2026 Full Practical Guide to Registration Process of Companies with Import and Export Rights

Combing of Full Registration Process of Companies with Import and Export Rights

The first step to carry out foreign trade business is to hold legal import and export rights,which directly determines whether an enterprise can directly handle core operations such as customs declaration and inspection,foreign exchange receipt and payment,and export tax rebate application.In 2026,many enterprises in Shanghai want to expand the international market,but due to unfamiliarity with the registration process,they have to revise materials repeatedly and suffer from schedule delays.Next,combined with 20 years of industry experience,we systematically sort out the core stages of registration,and explain the specific support Zhongshen provides in each link.

I.Pre-preparation Stage: Clarify Conditions and Material List

Stage Objective: Confirm whether the enterprise meets the registration conditions,prepare all application materials completely,and avoid the subsequent process being stuck due to lack of materials.

Key Actions:

• Check the basic qualification of the enterprise: Confirm whether the business scope of the business license includes core contents such as "trade in goods" and "trade in technology";
• Sort out basic materials: Collect ID cards of the legal representative and handler,duplicate copy of the company’s business license,and registration address certificate (house lease contract and property right certificate if leased);
• Confirm address compliance: Shanghai Customs has clear requirements for registered addresses in 2026,which must be actual office addresses.Enterprises registered in the Free Trade Zone can enjoy a more convenient filing process.

Common Problems:

• What if the business scope does not include import and export contents?
• Will the inconsistency between the registered address and actual office address have negative impact?
• Can the handler apply without social security payment records in Shanghai?

Zhongshen Support: Supervisor Chen from Zhongshen will check the business scope for enterprises in advance.If relevant contents are missing,he can assist in preparing supplementary application materials and complete the pre-audit of industrial and commercial alteration within 3 working days.For address problems,Supervisor Chen can provide reference of registered addresses in Shanghai Free Trade Zone (subject to actual operation needs).In terms of handler qualification,Supervisor Chen can coordinate qualified internal contact personnel of the company to avoid process delay caused by personnel issues.

II.Core Qualification Application Stage: Coordination of Multi-department Processes

Stage Objective: Complete core qualification applications with the industrial and commercial department,customs,China E-Port and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange,and obtain basic certificates for carrying out import and export business.The processing time limit of each department in 2026 is optimized compared with previous years,but attention should be paid to the consistency and compliance of materials.

The following is a comparison of core information for applications to each department:

Zhongshen Support: Mr.Yue from Zhongshen will follow up the application progress of each department throughout the process and give synchronous feedback daily.For the audit points of address certificate in customs filing,Mr.Yue will optimize the materials in advance (such as supplementing water and electricity payment vouchers).When handling China E-Port related affairs,Mr.Yue can assist the enterprise to complete the activation of the electronic IC card and account binding to avoid operation errors.Before filing with SAFE,Mr.Yue will help the enterprise confirm the account type (such as current account foreign exchange account) to ensure that it matches the import and export business.

III.Subsequent Supporting Procedures Stage: Ensure Business Implementation

Stage Objective: Complete supporting procedures such as tax filing and export tax rebate registration to ensure that the enterprise can smoothly carry out import,export and tax rebate business.The export tax rebate policy is further optimized in 2026,so attention should be paid to the timeliness of filing materials.

Key Actions:

• Tax filing: Update tax registration information,confirm the verification of value-added tax,tariff and other taxes related to import and export business;
• Export tax rebate filing: Submit general taxpayer qualification certificate,export tax rebate qualification application form,and customs filing receipt;
• Bank account confirmation: Confirm the foreign exchange receipt and payment function of the foreign exchange account with the account opening bank,and activate the foreign exchange settlement and purchase permission.

Common Problems:

• Can small-scale taxpayers apply for export tax rebate?
• How long after export tax rebate filing can the tax rebate application be submitted?
• What if the information in tax filing and customs filing is inconsistent?

Zhongshen Support: Supervisor Yu from Zhongshen will check the general taxpayer qualification for the enterprise.If it is a small-scale taxpayer,Supervisor Yu can assist in judging whether it meets the filing conditions (small-scale taxpayers in some special industries can enjoy the export tax exemption policy in 2026).When handling export tax rebate filing,Supervisor Yu will sort out the business types of the enterprise (such as general trade,processing trade) to ensure that the submitted materials meet the latest requirements of the tax department.In terms of bank accounts,Supervisor Yu can recommend local banks in Shanghai that support foreign trade business (such as Shanghai Pudong Development Bank,China Merchants Bank) to help enterprises obtain more favorable foreign exchange settlement rates.

Summary of Zhongshen’s Core Value

The registration process of companies with import and export rights involves coordination among multiple departments,and policy details of each link may affect the progress of the enterprise’s business development.Zhongshen has been deeply engaged in Shanghai’s foreign trade industry for 20 years.It can help enterprises avoid the risk of missing materials in the pre-preparation stage,follow up the progress of each department throughout the core qualification application stage,and ensure unimpeded business implementation in the subsequent supporting procedures stage.

If an enterprise chooses Zhongshen as the registration agent,it can save more than 30% of time cost and avoid repeated revisions caused by unfamiliarity with policies.The foreign trade market is highly competitive in 2026,and quickly obtaining import and export rights is the key to seizing the first opportunity.Choose a professional agent to make the start of foreign trade business smoother.