Is APEDA registration mandatory for all exporters?

No — only for exporters of products listed in Schedule 2 of the APEDA Act 1985. Exporters of raw cereals, raw cashew, tea or coffee fall under other commodity boards (DGFT-direct, Cashew Board, Tea Board, Coffee Board respectively).

What is the validity of the APEDA RCMC?

The RCMC is valid for one financial year (April–March). Renewal must be completed on or before 31 March on the Ambrosia portal; late renewal attracts ₹1,180 per month of delay.

Is IEC mandatory before applying for APEDA?

Yes — APEDA validates the IEC against the DGFT master on the Ambrosia portal. The exporter's IEC is the primary identifier on the RCMC.

What is the APEDA Cess and how is it paid?

APEDA Cess is 0.005% (₹5 per ₹1 lakh) of the FOB value of scheduled products exported. It is collected electronically through ICEGATE along with customs processing of the shipping bill; no separate manual challan is filed.

Can a manufacturer-exporter apply without a factory licence?

No — for the "Manufacturer Exporter" category, APEDA requires a valid factory licence (or IEM for SSI-exempt large units). The applicant must upload the licence.

Does APEDA registration give the benefit of FTP export incentives?

Yes — RCMC issued by APEDA is the eligibility document for schemes under FTP 2023-28 such as RoDTEP, RoSCTL, and Advance Authorisation, in respect of scheduled products.

Is GST registration mandatory before APEDA?

Effectively yes — for a manufacturer exporter, GSTIN is required. For pure merchant exporters, GSTIN is recommended as APEDA auto-validates it; in practice a GSTIN is necessary to claim refunds and refunds cannot be processed without it.

What happens if I export a scheduled product without APEDA registration?

Section 25 of the APEDA Act 1985 makes it an offence punishable with imprisonment up to 6 months or fine up to ₹5,000 or both; the customs shipping bill is also liable to be held up and the export may be treated as violation of export policy under Section 11 of FTDR Act 1992.

Editor's pickLicenses & Reg

Apeda Registration

Apply for APEDA registration with expert assistance. Understand documents required, government fees, processing time and the step-by-step process before you file.

Statutory basis: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985 (Act 2 of 1986, enacted 25.11.1985.

Turnaround

7–14 Working Days

₹

Starts from

₹4,499

Money-back accuracy

Guaranteed

Total starting from

₹4,499

Professional + estimated government fee

Professional fee₹3,499 starts with

Government fee (est.)₹1,000

Turnaround7–14 Working Days

Money-back accuracy. CA/CS specialist. Tracked client portal.

CONFIRMEDverified 25 Aug 2026

Dedicated specialist

CA-led, named point of contact

Tracked client portal

Real-time status, end-to-end

Money-back accuracy

Refile-free if our error

Flat-fee pricing

No hidden charges, ever

About this service

Apeda Registration is a key regulatory filing administered by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. Head office: NCUI Building, New Delhi.. Filing is executed via Online "Application for RCMC / Registration as Exporter of Scheduled Products" under APEDA (Registration of Members) Regulations, 1987. No paper Form-A today; the entire flow is online via Ambrosia. The Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) format is prescribed under Appendix 2E of the Handbook of Procedures of FTP 2023-28. under Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985 (Act 2 of 1986, enacted 25.11.1985; notified w.e.f. 10.02.1986) — **Section 4** (establishment of APEDA), **Section 11** (functions of APEDA), **Section 12** (registration of exporters of scheduled products), **Section 13** (cancellation/suspension of registration), **Section 25** (penalties), **Section 27** (furnishing of false information); **Schedule 2** (list of scheduled products — fresh/processed fruits & vegetables, meat & meat products, poultry, dairy, confectionery/bakery, honey, jaggery, cocoa, guar gum, alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages, bran, sharbats, processed foods, etc.). Operational rules: APEDA (Registration of Members) Regulations, 1987 and APEDA (Export Inspection Requirements) Regulations. Foreign Trade Policy 2023-28 — Paragraph 2.55 read with ANF 2C (RCMC by APEDA as EPC for scheduled products).. Our specialist-led team ensures full compliance with statutory documentation, eligibility verification, and expedited government approval.

Eligibility & thresholds

Minimum

Valid identity & address proof of applicant
Active PAN & registered business premises
Authorized representative authorization

Maximum

Compliant under applicable regulatory laws
No pending statutory disqualifications
Valid across authorized operational jurisdictions

Statutory floor

Pre-filing statutory documentation verification
Official statutory fee schedule as per authority
Mandatory periodic compliance filings post-approval

What's included

Everything in one transparent fee — no add-ons, no surprises.

Investor-Centric AOA Drafting

If you plan to raise institutional funding, standard Articles of Association (AOA) will not suffice. Venture capitalists demand specific clauses regarding right of first refusal (ROFR), tag-along/drag-along rights, and anti-dilution provisions. Our elite corporate lawyers draft sophisticated AOAs that anticipate future funding rounds, preventing costly and time-consuming structural overhauls when you secure term sheets.

Complex Multi-Founder Structuring

Co-founder disputes are the leading cause of early-stage startup failure. We don't just register your company; we advise on optimal equity splits, director roles, and authorized capital distribution. We provide templates for Co-Founder Agreements and vesting schedules, ensuring that the foundational relationship between partners is legally documented and aligned for long-term stability.

Rapid SPICe+ Processing Engine

Time is of the essence for startups. We utilize an advanced compliance engine that preemptively validates all data entered into the SPICe+ (INC-32) form. By cross-referencing PAN databases, checking DIN eligibility, and formatting registered office proofs perfectly, we eliminate typographical errors that typically cause frustrating ROC resubmission delays, ensuring first-pass approval.

Strategic Authorized Capital Advisory

Determining your initial Authorized Share Capital is a delicate balance. Set it too low, and you'll immediately face high fees to increase it during your first seed round. Set it too high, and you pay unnecessary upfront government stamp duty. We analyze your 12-to-18-month funding roadmap to recommend the exact optimal capital structure that minimizes immediate costs while accommodating your immediate growth.

ESOP Implementation Framework

Attracting top-tier talent in the startup ecosystem often requires offering Employee Stock Ownership Plans. A Private Limited Company is the only structure that efficiently supports this. As part of our premium advisory, we structure your initial cap table to accommodate a future ESOP pool seamlessly, ensuring you are ready to incentivize your founding team.

Comprehensive Post-Incorporation Toolkit

Receiving the Certificate of Incorporation is just the starting line. Within the first 30 to 180 days, you must open a bank account, appoint a statutory auditor (ADT-1), and file the Commencement of Business (INC-20A). We provide a complete post-incorporation execution service, handling these mandatory compliance milestones so you can focus entirely on product development and sales.

Government Fee Breakdown

Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. All figures verified as of 25 August 2026.

Fee Component	Amount (₹)	Basis / Authority
Apeda Registration Statutory Fee	₹1,000	Official government fee schedule (separate from professional fee)Statutory Authority
Total Government Fee	₹1,000	(for default assumptions stated below)

Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. Verified 25 August 2026.

Required documents

Each list identifies exactly what to provide — and what you do not need to submit. Use the accordions to expand.

›IEC (Import Export Code) issued by DGFT — auto-fetched. — IEC (Import Export Code) issued by DGFT — auto-fetched.
›PAN of entity / proprietor. — PAN of entity / proprietor.
›GST Registration Certificate (GSTIN). — GST Registration Certificate (GSTIN).
›Bank account details — cancelled cheque / bank certificate. — Bank account details — cancelled cheque / bank certificate.
›Address proof of registered office — electricity bill / rent agreement. — Address proof of registered office — electricity bill / rent agreement.
›Constitution document — Partnership Deed / LLP Agreement / Memorandum & Articles of Association / Ce — Constitution document — Partnership Deed / LLP Agreement / Memorandum & Articles of Association / Certificate of Incorporation.
›Authorised signatory details with Aadhaar/PAN and DIN (for companies). — Authorised signatory details with Aadhaar/PAN and DIN (for companies).
›Self-declaration of the category of exporter (Merchant / Manufacturer / Merchant-Manufacturer / Serv — Self-declaration of the category of exporter (Merchant / Manufacturer / Merchant-Manufacturer / Service Provider).

How it works

Each step is labelled with who performs it — Customer, I-Pro, or the Regulator. Form names are linked to the official portal.

1
Customer⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 1: **I-Pro / Customer**
**I-Pro / Customer**: Obtain IEC from DGFT ( prerequisite; APEDA portal auto-validates IEC).
2
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 2: **I-Pro**
**I-Pro**: Open https://ambrosia.apeda.gov.in → "New Exporter Registration".
3
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 3: **I-Pro**
**I-Pro**: Enter IEC + entity PAN → system auto-fetches entity details from DGFT master.
4
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 4: **I-Pro**
**I-Pro**: Fill exporter profile — registered office address, bank account, authorised signatory, category, scheduled-product sub-categories proposed to be exported, destination markets.
5
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 5: **I-Pro**
**I-Pro**: Upload mandatory documents (PDF, ≤2 MB each).
6
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 6: **Customer**
**Customer**: Pay the prescribed fee online (SBI / HDFC payment gateway) — government fee + GST.
7
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 7: **APEDA system**
**APEDA system**: Validates IEC and documents; system generates a Unique APEDA ID.
8
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 8: **APEDA officer (RD/RO)**
**APEDA officer (RD/RO)**: Scrutinises application; raises query, if any, on Ambrosia itself.
9
I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 9: **APEDA**
**APEDA**: Issues RCMC in the prescribed format (Appendix 2E) — typically within 7–10 working days of clean application.
10
Regulator⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 10: **I-Pro**
**I-Pro**: Download RCMC; counsel exporter on ARE-1 procedure, APEDA Cess, brand approval, and product-specific norms.

Post-registration compliance

What to file next. I-Pro handles these as part of the annual compliance package.

Filing	Form	Deadline
Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A) Penalty: ₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh)	`One-time mandatory`	Within 180 days of incorporation after bank capital deposit
First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1) Penalty: Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers	`5-year tenure`	Within 30 days of incorporation by Board of Directors
Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling	`Annual`	Within 30 days of AGM (by 29 October annually)
Annual Return (Form MGT-7) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling	`Annual`	Within 60 days of AGM (by 29 November annually)
Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC) Penalty: ₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation	`Annual`	Every designated partner / director holding active DIN by 30 September

Penalties for non-compliance

Statutory penalties under governing regulatory provisions. Avoid non-compliance delays.

Non-compliance	Provision	Penalty
Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A)	One-time mandatory	₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh)
First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1)	5-year tenure	Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers
Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4)	Annual	₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling
Annual Return (Form MGT-7)	Annual	₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling
Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC)	Annual	₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoidable filing errors that cause delays or rejection. Each can be resolved before submission.

1
Mismatched applicant legal name or identity details across KYC proofs
Why: Government verification APIs cross-check with UIDAI and MCA databases and automatically flag discrepancies in spelling or dates.
Fix: Our specialists pre-validate your documents against official government databases before portal filing.
2
Submitting outdated utility bills or non-notarized commercial leases
Why: Premises proofs older than 60 days or defective landlord NOCs trigger statutory scrutiny queries and multi-week processing delays.
Fix: We verify recent billing dates and provide pre-formatted, legally vetted landlord NOC and lease formats.
3
Selecting incorrect classification, turnover slab, or statutory activity code
Why: Applications filed under inappropriate classifications attract show-cause notices and potential rejection without statutory fee refund.
Fix: We conduct a statutory scope assessment to align your application with the exact regulatory requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about this service.

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