5 Major Pitfalls in Obtaining Import and Export Rights, 90% of Business Owners Have Encountered Them

“Mr. Tao recently registered a trading company but was stopped by customs during his first export shipment – it turned out he had neglected to obtain import and export rights!” Such a scenario is not uncommon among startups. With the deepening of global trade, more and more enterprises require cross-border business qualifications. This article will take 10 minutes to break down the entire process of obtaining import and export rights, helping you avoid common pitfalls.

I. Why Do Enterprises Need to Obtain Import and Export Rights?

Import and export rights are equivalent to an enterprise's “international pass.” Without them:

• Goods cannot be declared through customs
• Cannot enjoy export tax refund policies
• Requires additional payment for agency service fees (usually 3%-5% per order)

Zhongmaoda experts remind: Starting from 2023, some cross-border e-commerce platforms have mandated sellers to provide import and export qualification filings.

II. Prerequisites Before Application

Mr. Tao garment factory had its application rejected last year due to insufficient registered capital. These basic requirements need to be confirmed in advance:

• Business license scope includes “import and export” or “import and export of goods and technology”
• Enterprise basic bank account has been opened
• Recommended registered capital ≥ 1 million yuan (policies vary by region)

III. Six Core Application Steps

Step 1: Foreign Trade Operator Filing

Log in to the Ministry of Commerce business system and submit:

• Registration form with company seal
• Copy of business license
• Scanned copy of legal representative's ID card

Approval timeframe: Within 3 working days (speed increased by 50% in 2024)

Step 2: Customs Registration

Submit through the “China International Trade Single Window”:

• Enterprise English name and address (requires professional translation)
• Customs filing application form
• Application for import and export consignee and consignor qualifications

Step 3: Electronic Port Card Application

This U-shield-like device is the “key” for customs clearance. You need to bring:

• Original ID card of the legal representative
• Original copy of business license
• Company seal and legal representative's seal

IV. Easily Overlooked Details

Ms. Wang's case is a cautionary tale: due to omitted inspection and quarantine filing, 200,000 yuan worth of fruit was held at the port for 5 days:

• Special goods such as food/cosmetics require additional filing
• SAFE (State Administration of Foreign Exchange) directory registration needs to be completed before the first receipt or payment of foreign exchange
• Export tax refund (exemption) qualification needs to be separately determined

V. Quick Q&A

Q: What is the total cost of application?
A: Official fees are approximately 500-800 yuan; if entrusted to an agency service, it's about 2000-4000 yuan.

Q: Do the qualifications expire?
A: Customs registration is valid for 8 years, and the electronic port card requires annual review.

VI. Suggested Next Steps

Now that you have grasped the application framework, it is recommended to immediately:

• Log in to the “National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System” to check your business scope
• Download and pre-fill the foreign trade operator filing registration form template
• Contact your local customs to inquire about the latest policies (some regions have green channels)

Have you encountered any special cases during the application process? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments section. Zhongmaoda experts will select 3 typical questions for detailed answers.