Licenses and registrations to open an import export business in Thane
7 required licences and registrations, the official fee for each, the office that issues it and the documents to keep ready. Based on a typical small import export business with 1 to 5 staff and turnover of ₹20 to 40 lakh a year.
Fees checked: 27 Sep 2026
Required licences
7
Known official fees
₹3,000
first year, plus 2 that vary
Issuing city body
Thane Municipal Corporation
Get this list for your exact business
Change turnover, staff, floor area and extras like alcohol or a DG set. Tick documents as you collect them and share the list on WhatsApp or email.
Required licences and official fees
For an import export business in Thane (TMC), Maharashtra.
| Licence | Issued by | Official fee | Time | Apply at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PANCentral | Income Tax Department | Freeinstant e-PAN with Aadhaar | Same day | incometax.gov.in (Instant e-PAN) |
| GST registrationCentral | GST Network / State GST Department | Freeno government fee | About 7 working days | gst.gov.in |
| Import Export Code (IEC)Central | DGFT, Ministry of Commerce | ₹500one time; yearly update in April to June is free | Code is generated after you submit and pay | dgft.gov.in |
| AD code registration on ICEGATECentral | Your bank gives the code; Customs registers it on ICEGATE | To confirmthe ICEGATE advisory shows no fee | Registration appears on your ICEGATE dashboard after approval | icegate.gov.in |
| GST LUT for zero-rated exports (Form RFD-11)Central | GST Department (filed on the GST portal) | To confirmthe GST portal guide shows no fee | Deemed approved if the officer takes no action in 3 working days | gst.gov.in |
| Shops and Establishments registrationState | Labour Department, Maharashtra | Freefor your staff size | Within 60 days of opening | aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in |
| Professional Tax (PTEC and PTRC)State | Maharashtra GST Department | ₹2,500 a year (₹2,000 for GST dealers up to ₹25 lakh turnover) | Enrol within 30 days of starting | mahagst.gov.in |
Fees are the official government fees, not agent charges. Some fees depend on your size or change by office, so confirm on the portal before paying.
Order to apply in
- Identity and tax registration: PAN, GST registration. Do these first. Later forms ask for PAN and GST.
- Sector licence: Import Export Code (IEC), AD code registration on ICEGATE, GST LUT for zero-rated exports (Form RFD-11). The licence that lets you legally run this type of business.
- State labour and tax: Shops and Establishments registration, Professional Tax (PTEC and PTRC). Registers your workplace and staff with the state.
Documents to keep ready
- Aadhaar linked to your mobile number
- For a firm or company: incorporation certificate or partnership deed
- PAN of the business
- Aadhaar and photo of the owner or partners
- Proof of premises: electricity bill plus rent agreement or owner's NOC
- Bank statement or cancelled cheque
- PAN of the firm or company (DGFT checks it against Income Tax records)
- Proof of establishment: incorporation certificate, partnership deed, society registration, trust deed or HUF details, as it applies to you
- Proof of address: sale deed, rent or lease agreement, electricity or phone bill, MoU or partnership deed. A proprietor can use Aadhaar, passport or voter ID
- No objection letter from the owner of the premises, if the address proof is not in the firm's name
- Bank proof: a cancelled cheque with the firm's name pre-printed, or a bank certificate
- A digital signature token or Aadhaar e-sign of a member of the firm
- Mobile number and email ID for OTPs
- Files must be PDF and not more than 5 MB each
- Your IEC and PAN
- Bank account number held with an authorised dealer bank branch
- The AD code of that branch (ask your bank)
- ICEGATE login ID and password
- Mobile number linked to your ICEGATE profile for the OTP
- GST registration (GSTIN) and login
- Name, address and occupation of two independent witnesses
- Digital signature or EVC of an authorised signatory
- If you already have a manually approved LUT for the year, you may upload one copy (up to 2 MB)
- Photo ID and address proof of the owner
- Proof of premises
- Photo of the shop front with name board
- Employee details (names, roles, wages)
- Name board in Marathi (Devanagari)
- PAN
- Aadhaar
- Business address proof
- GST or Shops and Establishments certificate
- Employee list with salaries
Also check if these apply
- Udyam (MSME) registration: Free. Free. Gets you the lower trademark fee, MSME loan schemes and protection against delayed payments.
- RCMC from your export promotion council: To confirm. DGFT's Appendix 2T lists which council covers which product. Find yours in the list of councils.
- DGFT licence for restricted items: ₹1,000 for an export licence. Most goods are free to import and export. Check your 8-digit HS code on the DGFT policy search before you ship.
- Certificate of origin (including e-CoO): ₹200 non-preferential; ₹600 preferential. Apply on trade.gov.in to an agency DGFT authorises. A preferential certificate is needed for tariff benefits under a trade agreement.
- Trade licence (TMC Licence Dept): Varies. Trades listed under s.376 MMC Act (eating houses, food and specified trades); plus Maharashtra S&E registration (10+ workers) or intimation (<10)
Extra licences for what you trade
The list above covers every import export business. Your product may need more. In the checklist, choose "What do you trade?" to add these to your list, or read each guide below. Fees marked To confirm were not found on an official page.
Food or agri products
- APEDA registration and RCMC: ₹5,900. For fruit, vegetables, processed food, meat, dairy, basmati rice and other APEDA products.
- FSSAI importer licence and import clearance: ₹1,000 + GST. Needed to import food. Each consignment is cleared at the port.
- Plant quarantine: phytosanitary certificate and import permit: To confirm. For plants, seeds, fruit, spices and other plant products.
Spices
- Spices Board registration (CRES): To confirm. For spices and spice products. The Board treats CRES as your RCMC.
- FSSAI importer licence and import clearance: ₹1,000 + GST. Needed to import food. Each consignment is cleared at the port.
- Plant quarantine: phytosanitary certificate and import permit: To confirm. For plants, seeds, fruit, spices and other plant products.
Marine products (fish, shrimp)
- MPEDA registration and RCMC: ₹5,000 + ₹5,900. For fish, shrimp and other marine products.
- FSSAI importer licence and import clearance: ₹1,000 + GST. Needed to import food. Each consignment is cleared at the port.
Pharma or cosmetics
- RCMC from Pharmexcil: To confirm. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
- RCMC from CHEMEXCIL: To confirm. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
- CDSCO import licence (drugs, devices, cosmetics): ₹1,000 (older edition, To confirm). Needed to import medicines, medical devices and cosmetics.
Electronics
- RCMC from ESC: To confirm. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
- BIS certification for imported goods: To confirm. Needed when the product is under BIS compulsory certification.
- Legal Metrology importer registration: To confirm. For importers of packaged goods and of weights and measures.
- WPC Equipment Type Approval (wireless devices): To confirm. For importing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other radio equipment.
Textiles and garments
- RCMC from TEXPROCIL: To confirm. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
- RCMC from AEPC: To confirm. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
- Legal Metrology importer registration: To confirm. For importers of packaged goods and of weights and measures.
Gems and jewellery
- RCMC from GJEPC: To confirm. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
Chemicals
- RCMC from CHEMEXCIL: To confirm. Membership of the export council for your product. Needed to claim Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
Read the full section: Import and export from India, how to start an export business, how to import goods into India, and import export business in Thane.
Common questions
How much do licences cost for an import export business in Thane?
The known official fees for the required licences add up to about ₹3,000 in the first year, plus 2 fees that depend on your size or the office (AD code registration on ICEGATE, GST LUT for zero-rated exports (Form RFD-11)). This is the government fee only. Agents and consultants charge extra, which you can avoid by applying yourself on the official portals.
Which licence should I apply for first?
Start with PAN and GST registration, because almost every later form asks for them. Then apply for the sector licence (Import Export Code (IEC)), followed by the municipal licence and the state labour registration.
Do I need an IEC to start an import export business in Thane?
Yes. Every importer and exporter needs an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT. The official application fee is ₹500. You also need GST registration, an AD code registration on ICEGATE, and a GST LUT to export without paying IGST.
Which export promotion council should I join?
It depends on your product. APEDA covers most agri and food exports, MPEDA marine products, the Spices Board spices, and each export council covers its own product group. Choose what you trade in the checklist to see the right one.
How long does it take to get all the licences?
Most registrations like PAN, GST and Udyam come through within a week. Sector and municipal licences can take 30 to 60 days where an inspection is needed, so apply for those as early as possible and before you open.
Is Govt License a government website?
No. Govt License is an independent guide. We link to the official government portals where you apply and pay. Always confirm the fee on the portal before paying.
Aksar pooche jaane wale sawaal
Yahi jaankari, Hinglish mein.
Thane mein import export business kholne ke liye kaun kaun se license chahiye?
Thane mein import export business ke liye 7 zaroori license aur registration hain: PAN, GST registration, Import Export Code (IEC), AD code registration on ICEGATE, GST LUT for zero-rated exports (Form RFD-11), Shops and Establishments registration aur Professional Tax (PTEC and PTRC). Sabse pehle PAN aur GST, phir Import Export Code (IEC), uske baad baaki registration.
Thane mein import export business ke license ka kitna kharcha aata hai?
Sarkari fees milakar pehle saal lagbhag ₹3,000 lagta hai, aur 2 fees aapke size ya office par depend karti hai. Yeh sirf government fees hai. Agent alag se paise lete hain, jo aap official portal par khud apply karke bacha sakte hain.
Thane mein trade license kaise banaye? Kya import export business ke liye zaroori hai?
Kuch trades ke liye haan. Yeh licence Thane Municipal Corporation deta hai: Trade licence (TMC Licence Dept). Fees: Varies. Apni trade ke liye zaroorat TMC Licence Department par confirm karein.
Import export business ke license ke liye kaun se documents chahiye?
Yeh documents taiyaar rakhein: Aadhaar linked to your mobile number, For a firm or company: incorporation certificate or partnership deed, PAN of the business, Aadhaar and photo of the owner or partners, Proof of premises: electricity bill plus rent agreement or owner's NOC, Bank statement or cancelled cheque, PAN of the firm or company (DGFT checks it against Income Tax records), Proof of establishment: incorporation certificate, partnership deed, society registration, trust deed or HUF details, as it applies to you.
Saare license milne mein kitna time lagta hai?
PAN, GST aur Udyam aam taur par ek hafte ke andar mil jaate hain. FSSAI aur municipal license mein inspection ki wajah se 30 se 60 din lag sakte hain, isliye business shuru karne se pehle hi apply kar dein.
Import Export Business licences in other cities
Delhi New Delhi (NDMC) Mumbai Pune Kolkata West Bengal towns Chennai Bengaluru Hyderabad Ahmedabad Lucknow Kanpur Ghaziabad Noida Patna Jaipur Indore Bhopal Gurugram Faridabad Surat Vadodara Nagpur Coimbatore Howrah Raipur Dehradun Panaji Chandigarh Shimla Jammu Srinagar