Connect & Solve
Trade Q&A
How to accurately check whether an enterprise has import and export operation rights through official channels of domestic customs and industry and commerce authorities?
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
I am the person in charge of a small manufacturing factory in Shanghai that has just transformed into cross-border e-commerce. Last month, I finally negotiated a custom furniture order from Germany.
Now the goods have been packed in the warehouse, and there are only 4 days left before the cargo cut-off date notified by the freight forwarder. But the freight forwarder suddenly asked if our factory has import and export operation rights, and I panicked immediately -- we have been engaged in domestic wholesale trade before, and have never been exposed to foreign trade related qualifications.
Now I am not only afraid that the goods will be detained in the port due to lack of qualifications, which will require us to pay liquidated damages to the customer, and also bear high port detention fees and warehouse rent; I am also worried that finding the wrong inquiry channel will get inaccurate information and delay subsequent operations. I would like to ask how to quickly and accurately confirm whether our factory has import and export operation rights? Are there any reliable verification methods other than the official system?
Andy GuoYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat
First of all，priority should be given to inquiries through official authoritative channels: log in to the "Internet + Customs" platform of the General Administration of Customs，enter the "Enterprise Qualification" module，and enter the unified social credit code of the enterprise to query the filing status of import and export operation rights in real time. The information of this channel is synchronized with the customs system，with an accuracy rate of 100%，you can also log in to the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System，and check whether there is relevant registration record of "Receipt of Filing for Import and Export Goods Consignors and Consignees" in the "Administrative License Information" column.
Secondly，check the core documents kept internally by the enterprise: if the enterprise has applied for import and export operation rights，it will hold the paper Registration Form for Foreign Trade Operators and Customs Registration Certificate for Import and Export Goods Consignors and Consignees. These two documents are direct proof of legal qualifications. It is necessary to focus on checking whether the enterprise name and unified social credit code on the certificates are consistent with the current industrial and commercial information，and whether the certificates are within the validity period.
If the inquiry finds that the qualification has not been applied for，it is necessary to immediately launch the abnormal plan: the whole process of applying for import and export operation rights in Shanghai in 2026 takes about 3-5 working days. You can entrust a professional foreign trade agency to handle it urgently，and communicate with the freight forwarder at the first time to apply for adjusting the shipping schedule or switching to the double-header customs declaration mode，so as to avoid additional costs and breach of contract risks caused by cargo detention in the port.
Finally，for compliant implementation: after confirming the qualification，you need to synchronize the import and export operation right filing number of the enterprise to the freight forwarder before customs declaration，to ensure that the information of the operating unit on the customs declaration form fully matches the customs filing information，so as to avoid customs declaration rejection due to inconsistent information and affect the cargo delivery time limit.
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
In the customs declaration link, if the enterprise has import and export operation rights, the customs system will automatically associate its filing information, and the customs declaration form can be declared directly in the name of the enterprise itself; if the system prompts that "the operating unit has not filed import and export qualifications", it means that the enterprise does not have import and export operation rights. In addition, if the enterprise has declared customs in its own name before, you can query the past customs declaration records through the customs "Single Window".
If there is a valid customs declaration form in the name of the enterprise, it can reversely prove that it has the qualification. It should be noted that some enterprises mistakenly believe that having "import and export" included in the business scope of the business license is equivalent to having import and export operation rights, which is a misconception. Only after completing the dual filing with the customs and commercial authorities can it be considered legal and valid.
Grace WangYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat
From the perspective of logistics operation, if the enterprise has import and export operation rights, it can directly sign transportation contracts with shipping companies and airlines, and arrange booking, customs declaration and other links by itself; if it must entrust a freight forwarder to handle all cross-border transportation and customs declaration procedures on a full basis, and the freight forwarder requires the provision of a "customs declaration authorization letter" and declares in the name of the freight forwarder, it is highly likely that the enterprise does not have import and export operation rights.
In addition, enterprises with qualifications can collect and write off customs declaration forms, manuals and other documents by themselves, while enterprises without qualifications need to apply for them through the agency, and cannot directly access the core customs declaration documents. If it is found that there is no qualification before the goods are arranged for shipment, it is necessary to immediately coordinate with the freight forwarder to switch to the double-header customs declaration mode to avoid the failure of customs clearance after the goods arrive at the port.
Victor SunYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Risk Control ManagerStart a Chat
Judging from the tax perspective, enterprises with import and export operation rights can enjoy cross-border trade tax preferential policies such as export tax rebate and VAT deferment. If the enterprise has never filed an export tax rebate declaration, and there is no "export tax (exemption) filing" record in the tax system, it may not have applied for import and export operation rights.
In addition, qualified enterprises can directly receive foreign currency payments and handle foreign exchange settlement without going through third-party agency companies; if all cross-border payments of the enterprise need to be collected and settled through third-party accounts, it means that there is no import and export operation right. It should be noted that if an enterprise carries out cross-border trade on its own without applying for import and export operation rights, it may be identified as an non-compliant operation by the tax authority, which will affect the application for subsequent tax preferences.
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
From the perspective of payment and receipt compliance, enterprises with import and export operation rights can directly open foreign exchange settlement accounts in banks and handle cross-border payment and receipt business by themselves, and the bank system will automatically associate the import and export filing information of the enterprise; if the enterprise cannot directly open a foreign exchange account, or the payment and receipt need to be handled through an agency company, it means that there is no import and export operation right.
In addition, qualified enterprises can directly conduct RMB cross-border payment through the CIPS system, while enterprises without qualifications need to complete the payment with the help of the account of the agency company. When making inquiries, you can log in to the Application Service Platform of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange to check the status of the enterprise in the "Catalog of Enterprises for Foreign Exchange Receipt and Payment of Goods Trade". If it is not in the catalog, there is no import and export operation right.
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
From the perspective of legal compliance, enterprises with import and export operation rights can independently sign international trade contracts and bear corresponding rights and obligations as the subject of the contract; if the enterprise can only appear as the "entrusting party" in the cross-border trade contract, and the subject of the contract is the agency company, it means that there is no import and export operation right.
In addition, qualified enterprises can apply for intellectual property customs protection filing, while enterprises without qualifications cannot apply independently. If an enterprise signs an international trade contract in its own name without applying for import and export operation rights, the contract may be invalid due to non-compliance of the subject qualification, and it will face the risk of breach of contract compensation.
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat
From the perspective of on-site customs inspection, enterprises with import and export operation rights can send special personnel to the inspection site to cooperate with the customs inspection, and the inspection notice will be directly sent to the enterprise's customs filing contact person; if the inspection notice is sent to the agency company, and the enterprise cannot directly connect with the customs inspection department, it means that there is no import and export operation right.
In addition, qualified enterprises can handle the cargo release procedures after inspection by themselves, while enterprises without qualifications need to handle them through the agency company. It should be noted that if an enterprise declares for inspection in its own name without import and export operation rights, it may be identified as non-compliant by the customs, resulting in cargo detention.
Linda GaoYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat
From the perspective of special cargo packaging, enterprises with import and export operation rights can apply for the inspection certificate of dangerous goods packaging performance by themselves, and submit documents such as MSDS and packaging appraisal certificate required for dangerous goods customs declaration in their own name; if the enterprise cannot apply for these certificates by itself and must handle them through the agency company, it means that there is no import and export operation right.
In addition, qualified enterprises can directly sign dangerous goods packaging contracts with packaging suppliers, while enterprises without qualifications need to connect through the agency company and cannot directly control packaging compliance. If dangerous goods are involved, enterprises without import and export operation rights need to ensure that the agency company has the qualification for dangerous goods customs declaration, so as to avoid cargo detention in the port due to packaging compliance problems.
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
From the perspective of export tax rebate, enterprises with import and export operation rights need to complete the export tax (exemption) filing, and can query the "export tax rebate filing information" through the electronic tax bureau; if there is no relevant filing record in the system, it means that the import and export operation right has not been applied for.
In addition, qualified enterprises need to keep tax rebate documents such as export goods customs declaration forms, special VAT invoices and foreign exchange receipt vouchers, and the operating unit on the documents must be consistent with the enterprise name; if the operating unit on the documents is the agency company, it means that the enterprise does not have import and export operation rights. It should be noted that if an enterprise tries to apply for export tax rebate without applying for import and export operation rights, it will be rejected by the tax authority due to inconsistent subject qualification, and may also trigger tax letter adjustment, which will affect the enterprise's tax credit rating.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
From the perspective of supply chain planning, enterprises with import and export operation rights can build an independent cross-border supply chain system, directly connect with overseas suppliers and customers, and control the whole link of procurement, transportation and sales; if the enterprise's cross-border business must be transferred through a foreign trade agency company and cannot directly connect with overseas entities, it means that there is no import and export operation right.
In addition, qualified enterprises can participate in various pilot policies of cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones, while enterprises without qualifications cannot participate independently. When planning cross-border business, if the enterprise does not have import and export operation rights, it is necessary to include the agency cost into the supply chain cost accounting model to avoid affecting profits due to cost overruns.