like RoDTEP.

<a></a>Common Mistakes in Export Value Declaration Forms and How to Fix Them

Even small slip-ups here can hold up customs clearance. Here are the ones that come up most often, and how to steer clear of them.

Note: A mismatch in the FOB value across your invoice, shipping bill, and export value declaration is one of the most common reasons for customs queries.

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Out of charge in customs, referred to as OOC, is the final clearance process issued by Indian Customs, allowing the imported goods to be taken out of the customs point after paying the respective dues. This process indicates that all duties have been paid, the clearance process of the imported goods is completed, and the importer may take possession of the cargo.

Does OOC in Customs Apply to Indian Exporters?

No, the OOC is only applicable for imports and not for Indian exporters. The OOC is issued only for imported goods coming into the country.

Instead, exporters need a <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/let-export-order">Let Export Order</a> (LEO) as their final customs clearance certificate for exporting goods from India. Receiving an OOC on a Bill of Entry by an importer and a LEO on a Shipping Bill by an exporter are two entirely different documents.

<a></a>Why Does Out of Charge in Customs Matter?

Out of Charge is important because it allows the importer to take delivery of the goods after customs clearance. It also helps avoid additional storage costs, enables the goods to be used or sold, and allows them to be transported within India. The significance of Out of Charge can be understood under three heads.

OOC helps importers reduce storage-related costs and enables them to put imported goods into commercial use sooner.

OOC marks the completion of customs clearance and authorises the release of imported goods from customs control.

Faster OOC issuance helps businesses receive imported goods sooner and supports uninterrupted supply chain operations.

How Does the Out of Charge (OOC) Process Work in Indian Customs?

The OOC process in customs India involves three stages: pre-arrival preparation, filing and duty payment, and examination and release of goods.

<a></a>Pre-Arrival: Registration and Documents

<a></a>Examination Channels and Final Release

How to Check Out of Charge (OOC) Status on ICEGATE?

For OOC status check, customs shipments are tracked on ICEGATE, which is the official digital customs gateway of India. The out of charge customs ICEGATE tracking process takes just a few minutes:

Two status descriptions need to be considered here:

When the status is still pending after paying the duty, verify whether there was any question raised by

the customs department or whether the package has been held for any reason.

Which Documents are Needed to Obtain an Out of Charge (OOC) Order?

Obtaining an Out of Charge (OOC) order requires a set of shipping, financial, and product-specific compliance documents to complete customs clearance.

<a></a>Core Shipping and Transport Documents

These documents establish the shipment details and form the basis for customs clearance and OOC processing.

<a></a>Financial and Declaration Documents

These documents help Customs verify the importer's identity, assess the import value, and calculate applicable duties.

<a></a>Product-Specific and Regulatory Documents

These documents demonstrate compliance with product-specific import regulations before Customs issues the OOC order.

What Is Automated Out of Charge (OOC) in Customs?

Automated OOC is a system-generated customs approval that allows imported goods to be released from a port, airport, or other customs station without manual intervention by a customs officer, subject to applicable risk management and eligibility conditions.

The e-OOC Bill of Entry is an encrypted, QR code enabled PDF document of the final Bill of Entry sent to the registered email address of the importer or Customs Broker through ICEGATE. Some major features include:

Out of Charge (OOC) in Customs vs Let Export Order (LEO): Key Differences

The key difference between Out of Charge (OOC) and Let Export Order (LEO) is that OOC is the final customs clearance for imported goods, whereas LEO is the final customs clearance for exported goods. The table below compares OOC and LEO across purpose, applicability, documents, and clearance stage.

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What Is an Import General Manifest (IGM)?

An Import General Manifest is the carrier's declaration to customs of everything on board a vessel or aircraft arriving at an Indian port. The shipping line, airline, or its agent files it. It lists every consignment on the vessel, not just yours.

The legal basis is<a href="https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/15359/1/the_customs_act,_1962.pdf"> Section 30 of the Customs Act, 1962</a>, which requires the manifest to be presented electronically before arrival. The filer signs a declaration that the contents are true, which is why errors need a formal amendment later, not a phone call.

Each line carries the details that customs needs to identify cargo: BL or Airway Bill number, packages, weight, container and seal number, goods description and HS code, ports of loading and discharge, and the consignee, shipper, and notify party.

Take a shipment of machine parts moving from Hamburg to Jawaharlal Nehru Port. The vessel is carrying several hundred consignments, and the shipping line files a single IGM covering all of them. Your container appears as one line on that manifest, tied to your BL number.

This matters because cargo that isn't on the manifest cannot legally be unloaded, under Section 32. Once the IGM receives its number, your shipment is formally with customs, and your Bill of Entry is filed against that number.

Why Is an Import General Manifest Important?

The IGM is important because it registers your cargo in the customs system, acts as a cross-check against your shipping documents, determines your duty liability, drives port and safety operations, and links every party to the same consignment. Here's what each of those means in practice:

<a></a>Who Files an Import General Manifest?

The IGM is filed by the carrier, or by whoever is authorised to issue the delivery order for your cargo. Who that is depends on how your goods are shipped:

This split is also where the two types of manifest part ways. A Line IGM is filed by the shipping line for a full container moving under its own Bill of Lading. A Console IGM covers consolidated cargo: say your two pallets share a container with goods belonging to five other buyers, the forwarder who built that consolidated shipment files the house-level detail, which sits under the shipping line's master manifest.

This matters when something needs fixing. On an FCL shipment, you go to the shipping line. On an LCL shipment, the line will tell you the console isn't theirs, and only your forwarder can amend the line carrying your name. The shipping line only knows the container as a whole. Your forwarder is the one holding the details of what belongs to whom inside it.

On timing, the manifest is filed before the vessel arrives, but the deadline that actually affects you is much earlier. Under the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transshipment Regulations, 2018, the cargo declaration has to be submitted before the vessel leaves its last port of call, and carriers like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd typically ask customers for the underlying data around 72 hours before that sailing. In other words, the window to correct your consignee details cheaply closes while your cargo is still on the other side of the ocean.

Late filing without sufficient cause attracts a penalty of up to ₹50,000 under Section 30. The bigger costs usually show up elsewhere: vessel detention, clearance delays, and demurrage.

<a></a>What is the Format of an Import General Manifest?

An Import General Manifest is built around three groups of fields: transport and vessel details, cargo information, and stakeholder details. It's filed electronically to ICEGATE in a fixed data format under SCMTR (the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transshipment Regulations), so the manifest your CHA shows you on screen is just a readable view of that underlying data. Here's what each group holds.

This covers the vessel name, its IMO or registration number, and the Voyage Call Number (VCN), which is the reference the port assigns to that specific voyage. The carrier cannot start filing without the VCN. Also in this group: the rotation number, ETA, port of loading, and port of discharge.

One thing to watch here. If your Bill of Lading says Hamburg to Jawaharlal Nehru Port but the vessel transships at Colombo, the manifest for your cargo is filed against the vessel that actually arrives at Nhava Sheva, not the one that left Germany.

The HS code matters most here, because it decides what duty you pay. If your supplier described the goods loosely and the forwarder assigned a code based on that description, customs assesses your cargo against a classification nobody on your side ever checked.

This group identifies everyone involved: your name and address as consignee, which must match your customs registration exactly, along with the shipper's name and address, the notify party, and your CHA and freight forwarder.

Since SCMTR, it also carries your IEC (or your PAN if you don't have an IEC), plus the PAN of the notify party. This is how the system recognises you, and how your AEO status (a customs trusted-trader accreditation that speeds up clearance) gets applied. It's also the group most often copied over from an old shipment.

Say your company moved offices last year and updated its registration. Your supplier's shipping instructions still carry the old address, so the manifest goes in with it. Nothing looks wrong until your CHA tries to file the Bill of Entry and the consignee details don't match.

<a></a>How to File an Import General Manifest on ICEGATE?

An IGM is filed on ICEGATE in five steps: get the Voyage Call Number from the port, file the cargo details, file the arrival manifest before the vessel leaves its last port, pass ICEGATE's error check, and receive the IGM number. Only registered carriers can file it, so this isn't something you do yourself, but knowing the sequence tells you where your shipment can get stuck and who to call when it does.

To do any of this, the carrier needs an ICEGATE ID and a separate SCMTR registration.

You don't need an ICEGATE account to check whether your manifest has been filed. Guest access covers the basics, and you only need to log in with your credentials or a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) if you want container-level data or specific customs remarks.

The port code and either the IGM number or B/L number are mandatory. The IGM date is optional, but adding the vessel's expected arrival date speeds up the lookup.

If a record shows up, you'll see the IGM number, your line item, container and seal numbers, cargo description, and any customs remarks. If nothing comes up, either the carrier hasn't filed yet, or they've filed against a Bill of Lading number that doesn't match the one you're holding.

Check on the day the vessel sails from its last port, not the day it arrives. A missing record at that point is a phone call to your forwarder. The same missing record on arrival day is demurrage.

For what each status code means and how to fix a mismatch or hold, see our full guide on<a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/sea-igm-tracking-icegate"> Sea IGM tracking on ICEGATE</a>.

If your cargo lands at a major port but is headed for an inland customs station, it gets manifested twice. Say a container arrives at Nhava Sheva but clears at an ICD near Delhi. There's one filing at the port, and a second one for the inland leg.

Your CHA files the Bill of Entry against the inland filing, not the gateway one. This catches people out: they check the port code instead of the inland one, find nothing, and assume the manifest was never filed.

The export general manifest declares what's leaving; the import general manifest declares what's arriving. One shipment generates both, filed by carriers in two different countries to two different customs authorities.

For a container moving from Hamburg to Nhava Sheva, German customs receives the export-side manifest, and Indian customs receives the IGM. When you export from India, the roles flip: your carrier files the departure manifest with Indian customs under Section 41 of the Customs Act, and the buyer's carrier files the import manifest at the destination.

Together, they close the loop. Indian customs uses the IGM to cross-check what physically arrived against your commercial invoice, packing list, and Bill of Lading. If the manifest says 12 pallets and your invoice says 14, that's the check catching it.

The terminology has changed. SCMTR renamed the EGM. It's now split into two filings: the Sea Departure Manifest, filed before the vessel leaves the Indian port, and the Sea Departure Notification, filed after it sails. In everyday conversation everyone still says EGM, and ICEGATE still shows the older term in places, but the newer names are what you'll see referenced on your shipping bill.

The IGM is the carrier's list of everything on the vessel; the Bill of Entry is your claim on one line of that list. They differ on who files, when, and what each one does: the carrier files the IGM to declare all cargo to customs, while you or your CHA file the Bill of Entry to claim your shipment, declare the duty, and request release.

That's the cleanest way to hold the distinction. The manifest declares. The Bill of Entry asks for release, names the duty, and puts your signature under a declaration of truth. It carries the port code, CHA code, your<a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/iec-code"> IEC</a>, your name and address, and the classification on which duty is assessed.

The old rule of thumb was to wait for the IGM number and then file. That hasn't been true since 2021. Section 46 now requires the Bill of Entry to be filed before the end of the day preceding arrival, and it can be filed up to 30 days before the vessel is expected. Filing late without sufficient cause attracts charges that escalate by the day.

CBIC also removed the Master BL requirement for advance filing. You can file on the strength of the House BL alone, then update the Master BL afterwards through an online amendment that auto-approves without an officer and without late fees. That amendment is what links your Bill of Entry to the arrival manifest.

So the practical position is the reverse of what it appears to be. You aren't waiting on the manifest to start. You're filing ahead and reconciling to the manifest when it lands.

The matching still has to hold: consignee name, BL number, package count, weight, and description. A mismatch between the two documents halts clearance, and fixing it means amending the wrong document, which usually isn't yours.

What Are Common Import General Manifest Errors and How to Fix Them?

Most manifest errors are typing errors with expensive consequences. They come from data that traveled through three or four hands before reaching the carrier's filing system: your purchase order to your supplier, your supplier's shipping instructions to the forwarder, the forwarder's house BL, and the carrier's manifest.

Amendments are provided for. Section 30(3) permits the proper officer to permit a manifest to be amended where it's incorrect or incomplete and there was no fraudulent intent; SCMTR carries the same provision for arrival manifests. But the amendment isn't yours to file. You raise it with the carrier or forwarder who filed the line, they submit the request to customs at the port, and customs approves or doesn't. Carriers make it clear that post-filing amendments require customs approval and may incur fines.

The practical route, in order: pull the IGM inquiry against your Master BL, screenshot what's actually filed, send it to your CHA and forwarder together with the correct detail, and ask the forwarder to raise the amendment with the port. Expect it to take days, not hours. Cargo can sit on hold while it's processed.

Say your supplier's shipping instructions list your company as "Sharma Industries" when your IEC is registered as "Sharma Industries Private Limited." Nothing bounces at filing, because the manifest doesn't validate against your registration. It bounces when your CHA tries to file the Bill of Entry and the consignee doesn't reconcile. Now you're waiting on an amendment while demurrage runs.

The pattern behind almost all of it: you weren't the one who typed the detail, but you're the one holding the container. Sending your exact registered name, address, and IEC to your supplier at the PO stage, not at the shipping stage, removes most of this class of error before it exists.

Many businesses importing inputs are exporting something too, and a consignee detail that's wrong on the manifest tends to be wrong everywhere else the same entity name appears. Remittances land against a name the bank can't reconcile. The FIRA your GST refund claim depends on takes weeks, not days. The document mess that started on the import side ends up costing money.

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What Is a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA)?

A Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) is a tax treaty between two countries that helps prevent the same income from being taxed twice. It applies when a person is a tax resident of one country but earns income in another. The agreement specifies which country has the right to tax the income and how relief from double taxation is provided.

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