A business entity that is interested in importing raw materials or other specialized commodities into Bangladesh is required to have a valid Import Registration Certificate (IRC). The Import Registration Certificate (IRC) is a mandatory legal requirement in Bangladesh that permits a business entity to engage in import activities in compliance with the Import Policy Order issued by the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. It is regulated and issued by The Office of the Chief Controller of Imports & Exports (CCI&E) is in charge of it and issues the IRC. It is a statutory authority under the Ministry of Commerce. No individual or organization has the permission to engage into importing commercial goods in Bangladesh through official routes, without a valid IRC. In order to get an Import Registration Certificate, it is helpful to be aware that this certificate is issued by The Office of the Chief Controller of Imports & Exports (CCI&E) which is an independent institution under the Ministry of Commerce, and that the Import Policy Order 2015-2018 serves as the legal foundation for this certificate. There are no restrictions on value or quantity for items that can be imported into Bangladesh, and no permission is required to do so from any Bangladeshi authority. However, an Import Registration Certificate (IRC) or an import license is required in order to bring in any item that falls under this category.
The IRC is the main mechanism for businesses to participate in international trade as importers. It checks that the applicant meets the legal, financial, and operational
requirements to import goods from foreign suppliers, open letters of credit
(LCs) with banks, and clear shipments via Bangladesh Customs. Whether
an enterprise is importing raw materials for manufacturing, finished products
for retail, or specialized equipment for industrial use, the IRC is the
fundamental licensing requirement.
Securing an IRC is not just an administrative step; it is a compliance obligation that ensures the government control the amount of goods that come into the country, keep an eye on trade flows, collect the right import charges and VAT, and make sure that items entering into the country meet safety, quality, and environmental criteria. To apply, you need to send in a specific set of documents, pay government fees, and have the CCI&E check your information.
From a business point of view, having an IRC has a number of benefits:
The IRC comes in two primary categories — Commercial and Industrial. The type of IRC one should obtain depends on whether the importer is involved in trading activities or manufacturing. Each type requires distinct documentation, import ceilings, and government fees. Also, IRCs are classified into several categories based on the annual import limit, and the applicable registration and renewal fees vary accordingly.
There are three categories of applicants that want to join the IRC as members. Document requirements are subject to the kind of candidate being considered. The following items are required as part of your submission. Various Categories of Applicants:
In this detailed guideline, we will look at:
The Import Registration Certificate (IRC) is a trade license specifically designed for businesses that desire to import or bring products into Bangladesh. It is the official permission issued by the CCI&E to importers, permitting them to bring goods into the country for commercial or industrial purposes.
The Import Policy Order, which the Ministry of Commerce amends infrequently, is where the need for an IRC comes from. This policy directs that no individual or business can import items into the country for commercial purposes unless they are registered with the CCI&E.
A Trade License issued by the City Corporation or Municipality permits a business to function in the nation, while an IRC is a specialized license that specifically allows a business to import goods. It is an extra step that must be taken in addition to business registration.
In Bangladesh, the following businesses require IRC license:
Some low-value imports, imports for personal use, or imports that the government has said are not subject to an IRC may not need one. These are only applicable for a few situations, and they aren’t usually applicable to businesses.
There are two primary types of IRC in Bangladesh:
There are some IRC requirements to fulfill in order to obtain a IRC license in Bangladesh.
Before submitting your application for an IRC certificate, you are required to be a member of a recognized trade association or chamber of commerce. In general, the following three kinds of Membership Certificates are acceptable:
You are required to submit an application to the relevant Chamber of Commerce, Trade organization, or Government-approved association in accordance with the procedure that is specified by that body in order to get a membership certificate. The involved Chamber or Trade Association determines the cost of the certificate as well as the documentation that must be submitted.
Step 1 – Document preparing
First one needs to ensure that all the necessary documents to make an application for an IRC license are ready, attested, and valid.
Step 2 – Create Online Account at CCI&E official portal
Register on the CCI&E official portal.
Step 3 – Complete the Application Form
Complete the application form by providing proper information about business and finances.
Step 4 – Fee payment
Pay the fee through the bank for the applicable category.
Step 5 – Submission and Verification
Complete submission by uploading scanned documents.
Step 6 – Approval and Issuance
The CCI&E issues the IRC upon successful verification.
The applicant is required to obtain the Form of IRC from the CCI&E office or the official website, fill it out, and then send it to the Dispatch Section of the CCI&E office together with any supporting documents. The registration fee as well as the cost of the passbook must be paid at the Bangladesh Bank or Sonali Bank, and 3 copies of the Treasury Challan are required to be acquired.
In order to obtain the Import Registration Certificate, the applicant must provide the CCI&E office with a properly filled out application form, as well as the necessary supporting papers and a Treasury Challan. The applicant will get their Import Registration Certificates, along with their passbooks after the CCI&E has authenticated all of the documentation they have provided.
Along with photocopies, it is strongly advised that you hand in the original papers for verification purposes. This will make the procedure much faster. The original papers are going to be handed back as soon as the verification is concluded. Each and every document has to be properly attested by a first class gazetted official, a magistrate, or by a public notary.
Here is the list of the probable documents that are required for an IRC certificate:
Here is the list of the probable documents that are required for an IRC certificate:
Here is the list of the probable documents that are required for an IRC certificate:
The validity of the IRC is for one year and the IRC has to be renewed on an annual basis. The applicant is responsible for gathering all of the necessary paperwork for the renewal. Payment of the yearly renewal charge must be made at either the Sonali Bank or Bangladesh Bank. At the bank, you are required to provide an IRC that has expired in addition to a copy of the Treasury Challan. Following the completion of the verification process, CCI&E will provide the updated IRC Certificate.
In order to renew the licence, the applicant needs to produce the following documents:
The processing period for IRC renewal typically takes between four and five business days.
On the basis of the value limitation of their total yearly import, the importers have been divided into six different groups. The following is a list of the initial classification and registration costs as well as the yearly renewal fees:
Category | Annual Import Ceiling | Initial Registration Fee | Annual Renewal Fee |
|
|
|
|
First | Tk. 500,000 | Tk. 5,000 | Tk. 3,000 |
Second | Tk. 2,500,000 | Tk. 10,000 | Tk. 6,000 |
Third | Tk. 5,000,000 | Tk. 24,000 | Tk. 10,000 |
Fourth | Tk. 10,000,000 | Tk. 40,000 | Tk. 15,000 |
Fifth | Tk. 50,000,000 | Tk. 50,000 | Tk. 22,000 |
Sixth | Tk. 200,000,000 | Tk. 60,000 | Tk. 24,000 |
Seventh | Tk. 500,000,000 | Tk. 70,000 | Tk. 28,000 |
Eighth | Tk. 1,000,000,000 | Tk. 80,000 | Tk. 32,000 |
Note: There is an applicable 15% VAT on both registration and renewal fees.
Bangladesh Consultant is a full-fledged corporate law firm, which indicates that the company’s primary objective is to provide clients with a broad variety of legal services rather than specializing in any one particular sector of the legal profession. It is one of the biggest and most well-respected law firms in Bangladesh, and it provides clients with legal advice that satisfies their requirements and expectations. These clientele include clients from Bangladesh as well as clients from other countries. Bangladesh Consultant offers a wide variety of services relating to business incorporation, including acquiring ERC and IRC registrations, name clearing certificate, VAT and TIN numbers, and trade licenses, among other things. Bangladesh Consultant is staffed with legal professionals that are able to provide a trouble-free legal procedure and help clients secure the necessary certificates and licenses for incorporating a company.
The following list of services, which Bangladesh Consultant provide in order to receive an Import Registration Certificate:
Bangladesh Consultant has a team of wonderful and capable staff that is able to progress swiftly forward in the process of acquiring an IRC Certificate. In order to apply for IRC, the legal advisers at Bangladesh Consultant may give assistance to the clients via consultations and meetings, and they can also request that the clients to supply the appropriate papers, such as their NID, Trade License, Incorporation certificate, photos, MOA/AOA, and so on. The kinds of papers that are requested for an application are determined by the kind of business being requested.
Legal professionals at Bangladesh Consultant are able to produce all of the essential drafting of paperwork to get IRC. These documents are then distributed to the clients for execution once they have been shared with them. After the customers have signed the necessary paperwork, they are then returned to Bangladesh Consultant together with the other documents that were requested of them.
After that, Bangladesh Consultant finishes the application by handing over the supporting papers to the relevant authorities and maintaining communication with that body in order to get a certified copy of the IRC.
Bangladesh Consultant legal professionals have strong working relationships with government agencies like BIDA and RJSC, which makes it much more effortless for them to secure whatever certificate their clients need.
If the License is about to expire, Bangladesh Consultant will also offer the service of renewing it by completing the required measures at the appropriate times.
IRC is for imports; ERC is for exports.
Typically 7–10 working days if documents are in order.
Yes, but the applicant must have a trade license and TIN.
Usually yes, unless exempted.
No, a new IRC must be obtained.
You cannot legally import goods until the renewal of the IRC license.
Yes, but late fees apply.
Depends on category, plus 15% VAT.
Only if they import goods.
Yes, by CCI&E for violations of rules.
There are penalties such as - fines, confiscation of goods, and lawsuits.
Yes, it is possible upon application and fee payment.
Updated trade license, TIN, BIN, and bank solvency certificate.
Yes, 15% on both registration and renewal.