RCMC Registration Online in India

What is Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC)?

Under Foreign Trade Policy 2023, RCMC means a certificate of registration and membership granted by an Export Promotion Council, Commodity Board, Development Authority or another competent authority prescribed in the FTP or Handbook of Procedures.

An exporter declares the main line of business while applying. The RCMC is normally obtained from the registering authority concerned with the exporter's principal product, project or service category.

Who Needs to Obtain RCMC?

Paragraph 2.57 of Foreign Trade Policy 2023 provides that a person applying for an authorisation to import or export under the FTP, except items listed as Restricted in ITC (HS), or applying for another benefit or concession under the FTP, is required to provide an RCMC granted by the competent authority unless specifically exempted under the Policy.

The earlier statement that RCMC is required because an exporter seeks authorisation for a restricted item is therefore not accurate under the current wording of FTP 2023.

Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES) issued by the Spices Board and the Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Coir and Coir Products issued by the Coir Board are treated as RCMC for FTP purposes.

Competent Authorities to Issue RCMC

Export Promotion Councils are recognised as registering authorities for their relevant product, project or service groups. The applicable authority is determined by the exporter's main line of business and the allocation of product/service categories under Appendix 2T and related DGFT provisions.

• Where the main export product or service is covered by a specific EPC, Commodity Board or Development Authority, the exporter should apply to that competent body.
• Where the product is not covered by a specific EPC or Commodity Board, or in qualifying multi-product cases, FIEO may be the appropriate registering authority under DGFT procedure.
• Special sector-specific registration arrangements, including for spices and coir, are recognised under FTP 2023.

The precise registering authority should be verified from the current DGFT Appendix 2T / e-RCMC selection available at the time of filing.

How to Apply for RCMC Online

Since 1 April 2022, applications for issue, renewal and amendment of RCMC/Registration Certificate are required to be filed through DGFT's common digital e-RCMC platform.

1. Keep IEC active. Ensure that the exporter has an active Importer Exporter Code and that the IEC profile is current.
2. Log in to the DGFT portal. Use the exporter profile linked to the IEC.
3. Open e-RCMC services. Navigate to the e-RCMC service and select the option to apply for a new RCMC.
4. Enter business details. Choose the relevant Export Promotion Council, Commodity Board, Development Authority or other registering authority and declare the main line of business.
5. Select exporter category and membership details. Complete the applicable fields for merchant/manufacturer exporter, status holder, membership years, MSME status, turnover/export performance and branch information, as required by the selected authority.
6. Upload supporting documents. Attach the documents required by the e-RCMC workflow and by the relevant registering authority.
7. Pay applicable membership/registration fee. Fees differ among registering authorities and membership categories.
8. Submit and track online. After declaration and digital authentication, submit the application. The status can be tracked through the DGFT account.

Documents Required for RCMC Registration

The exact attachment list depends on the registering authority, constitution of the exporter, exporter category and the product/service concerned. Commonly required records include:

Validity of RCMC

DGFT's current e-RCMC user guidance states that RCMC is generally issued for five financial years. It is deemed valid from 1 April of the licensing year in which it is issued and ordinarily continues for five financial years ending on 31 March, unless otherwise specified.

Renewal should be initiated through the e-RCMC service before the certificate ceases to be valid, subject to the requirements of the concerned registering authority.

Change in Name, Ownership, Constitution or Address

Where the exporter's name, ownership, constitution or address changes, the RCMC record should be amended with the registering authority through the prescribed process. DGFT procedure has traditionally required such changes to be intimated within one month, with power in the registering authority to condone delay on merits.

The e-RCMC portal provides a dedicated amendment service. Because IEC particulars and RCMC details are linked operationally, the exporter should also ensure that the IEC profile reflects the current legal and contact information.

Export Returns and Other Membership Reporting

Reporting obligations may arise under the rules, membership conditions or directions of the concerned registering authority. Exporters should follow the current reporting format and periodicity prescribed by their EPC, Commodity Board, Development Authority or FIEO rather than relying on an outdated generic return format.

De-Registration of RCMC

The Handbook of Procedures permits a registering authority to de-register an RCMC holder for a specified period for violation of registration conditions. Before de-registration, the holder must be served a show-cause notice and given an adequate and reasonable opportunity to make a representation.

Appeal Against RCMC De-Registration or Related Decision

A person aggrieved by a decision of the registering authority concerning issue of RCMC may prefer an appeal to DGFT or an officer designated for that purpose within 45 days. The decision of the appellate authority is final under the applicable Handbook provision.

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