Import export business in Bengaluru

Start an import export business in Bengaluru, Karnataka: IEC code from DGFT, AD code, RCMC, GST LUT, plus the Greater Bengaluru Authority city corporation trade licence and.

Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026

An import export business in Bengaluru needs two layers of registration. The first layer is national and the same in every city: an IEC from DGFT, an AD code on ICEGATE, an RCMC for your product and a GST LUT. The second layer is local: the trade licence from the Greater Bengaluru Authority city corporation and the registrations of Karnataka.

City body

Greater Bengaluru Authority city corporation

State

Karnataka

IEC fee (all cities)

₹500

DGFT, official

Local licences for a trading or export office in Bengaluru

Fees from our licence data for a small business. The first column is an office or agency, the second a retail or trading shop with stock.

Licence	Issued by	Office or agency	Retail or trading shop
Trade licence (GBA city corporation)	Greater Bengaluru Authority, city corporation health / trade section	₹500 to ₹2,00,000	₹500 to ₹2,00,000
Shops and Establishments registration	Labour Department, Karnataka	₹810	₹810
Professional Tax (enrolment and registration)	Commercial Taxes Department, Karnataka	₹2,500 a year	₹2,500 a year

Fees and rules change and can differ between offices. Confirm the fee on the official portal before you pay. Open the trade licence page for Bengaluru for fees by business type.

What is different in Bengaluru

BBMP was replaced by the Greater Bengaluru Authority and five city corporations in 2025.
All shops and establishments, including proprietors with no staff. Since 4 Sep 2026, places with 10 or more workers already registered under the OSH Code, 2020 do not register again, and applications are decided within 7 days.
Karnataka levies professional tax. Pay every year by 30 April. Enrol when you start.
To file an LUT you must hold a GST registration. The turnover limit for registering as a supplier of goods in Karnataka is ₹40 lakh in our data, but exporters who want to ship without paying IGST register earlier so that they can file the LUT.

National steps, same in every city

IEC code from DGFT. Fee ₹500.
AD code on ICEGATE with your bank.
RCMC from your product's council.
GST LUT each financial year.
Certificate of origin when the buyer needs one.

Go deeper

Start an export business Import goods into India Full licence list: import export business in Bengaluru Licence checklist for an import export business Retail shop licences in Bengaluru Office licences in Bengaluru Trade licence in Bengaluru Shops and Establishments in Karnataka Chapter-by-chapter guide Export to UAE Import from China

Common questions

Do I need a licence from the Greater Bengaluru Authority city corporation to run an import export business in Bengaluru?

Yes, a trade licence applies in most cases. For an office or agency the fee in our data is ₹500 to ₹2,00,000.

Do I need an IEC if my office is in Bengaluru?

Yes. The IEC is issued by DGFT for all of India and costs ₹500. You apply online, so your city does not change the process.

Where is the DGFT office for Karnataka?

You apply online on the DGFT portal. DGFT's regional authority for your state handles matters that need an officer, such as cancellation of a numeric IEC.

Does Karnataka charge professional tax?

Karnataka levies professional tax. Pay every year by 30 April. Enrol when you start.

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.

Official sources for this page

City fees come from the Govt License licence data for Bengaluru, checked 27 Sep 2026.