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What Core Qualifications and Approval Procedures Are Required for Registering an Import and Export Agency Company in 2026?
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I am the person in charge of a newly established trading company in Shanghai. Recently, I want to expand import and export business but have no self-operation right, so I am considering applying for the qualification of an import and export agency company.
I consulted multiple institutions before and got conflicting statements: some mentioned customs filing, others said tax registration, but the latest requirements and specific procedures for 2026 are vague. I am worried that incomplete qualifications will cause subsequent business stagnation, or wrong processes will waste time and cost. I want to know how to complete the compliance procedures step by step and what pitfalls to pay attention to.
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
To apply for an import and export agency company in 2026，you must first complete the pre-qualification review. Enterprises need to prepare a business license (with "import of goods" or "export of technology" in the business scope)，a Foreign Trade Operator Registration Form (apply online through the unified Ministry of Commerce business system)，and a Customs Declaration Unit Registration Certificate (submit materials through the "Single Window"). It should be noted that the Shanghai area in 2026 has added a new requirement for the Foreign Trade Agency Business Commitment Letter，which needs to clarify the agency scope and compliance responsibilities，and this is an easily overlooked link.
Attention should be paid to the synchronization of tax and foreign exchange registration in the connection of core nodes. After completing customs filing，apply for export tax refund qualification certification at the competent tax authority within 30 days，and apply to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange for the opening permit of foreign exchange settlement accounts. The key is to ensure four-stream consistency (contract flow，capital flow，goods flow，invoice flow)，otherwise it will affect subsequent tax refunds and foreign exchange receipts and payments.
For emergency plans，if the customs filing materials fail to pass the review，you need to check in time whether the business scope includes import and export business，or whether the Foreign Trade Operator Registration Form is filled out correctly，if the tax registration information is inconsistent，contact the industrial and commercial department to update the business license and resubmit the materials.
The final compliance landing requires the opening of a bank account and the handling of the Electronic Port IC Card. The IC card is a necessary tool for customs declaration and tax refund. You need to bring the business license and customs certificate to the Electronic Port Service Center to handle it. After completing all steps，it is recommended to conduct a full-process simulation test to ensure smooth connection of all links.
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
During the customs filing process, it should be noted that the validity period of the Customs Declaration Unit Registration Certificate has been extended to 5 years (new regulations in 2026), but an annual report announcement is required every year.
Failure to announce on time will be included in the abnormal list, which will affect customs clearance efficiency. For agency customs declaration business, the "double entrustment" relationship must be clarified, and the entrustment agreement must be uploaded to the customs filing system to avoid cargo detention due to missing the agreement during inspection.。
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
Import and export agency companies need to establish a cargo right control mechanism, and ensure the compliance of bill of lading endorsement under FOB terms. The Shanghai Port has launched the "smart bill of lading" pilot in 2026, and the bill of lading status can be tracked in real time through the Electronic Port to avoid cargo right disputes caused by the loss of paper bills of lading.
In view of the risk of cargo being left behind due to insufficient stowage, it is recommended to sign a "preferred stowage agreement" with the shipping company and reserve alternative routes to reduce delay losses.。
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
In 2026, import and export agency companies can apply for the VAT deferral policy. Enterprises registered in the bonded zone can delay the payment of import value-added tax until the goods are sold.
The "three-stream integration" (invoice, capital, goods) must be satisfied, and the deferral application materials must be submitted during the monthly declaration period. The export tax refund link requires complete document filing, including customs declaration forms, bills of lading, contracts, and invoices, to avoid rejection of tax refunds due to incomplete filing.。
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
Regarding the compliance of foreign exchange receipts and payments, the CIPS system will fully cover cross-border payments in 2026. The agency company needs to complete the account filing in the system to ensure that each receipt and payment corresponds to a real trade background.
SWIFT messages need to accurately fill in the transaction code (for example, 121010 corresponds to general trade), and avoid fund interception due to incorrect codes. Offshore accounts need to submit income and expenditure reports every quarter to meet the latest requirements of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.。
Linda GaoYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat
The agency agreement must clarify the scope of application of the force majeure clause. In 2026, international logistics is highly volatile, and it is necessary to agree on the loss bearing method for port congestion, shipping schedule delay and other situations.
Special attention should be paid to the soft clauses of letters of credit. For example, "the bill of lading shall show the applicant's designated freight forwarder" may lead to loss of cargo rights. It is recommended to delete such clauses or add a guarantee to ensure rights.。
Grace WangYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat
In 2026, the Shanghai Port has launched the "priority machine inspection" policy. When the goods pass the machine, the packaging must be standardized to avoid machine inspection abnormalities due to unclear packaging.
In case of unpacking inspection, prepare documents such as cargo list, invoice and contract in advance to cooperate with the customs to check the information, and avoid cargo detention due to inconsistent information.。
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat
The 2026 UN Dangerous Goods Packaging Regulations require all dangerous goods packaging to be marked with a unique identification code and certified by a third-party organization. Fragile goods packaging must use cushioning materials (bubble film, foam boxes), and the bill of lading shall be marked with "fragile goods" to avoid transportation damage.。
Andy GuoYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat
Export tax refund requires "four-stream consistency", and the information of contracts, invoices, customs declaration forms and foreign exchange receipts vouchers must be completely matched. In 2026, the tax department will strengthen the inspection of capital flow back verification.
Agency companies must avoid collecting foreign exchange through personal accounts or third-party platform fund transfers. Pre-declaration must use the latest tax refund system to verify data in advance and avoid errors in formal declaration.。