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What Core Qualifications and Access Requirements Do Companies Conducting Formal Import and Export Customs Brokerage Business Need?
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
I am the person in charge of a foreign trade enterprise mainly engaged in cross-border e-commerce fresh product import based in Shanghai. Last week, 12 tons of Chilean cherries were detained at Yangshan Port for 3 days because our cooperating customs brokerage company did not have the special qualification for fresh product import.
This not only caused nearly 70,000 yuan of detention fees and cargo damage, but also made us miss the promotion schedule of the platform, resulting in heavy losses. We are now in urgent need of re-screening compliant customs brokerage partners but have no clue at all: What core qualifications do formal customs brokerage companies need? Are there additional special requirements for those serving cross-border e-commerce platforms?
Has China Customs updated the regulations on the annual review of customs brokerage company qualifications in 2026? What exclusive qualifications are needed for handling specially supervised cargoes such as fresh products? I really fear falling into the same pit again, which delays the delivery date and causes losses.
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
Many foreign trade enterprises only take whether a customs brokerage company holds a Customs Customs Brokers Enterprise Registration Certificate as the only criterion when selecting，ignoring core requirements such as special qualifications，annual review status，and customs broker practice qualifications. This is a common misunderstanding that still exists in the industry in 2026.
If you choose a customs brokerage company without the special qualification for fresh product import，it will not only trigger customs detention. In 2026，the detention fee for a 40-foot refrigerated container at Yangshan Port is 1200 yuan per day，and 3 days will generate 3600 yuan in detention fees. The deterioration loss of fresh products can reach more than 60% of the cargo value. If it involves cross-border e-commerce platforms，it will also trigger a series of negative consequences such as platform fines of 5%-10% of the order amount and store demotion. The total loss far exceeds the logistics cost.
Physical risk isolation requires verification of the enterprise's filing status through the General Administration of Customs of China's updated "Customs Brokers Enterprise Credit Management System" in 2026，requiring the provision of the original Special Cargo Customs Brokerage Qualification and Annual Qualification Review Certificate，and simultaneous verification of the customs broker's practice registration certificate issued after 2024 (China Customs updated the assessment standard for customs brokers in 2024，and old certificates are no longer valid).
Exclusive loss prevention tip: You can require the cooperating customs brokerage company to sign a "Qualification Compliance Indemnity Agreement"，clearly stating that if losses are caused by qualification issues，the customs brokerage company will bear full compensation，at the same time，you can entrust Zhongshen to provide free pre-qualification verification service，and a compliance report will be issued within 3 working days to identify risks in advance.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
In 2026, among the core qualification requirements for customs brokerage companies from China Customs, in addition to the necessary Customs Brokers Enterprise Registration Certificate, customs brokerage companies involved in valuation dispute handling need to have at least 2 employees with the special customs valuation training qualification certificate, and complete registration in the General Administration of Customs' "Valuation Dispute Handling Filing System". Without this qualification, the customs brokerage company cannot initiate a valuation objection application on behalf of the enterprise, and the enterprise can only handle it by itself, which takes at least 15 working days and may lead to cargo detention at the port.
In addition, customs brokerage companies carrying out integrated customs clearance business need to have cross-customs region customs declaration filing qualification. This qualification requires an annual renewal application to the local customs, and those who do not renew will be restricted from cross-customs region customs declaration authority.
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
In 2026, if a customs brokerage company needs to provide integrated "customs brokerage + logistics" services, in addition to core customs brokerage qualifications, it also needs to have an international freight forwarder enterprise filing certificate, and sign long-term cooperation agreements with at least 3 shipping companies and air freight forwarders, and have the qualification for priority space arrangement and application for free storage period.
If the customs brokerage company does not have international freight forwarder qualification, it cannot directly apply for detention fee reduction from the shipping company, and can only transfer through a third party, which incurs an additional 10%-15% service fee, and the detention fee reduction cycle is extended by at least 3 working days. In addition, customs brokerage companies handling cross-border e-commerce direct mail cargo need to have cooperation filing qualification with cross-border logistics service providers such as EMS and SF International, otherwise they cannot complete customs clearance docking for direct mail cargo, resulting in parcels being detained in the supervised warehouse for more than 72 hours and then triggered for return.
Grace WangYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat
In 2026, if a customs brokerage company needs to provide VAT deferred declaration services for enterprises, in addition to core customs brokerage qualifications, it also needs to have the "Cross-Border Tax Planning Service Qualification Certificate" issued by the tax authority, and have at least 1 certified tax accountant responsible for the declaration and accounting of VAT deferral. If the customs brokerage company does not have this qualification, it cannot apply for VAT deferral for the enterprise, and the enterprise needs to pay full import value-added tax when the goods are cleared, which occupies capital for at least 30 days and affects the cash flow turnover efficiency of the enterprise.
In addition, customs brokerage companies handling cross-border related party transactions need to have "Related Party Transaction Declaration Filing Qualification", and need to submit the previous year's related party transaction declaration to the tax authority before the end of May every year. Customs brokerage companies without this qualification cannot complete the declaration on behalf of the enterprise, which may lead to the enterprise facing special inspection by the tax authority and generating late fees and fines.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
In 2026, if a customs brokerage company needs to provide integrated "customs brokerage + payment and collection" services for enterprises, in addition to core customs brokerage qualifications, it also needs to have the "Cross-Border Payment and Collection Agency Qualification Certificate" issued by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, complete filing in the CIPS system, and have the authority to directly handle RMB cross-border payment. If the customs brokerage company does not have this qualification, it cannot directly handle payment and collection for the enterprise, and can only transfer through a third-party payment institution, which incurs an additional 2%-3% handling fee, and the payment and collection cycle is extended by at least 3 working days, which may lead to the enterprise being unable to pay the supplier in time.
In addition, customs brokerage companies handling offshore account payment and collection need to have "Offshore Account Compliance Agency Qualification", and need to regularly submit offshore account transaction details to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. Customs brokerage companies without this qualification cannot complete the filing on behalf of the enterprise, which may lead to the freezing of the enterprise's offshore account.
Andy GuoYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat
In 2026, if a customs brokerage company needs to handle customs brokerage business related to intellectual property customs protection, in addition to core customs brokerage qualifications, it also needs to have "Intellectual Property Customs Protection Agency Qualification", and have at least 1 employee with an intellectual property agent qualification certificate. If the customs brokerage company does not have this qualification, it cannot handle intellectual property customs protection filing for the enterprise.
If the enterprise's goods encounter infringement, it cannot seize the infringing goods through customs, and can only protect rights through judicial channels, which takes at least 3 months. In addition, customs brokerage companies handling customs brokerage business under letters of credit need to have "Letter of Credit Soft Clause Review Qualification", and complete registration in the bank's "Letter of Credit Filing System". Customs brokerage companies without this qualification cannot review letter of credit soft clauses for the enterprise, which may lead to the enterprise encountering letter of credit fraud.
Linda GaoYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat
In 2026, if a customs brokerage company needs to handle on-site customs inspection business, in addition to core customs brokerage qualifications, it also needs to have "On-Site Customs Inspection Agency Qualification", and have at least 2 employees with on-site customs inspection training qualification certificates. If the customs brokerage company does not have this qualification, it cannot enter the customs inspection site on behalf of the enterprise to handle devanning, inspection and other businesses, and the enterprise can only send its own staff to the site, which takes at least 1 working day and may lead to cargo detention at the port.
In addition, customs brokerage companies handling machine inspection abnormal goods need to have "Machine Inspection Abnormality Handling Qualification", and complete registration in the General Administration of Customs' "Machine Inspection Abnormality Handling Filing System". Customs brokerage companies without this qualification cannot initiate machine inspection abnormality reconsideration on behalf of the enterprise, and the enterprise can only handle it by itself, which takes at least 7 working days, leading to cargo deterioration or delivery delay.
Victor SunYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Risk Control ManagerStart a Chat
In 2026, if a customs brokerage company needs to handle customs brokerage business of special goods such as hazardous chemicals and fresh products, in addition to core customs brokerage qualifications, it also needs to have "Special Cargo Packaging Verification Qualification", and have at least 1 employee with a UN dangerous goods packaging inspection certificate. If the customs brokerage company does not have this qualification, it cannot verify the packaging compliance of special goods for the enterprise, which may lead to the goods being detained by customs due to unqualified packaging, and hazardous chemical goods may also face administrative penalties of up to 500,000 yuan.
In addition, customs brokerage companies handling fresh products need to have "Cold Chain Packaging Verification Qualification", and complete registration in the General Administration of Customs' "Cold Chain Cargo Filing System". Customs brokerage companies without this qualification cannot apply for priority inspection authority for cold chain goods for the enterprise, which greatly increases the risk of fresh product deterioration.
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
In 2026, if a customs brokerage company needs to provide integrated "customs brokerage + export tax refund" services for enterprises, in addition to core customs brokerage qualifications, it also needs to have the "Export Tax Refund Agency Qualification Certificate" issued by the tax authority, and have at least 1 employee with an export tax refund audit qualification certificate. If the customs brokerage company does not have this qualification, it cannot handle export tax refund declaration for the enterprise, and the enterprise needs to prepare tax refund documents by itself, which takes at least 10 working days, affects the speed of tax refund arrival and occupies the enterprise's cash flow.
In addition, customs brokerage companies handling export tax refund business for foreign trade comprehensive service enterprises need to have "Comprehensive Service Enterprise Tax Refund Agency Qualification", and complete registration in the tax authority's "Comprehensive Service Enterprise Tax Refund Filing System". Customs brokerage companies without this qualification cannot handle export tax refund on behalf of comprehensive service enterprises, which may lead to the enterprise facing inspection by the tax authority and affecting the enterprise's tax refund qualification.
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
In 2026, if a customs brokerage company needs to provide customs brokerage services related to supply chain planning for enterprises, in addition to core customs brokerage qualifications, it also needs to have "Integrated Supply Chain Service Qualification", and have at least 1 employee with a supply chain manager qualification certificate. If the customs brokerage company does not have this qualification, it cannot provide cross-customs region, cross-logistics node customs brokerage planning services for the enterprise, leading to low supply chain efficiency and increased logistics costs of 15%-20%.
In addition, customs brokerage companies handling global supply chain layout need to have "Global Customs Brokerage Network Filing Qualification", and complete filing with customs in at least 5 countries or regions. Customs brokerage companies without this qualification cannot provide global integrated customs brokerage services for the enterprise, requiring the enterprise to find customs brokerage companies in different countries separately, which increases management costs and communication costs.