Import export business in Surat

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

Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026

An import export business in Surat 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 Surat Municipal Corporation and the registrations of Gujarat.

City body

Surat Municipal Corporation

State

Gujarat

IEC fee (all cities)

₹500

DGFT, official

Local licences for a trading or export office in Surat

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
Municipal licence for specified trades (Surat Municipal Corporation)	Surat Municipal Corporation	Varies	Varies
Shops and Establishments registration	Surat Municipal Corporation, Shops and Establishment Dept	Free (intimation only)	Free (intimation only)
Profession Tax (collected by your corporation)	Surat Municipal Corporation	₹2,000 a year for companies and professionals; nil to ₹2,500 for dealers by turnover	₹2,000 a year for companies and professionals; nil to ₹2,500 for dealers by turnover

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 Surat for fees by business type.

What is different in Surat

Registered under the Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2019 and Rules, 2020, administered in city limits by SMC.
Below 20 workers: intimation only. 20 or more workers: registration (limit raised from 10 by the Gujarat Amendment Act, 2026, in effect from 16 Dec 2025).
Gujarat levies professional tax. Pay every year. 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 Gujarat 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 Surat Licence checklist for an import export business Retail shop licences in Surat Office licences in Surat Trade licence in Surat Shops and Establishments in Gujarat Chapter-by-chapter guide Export to UAE Import from China

Common questions

Do I need a licence from the Surat Municipal Corporation to run an import export business in Surat?

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 Surat?

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 Gujarat?

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 Gujarat charge professional tax?

Gujarat levies professional tax. Pay every year. 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 Surat, checked 27 Sep 2026.