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Import export business in Lucknow

Start an import export business in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: IEC code from DGFT, AD code, RCMC, GST LUT, plus the Lucknow Municipal Corporation trade licence and Uttar Pradesh.

Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026

An import export business in Lucknow 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 Lucknow Municipal Corporation and the registrations of Uttar Pradesh.

City body
Lucknow Municipal Corporation
State
Uttar Pradesh
IEC fee (all cities)
₹500
DGFT, official

Local licences for a trading or export office in Lucknow

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
No municipal licence needed for this trade (Lucknow)Lucknow Municipal CorporationNilVaries
Shops and Establishments registrationLabour Department, Uttar PradeshNot required (fewer than 20 workers)Not required (fewer than 20 workers)

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 Lucknow for fees by business type.

What is different in Lucknow

  • Issued under the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporation Adhiniyam 1959 (s.438, and s.401 for powered factories/bakeries) and LMC licence bye-laws.
  • Since 19 Nov 2025 only shops and establishments with 20 or more workers must register; smaller ones are exempt from the Act.
  • Uttar Pradesh does not levy professional tax on businesses in our data.
  • To file an LUT you must hold a GST registration. The turnover limit for registering as a supplier of goods in Uttar Pradesh 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 Lucknow Licence checklist for an import export business Retail shop licences in Lucknow Office licences in Lucknow Trade licence in Lucknow Shops and Establishments in Uttar Pradesh Chapter-by-chapter guide Export to UAE Import from China

Common questions

Do I need a licence from the Lucknow Municipal Corporation to run an import export business in Lucknow?
Yes, a trade licence applies in most cases. For an office or agency the fee in our data is Nil.
Do I need an IEC if my office is in Lucknow?
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 Uttar Pradesh?
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 Uttar Pradesh charge professional tax?
Uttar Pradesh does not levy professional tax on businesses in our data.
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 Lucknow, checked 27 Sep 2026.