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Import export business in Chennai

Start an import export business in Chennai, Tamil Nadu: IEC code from DGFT, AD code, RCMC, GST LUT, plus the Greater Chennai Corporation trade licence and Tamil Nadu.

Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026

An import export business in Chennai 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 Chennai Corporation and the registrations of Tamil Nadu.

City body
Greater Chennai Corporation
State
Tamil Nadu
IEC fee (all cities)
₹500
DGFT, official

Local licences for a trading or export office in Chennai

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.

LicenceIssued byOffice or agencyRetail or trading shop
Trade licence (GCC)Greater Chennai Corporation, Revenue DepartmentVaries₹1,000 to ₹20,000
Shops and Establishments registrationLabour Department, Tamil NaduNot mandatory below 10 workersNot mandatory below 10 workers
Profession Tax (collected by your corporation)Greater Chennai Corporation (local body)Up to ₹1,250 per half-year (₹2,500 a year), by income; companies also pay Company TaxUp to ₹1,250 per half-year (₹2,500 a year), by income; companies also pay Company Tax

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 Chennai for fees by business type.

What is different in Chennai

  • Premises licence under the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919, s.287.
  • Mandatory for establishments with 10 or more workers (Form Y). Certificate (Form Z) issued within 24 hours.
  • Tamil Nadu levies professional tax. Half-yearly: by 30 September and 31 March. Register with the corporation when you start.
  • To file an LUT you must hold a GST registration. The turnover limit for registering as a supplier of goods in Tamil Nadu 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

  1. IEC code from DGFT. Fee ₹500.
  2. AD code on ICEGATE with your bank.
  3. RCMC from your product's council.
  4. GST LUT each financial year.
  5. 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 Chennai Licence checklist for an import export business Retail shop licences in Chennai Office licences in Chennai Trade licence in Chennai Shops and Establishments in Tamil Nadu Chapter-by-chapter guide Export to UAE Import from China

Common questions

Do I need a licence from the Greater Chennai Corporation to run an import export business in Chennai?
Yes, a trade licence applies in most cases. For an office or agency the fee in our data is Varies.
Do I need an IEC if my office is in Chennai?
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 Tamil Nadu?
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 Tamil Nadu charge professional tax?
Tamil Nadu levies professional tax. Half-yearly: by 30 September and 31 March. Register with the corporation 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 Chennai, checked 27 Sep 2026.