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Export Guide · Step 4 of 8
Step 4: Obtain Export Registration Certificate (ERC)
Apply for the Export Registration Certificate (ERC) from the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCI&E). This is the primary license that authorises your company to engage in export business. Valid for 5 years, renewable.
Export Guide — Your progress
Step 4 of 8
Apply for the Export Registration Certificate (ERC) from the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCI&E). This is the primary license that authorises your company to engage in export business. Valid for 5 years, renewable.
Full Guide
The Export Registration Certificate (ERC) is the most critical document for any Bangladeshi exporter. Issued by the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCI&E) under the Ministry of Commerce, the ERC legally authorises your company to export goods from Bangladesh. Without it, you cannot: file customs export declarations (EXP forms), open export LCs, receive export proceeds in your bank account, or claim any cash incentives.
The ERC is issued under the Export Policy Order (currently 2021-2024, with 2024-2027 in draft). It is valid for 5 years and renewable for further 5-year periods. The application process is now fully online via the CCI&E portal (ccie.gov.bd). The documents required are: Certificate of Incorporation, Trade License, TIN & BIN, Bank Certificate (from Step 3), Rent deed/ownership proof of business premises, Membership certificate of relevant sector association (BGMEA/BKMEA/LFMEAB/etc. — see Step 6), and the application fee challan (BDT 5,000 for new ERC, BDT 2,500 for renewal).
The ERC specifies your approved export categories — you must select these carefully based on your business plan. Common categories include: RMG, leather, jute, agro-processed food, pharmaceuticals, light engineering, handicrafts, IT/software, and 'others'. Each category requires the corresponding sector association membership certificate to be uploaded. If you plan to export multiple categories, you can list them all on one ERC.
The processing time is officially 7 working days but practically takes 2-3 weeks. Common rejection reasons: incomplete documents, mismatched company name across documents, missing sector association certificate, or business premises not matching the trade license address. Once issued, the ERC contains your unique ERC Number (e.g. BD-EXP-2026-12345) which must be quoted on all export-related forms.
The ERC is issued under the Export Policy Order (currently 2021-2024, with 2024-2027 in draft). It is valid for 5 years and renewable for further 5-year periods. The application process is now fully online via the CCI&E portal (ccie.gov.bd). The documents required are: Certificate of Incorporation, Trade License, TIN & BIN, Bank Certificate (from Step 3), Rent deed/ownership proof of business premises, Membership certificate of relevant sector association (BGMEA/BKMEA/LFMEAB/etc. — see Step 6), and the application fee challan (BDT 5,000 for new ERC, BDT 2,500 for renewal).
The ERC specifies your approved export categories — you must select these carefully based on your business plan. Common categories include: RMG, leather, jute, agro-processed food, pharmaceuticals, light engineering, handicrafts, IT/software, and 'others'. Each category requires the corresponding sector association membership certificate to be uploaded. If you plan to export multiple categories, you can list them all on one ERC.
The processing time is officially 7 working days but practically takes 2-3 weeks. Common rejection reasons: incomplete documents, mismatched company name across documents, missing sector association certificate, or business premises not matching the trade license address. Once issued, the ERC contains your unique ERC Number (e.g. BD-EXP-2026-12345) which must be quoted on all export-related forms.
Do-This Checklist
- Visit ccie.gov.bd and create an account
- Upload all required documents (PDF, max 5MB each)
- Pay application fee via challan (BDT 5,000)
- Choose export categories carefully (RMG, leather, jute, etc.)
- Submit application and note the tracking number
- CCI&E inspector may visit premises (rare)
- Receive ERC via online portal (download PDF)
- Quote ERC Number on all future export documents
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Selecting wrong export category — restricts future product expansion
- Sector association membership not yet obtained — ERC rejected
- Company name spelling differs across documents — verification fails
- Not renewing ERC before 5-year expiry — all exports halted
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