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Import export business in Visakhapatnam

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

Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026

An import export business in Visakhapatnam 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 Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and the registrations of Andhra Pradesh.

City body
Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation
State
Andhra Pradesh
IEC fee (all cities)
₹500
DGFT, official

Local licences for a trading or export office in Visakhapatnam

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 (Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation)Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal CorporationTo confirmTo confirm
Shops and Establishments registrationLabour Department, Andhra PradeshFee not confirmedFee not confirmed
Professional Tax (Andhra Pradesh Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1987)Commercial Taxes Department, Andhra PradeshStaff pay: nil up to ₹15,000 a month, ₹150 for ₹15,001 to ₹20,000, ₹200 above (To confirm). The Act caps the tax at ₹2,500 a yearStaff pay: nil up to ₹15,000 a month, ₹150 for ₹15,001 to ₹20,000, ₹200 above (To confirm). The Act caps the tax at ₹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 Visakhapatnam for fees by business type.

What is different in Visakhapatnam

  • Issued by GVMC. We could not find its trade licence fee schedule on an official page.
  • Establishments send a statement to the Inspector with the prescribed fee. We could not read the current fee schedule; the fee under the 1990 Rules is by number of workers and may have changed.
  • Andhra Pradesh levies professional tax. Not confirmed. Not confirmed.
  • To file an LUT you must hold a GST registration. The turnover limit for registering as a supplier of goods in Andhra 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 Visakhapatnam Licence checklist for an import export business Retail shop licences in Visakhapatnam Office licences in Visakhapatnam Trade licence in Visakhapatnam Shops and Establishments in Andhra Pradesh Chapter-by-chapter guide Export to UAE Import from China

Common questions

Do I need a licence from the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation to run an import export business in Visakhapatnam?
Yes, a trade licence applies in most cases. For an office or agency the fee in our data is To confirm.
Do I need an IEC if my office is in Visakhapatnam?
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 Andhra 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 Andhra Pradesh charge professional tax?
Andhra Pradesh levies professional tax. Not confirmed. 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 Visakhapatnam, checked 27 Sep 2026.