Anyone can Import any permissible item without any value and quantity restrictions and without obtaining any permission from any authority in Bangladesh but the Import Registration Certificate (IRC) or import license is needed for the import of the same. In Bangladesh, the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCIE) which is an individual organization under the Ministry of Commerce issues this import certificate or import licence and the legal basis for this permission is found in Import Policy Order 2015-2018.
So finally, Import Registration Certificate (IRC) or import licence is a mandatory document for business entities who are desirous of importing raw material or any other special items to Bangladesh.
Requirements
To get a commercial import license (IRC) the following document are highly required.
There are three types of applicants for IRC registration. Depending on the type of applicant, the required document varies. The following documents must be submitted.
Types of Applicant,
- Individual or Proprietorship Firm
- Partnership Firm
- Private Limited Company
Before applying for a IRC certificate, being a member of a recognized Chamber or Trade Association is mandatory.
Basically, three types of Membership Certificate is accepted:
- Any Chamber of Commerce
- Trade organization. Like. BGMEA, FBCCI
- Government-approved association. Like, certificate of Electric Association in case of import of Electric products, Certificate of Plastic Association in case of import of plastic products
To get a membership certificate you have to apply the concerned Chamber of Commerce, Trade organization or Government- approved association with its prescribed way.
The certificate fee and required documents is fixed by the concerned Chamber or Trade Association
(A) Individual or Proprietorship Firm
- Official/Govt. Fees
- Up-to-date Trade license-Original Copy (click here to see the procedure for Trade License Registration)
- Up-to-date E-Tin Copy (Don’t have E-TIN? Please click here to see the procedure for E-TIN)
- Up to date Bank Solvency Certificate (Original Copy)
- Up-to-date Membership Certificate (Original Copy)
- NID/Birth Certificate/Passport
- Recent Photo of the applicant
- Mobile Number
- E-mail address
- For special business, prior approval letter
(B) Partnership Firm
- Official/Govt. Fees
- Up-to-date Trade license- Original Copy (click here to see the procedure for Trade License Registration)
- Up-to-date E-Tin Copy (Don’t have E-TIN? Please click here to see the procedure for E-TIN)
- Up-to-date Bank Solvency Certificate (Original Copy)
- Up-to-date Membership Certificate (Original Copy)
- NID/Birth Certificate/Passport of the partners
- Recent Photo of the partners
- Mobile Number of the partners
- E-mail address
- Partnership deed
- Registration Certificate of Partnership
- For special business, prior approval letter
(C) Private Limited Company
- Official/Govt. Fees
- Up-to-date Trade license- Original Copy (click here to see the procedure for Trade License Registration)
- Up-to-date E-Tin Copy (Don’t have E-TIN? Please click here to see the procedure for E-TIN)
- Up to date Bank Solvency Certificate (Original Copy)
- Up-to-date Membership Certificate (Original Copy)
- NID/Birth Certificate/Passport of the Managing Director
- Recent Photo of the Managing Director
- Mobile Number of the Managing Director
- E-mail address
- Memorandum Of Association
- Registration Certificate of the Company
- For special business, prior approval letter
Fees
The importers have been classified into 6 (six) categories on the basis of their value ceiling of overall annual import. The initial category wise registration fees and annual renewal fees are as under:
| Category | Value Ceiling of annual import | Initial Registration fees Annual renewal fees | Annual renewal fees |
| First | Tk. 5,00,000 | Tk. 5,000 | Tk. 3,000 |
| Second | Tk. 25,00,000 | Tk. 10,000 | Tk. 6,000 |
| Third | Tk. 50,00,000 | Tk. 18,000 | Tk. 10,000 |
| Fourth | Tk. 1,00,00,000 | Tk. 30,000 | Tk. 15,000 |
| Fifth | Tk. 5,00,00,000 | Tk. 45,000 | Tk. 22,000 |
| Sixth | Above Tk. 5,00,00,000 | Tk. 60,000 | Tk. 30,000 |
How to submit the Govt. fee?
Registration fee, the cost of pass-book and 15% VAT on Fee should be deposited under the head number: 1-1731-0001-1801at the Bangladesh Bank or Sonali Bank and three (3) copies of Treasury Challan shall be collected. (Sonali bank branches should be used only where Bangladesh Bank is not available). Collect and complete 3 copies of Chalan Form and pay the Schedule fee
Renewal of Import Registration Certificate (IRC License in Bangladesh)
It is highly required to renew import Registration Certificate (IRC License) every year. The renewal period is 1st July to 30 September of every year,
Online Registration Process
The application can be made online. In that case, first of all, the applicant must have to open an account and a scanned copy of the required documents can be submitted online. Please click here to sign up! https://olm.ccie.gov.bd/
PROCESS STEPS
ONLINE APPLICATION
Apply for the online application for export import licence with CCIE login. Export Import licence online apply. Import Permit application Bangladesh
APPLICATION FILING
Submit the online application along with the prescribed fee and to the Chief Controller of Imports & Exports (CCIE). Anyone can file the application for obtaining the Import Registration Certificate (IRC) which is well known as Import License.
DEPOSIT SCHEDULE FEES
Deposit schedule fees as per import the basis of their value ceiling of overall annual import by using online banking or sonali pay.
RECEIVED CERTIFICATE
Firstly, After formalities checking the submitted documents, the office of the Chief Controller of Imports & Exports will issue the license in favor of the applicant entity.
Secondly, Anyone can Import any permissible item without any value and quantity restrictions and without obtaining any permission from any authority in Bangladesh but the Import Registration Certificate (IRC) or import license is needed for the import of the same.
Thirdly, In Bangladesh, the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCIE) which is an individual organization under the Ministry of Commerce issues this import certificate or import license, and the legal basis for this permission is found in The Import Policy Order 2021-24.
So finally, Import Registration Certificate (IRC) or import license is a mandatory document for business entities who are desirous of importing raw material or any other special items to Bangladesh.
RENEWAL OF IRC
IRC is required to be renewed every year. The required documents are:
- IRC and Last year IRC Certificate (soft copy)
- Renewal Application by the applicant
- Treasury Challan of the annual renewal fee at Bangladesh Bank or Sonali Bank Pay, Online banking ( Scan Copy)
The applicant is required to arrange the below-mentioned documents and deposit the annual renewal fee at Bangladesh Bank or Sonali Bank
Note: Renewal of IRC can also be done by the Nominated Banks as per the Import Policy Order 2021-24. The IRC applicant needs to mention the name of a single Nominated bank in the IRC application form for subsequent renewals.
IRC REGISTRATION FEES
The importers have been classified into 6 (six) categories on the basis of their value ceiling of overall annual import. The initial category-wise registration fees and annual IRC renewal fees in Bangladesh are as under:
| Category | Value Ceiling of annual import | Initial Registration fees | IRC renewal fees in Bangladesh |
| i. | Tk. 5,00,000 | Tk. 5,000 | Tk. 3,000 |
| ii. | Tk. 25,00,000 | Tk. 10,000 | Tk. 6,000 |
| iii. | Tk. 50,00,000 | Tk. 24,000 | Tk. 10,000 |
| iv. | Tk. 1,00,00,000 | Tk. 40,000 | Tk. 15,000 |
| v. | Tk. 5,00,00,000 | Tk. 50,000 | Tk. 22,000 |
| vi. | Tk. 20,00,00,000 | Tk. 60,000 | Tk. 24,000 |
| vii. | Tk. 50,00,00,000 | Tk. 70,000 | Tk. 28,000 |
| viii. | Above Tk. 100,00,00,000 | Tk. 80,000 | Tk. 32,000 |
Grap: Import licence fee in Bangladesh
Note: Initial Registration fees and Annual renewal fees are excluded VAT. 15% VAT Applicable.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR REGISTRATION OR RENEWAL
- Photo of the applicant/owner/proprietor/managing director (Scan Copy)
- NID of the applicant/owner/proprietor/managing director (Scan Copy)
- Up to date Trade license (Scan Copy)
- E-TIN (Scan Copy)
- VAT Registration Certificate
- Up to date membership certificate (Scan Copy)
- Up to date Bank Solvency Certificate (Scan Copy)
- MOA (in case of a company)
- Form XII MOA (in case of a company)
- Incorporation Certificate MOA (in case of company)
- Partnership deed (in case of Partnership Firm)
- Environment Certificate(in case of a factory)
- Company PAD
- Mobile & e-mail address.
As Bangladesh is becoming one of the most promising outbound markets in the world. Due to swift growth of economy in this country, company formation procedure is broadly asking question to the new entrepreneurs. All the questions are answered above how you should register your company.