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Import export business in Thiruvananthapuram

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

Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026

An import export business in Thiruvananthapuram 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 Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation and the registrations of Kerala.

City body
Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation
State
Kerala
IEC fee (all cities)
₹500
DGFT, official

Local licences for a trading or export office in Thiruvananthapuram

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
Licence for trades and other services (Kerala Municipality Rules, 1996)Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation₹500 to ₹15,000₹500 to ₹15,000
Shops and Establishments registrationLabour Department, Kerala (Assistant Labour Officer)₹100 (up to 5 workers)₹100 (up to 5 workers)
Profession tax (collected by your local body)Local self government institution (municipal corporation, municipality or panchayat)Half-yearly slabs set by local body law, up to ₹2,500 a year. Slab amounts To confirmHalf-yearly slabs set by local body law, up to ₹2,500 a year. Slab amounts To confirm

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 Thiruvananthapuram for fees by business type.

What is different in Thiruvananthapuram

  • Issued by the corporation under the Kerala Municipality (Issue of Licence to Factories, Trades, Entrepreneurship Activities and Other Services) Rules, 1996. The annual fee depends on your capital investment: ₹500 for a service business up to ₹10 lakh, ₹1,000 up to ₹25 lakh, ₹5,000 up to ₹2 crore, ₹10,000 up to ₹5 crore, ₹15,000 above.
  • All shops and commercial establishments, except those registered under the Factories Act, must register whatever the number of workers. Apply online with the fee and a copy of the local body licence or lease agreement.
  • Kerala levies professional tax. Paid every half year to the local body; dates To confirm. Not confirmed.
  • To file an LUT you must hold a GST registration. The turnover limit for registering as a supplier of goods in Kerala 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 Thiruvananthapuram Licence checklist for an import export business Retail shop licences in Thiruvananthapuram Office licences in Thiruvananthapuram Trade licence in Thiruvananthapuram Shops and Establishments in Kerala Chapter-by-chapter guide Export to UAE Import from China

Common questions

Do I need a licence from the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation to run an import export business in Thiruvananthapuram?
Yes, a trade licence applies in most cases. For an office or agency the fee in our data is ₹500 to ₹15,000.
Do I need an IEC if my office is in Thiruvananthapuram?
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 Kerala?
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 Kerala charge professional tax?
Kerala levies professional tax. Paid every half year to the local body; dates To confirm. Not confirmed.
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 Thiruvananthapuram, checked 27 Sep 2026.