---
title: "What Qualification Requirements & Full-Process Approval Nodes Are Needed for Handling Import and Export Agency Rights?"
description: "For cross-border export enterprises that have incurred high port detention fees due to lack of import and export agency rights，the qualification can be obtained through a full-link compliance process: complete pre-document review first，then connect core approval nodes，prepare abnormal contingency plans in advance，and finally complete compliance implementation. Meanwhile，enterprises can avoid common mistakes such as unqualified qualification and approval delay，enjoy policy dividends such as expor..."
url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/import-export-agency-qualification-requirements-approval-process-nodes.html"
language: "en"
type: "Q&A"
category: "General Trade Q&A"
datePublished: "2026-10-21"
dateModified: "2026-10-21"
brand: "Zhongshen Trading China"
answerCount: 9
---

# What Qualification Requirements & Full-Process Approval Nodes Are Needed for Handling Import and Export Agency Rights?

## Question

 I am the owner of a domestic furniture factory in Shanghai that has just transformed into cross-border export. We only served domestic domestic dealers before. Last week, my 20 CBM container bound for Los Angeles was stuck at the Port of Long Beach because I did not have import and export agency rights. I paid more than 8,000 RMB just for detention fees and couldn't sleep all night from anxiety. Now I want to apply for import and export agency rights on my own, but I have no idea how to start: I don't know what qualification materials are required, how long the approval process takes, and I'm afraid that self-handling will be too slow to delay the shipment of the next three batches of goods. I also heard that it's faster to ask a third-party agency for help, but I worry about being overcharged, or getting non-compliant qualification, which will lead to fines when inspected by the customs in the future, and even affect export quota. I just want to ask how to handle it correctly to avoid these pitfalls? 

## Answers
                            
### Answer 1 — Best Answer

The handling of import and export agency rights shall follow the full-link compliance process. First is the **Pre-document Review**: You need to ensure that "Import and export of goods，import and export of technology" has been added to the business scope of your business license，prepare legal person's ID card，official seal，enterprise social insurance payment certificate，and confirm that the enterprise has no major violation records，if you are a foreign-invested enterprise，you also need to submit the approval certificate of foreign-invested enterprise.

The connection of core nodes needs to be accurately controlled: First complete the filing of foreign trade operator (3 working days)，then submit the registration of customs declaring unit to the customs (5 working days)，handle the electronic port IC card simultaneously (requires **dual authorization of legal person and operator**)，and finally complete the name list registration with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (must be completed within 30 days after customs filing). The whole process takes about 10-15 working days.

Abnormal contingency plans shall be prepared in advance: If the filing of foreign trade operator is rejected，you need to supplement the site lease agreement or actual operation certificate，if the customs registration is stuck，you can entrust a professional institution to assist in submitting the *Compliance Commitment* to speed up approval.

Notes for final compliance implementation: Complete the annual report for foreign trade operator filing from January to June every year，update the customs declaring unit registration certificate every 3 years，keep the qualification valid，and avoid cargo detention or port delay caused by expired qualification.

**status:** accepted
**Author:** Andy Guo
**Date:** 2026-10-22

### Answer 2

When handling import and export agency rights, you need to complete the registration of customs declaring unit with the customs at the same time. The customs declarer qualification certificate submitted must be valid and consistent with the enterprise's social insurance payment record. If the enterprise has a history of customs declaration violations (such as false declaration, delayed declaration), you need to complete violation rectification first and submit the *Compliance Rectification Report*, otherwise the customs registration application will be rejected. In addition, the customs declaring unit registration certificate needs to be updated with annual report every year. Failure to update on time will result in being listed as a dishonest enterprise, affect the subsequent review efficiency of declaration forms, and even trigger control inspection.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Cindy Chen
**Date:** 2026-10-21

### Answer 3

After obtaining import and export agency rights, you need to update the enterprise qualification filing with your logistics service provider at the same time, ensure that all booking notes and bill of lading confirmations use the title of the enterprise with agency rights. If it is LCL cargo, you need to clarify the specific node of title transfer when endorsing the bill of lading, to avoid the risk of delivery without original bill of lading.

In addition, if the cargo needs transshipment, you need to inform the freight forwarder at the transit port of your import and export agency qualification number in advance, ensure the qualification is valid during transit customs clearance, and avoid transit detention caused by unqualified qualification.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Grace Wang
**Date:** 2026-10-21

### Answer 4

After obtaining import and export agency rights, enterprises can apply for export tax refund qualification, and need to ensure the "three-way consistency" (cargo, invoice, payment) of purchase contract, customs declaration form and special value-added tax invoice.

If the enterprise does business in the EU market, you can apply for VAT deferral, no need to pay import VAT in advance in the importing country, you can directly deduct it during domestic tax declaration, which reduces capital occupation cost. In addition, it should be noted that the pricing of cross-border related party transactions must comply with the arm's length principle, to avoid transfer pricing adjustment by the tax authority and affect your tax refund qualification.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Evelyn Li
**Date:** 2026-10-21

### Answer 5

After obtaining import and export agency rights, enterprises need to complete name list registration with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange to obtain the qualification of cross-border payment and collection. When making or receiving payment, you need to clearly mark the corresponding customs declaration number in SWIFT message or CIPS payment instruction, to avoid payment/collection freezing caused by unmatched documents during foreign exchange verification.

In addition, if you use offshore account for payment and collection, you need to ensure that the transaction flow of the offshore account fully matches the customs declaration form and contract, to avoid being listed as suspicious transaction and triggering anti-money laundering inspection by the foreign exchange authority.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Eric Zhou
**Date:** 2026-10-21

### Answer 6

After obtaining import and export agency rights, if the enterprise uses letter of credit settlement, you need to clearly specify "the beneficiary is the enterprise with import and export agency rights" in the L/C terms, to avoid L/C refusal caused by inconsistent title. In addition, if the enterprise authorizes the agency right to a third party for use, you need to sign a written *Agency Authorization Agreement*, clarify the rights and obligations of both parties, title ownership and compliance responsibilities, to avoid the enterprise being implicated and penalized due to the third party's non-compliant operation. At the same time, you need to complete intellectual property customs protection filing, to avoid export cargo being detained by customs due to infringement.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Jason Wu
**Date:** 2026-10-21

### Answer 7

After obtaining import and export agency rights, when the cargo is inspected on site by the customs, you need to submit the original *Customs Declaring Unit Registration Certificate* and electronic port IC card, cooperate with customs inspectors to verify the enterprise qualification information. If the cargo is selected for devanning inspection, you need to ensure that the actual name and quantity of the cargo are consistent with the customs declaration form, and the packaging meets import and export standards, to avoid unqualified inspection caused by unqualified qualification or incorrect declaration. In addition, if quality problems are found during inspection, you need to submit the *Quality Inspection Report* in time and cooperate with the customs to complete follow-up processing, to avoid being listed as a high-risk enterprise.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Kevin Lin
**Date:** 2026-10-21

### Answer 8

After obtaining import and export agency rights, if the enterprise exports dangerous goods, you need to ensure that the packaging meets the UN dangerous goods packaging standard, the MSDS report submitted is consistent with the actual composition of the cargo, and issued by a qualified institution.

In addition, you need to paste compliant dangerous goods marks on the packaging, to avoid cargo being detained by customs or rejected by logistics due to non-compliant packaging. For fragile or high-value cargo, you need to use cushioning packaging for reinforcement, ensure the cargo is not damaged during transportation, and avoid export claims caused by cargo damage.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Michael Zhang
**Date:** 2026-10-21

### Answer 9

After obtaining import and export agency rights, enterprises need to establish a sound export tax refund document management system, ensure the "four-way consistency" of customs declaration forms, special value-added tax invoices, export cargo bills of lading and collection vouchers. Before tax refund declaration, you need to complete pre-declaration check in advance, to avoid tax refund rejection caused by inconsistent document information.

In addition, you need to complete document filing within 15 days after tax refund declaration, the filing materials include export cargo detailed list, shipping order, transport documents, etc. Failure to file on time will lead to cancellation of tax refund qualification, and even trigger tax correspondence investigation.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Linda Gao
**Date:** 2026-10-21

## Related Categories
- [Import Agency Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-import-agency/)
- [Export Agency Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-export-agency/)
- [Export Tax Rebate Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-export-tax-rebate/)
- [Customs Declaration Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-customs-declaration/)
- [Freight Forwarding Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-freight-forwarding/)
- [Forex Settlement Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-forex-settlement/)
- [Entrepôt Trade Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-entrepot-trade/)

## Related Resources
- [Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/services/)
- [Trade Cases](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/cases/)
- [Trade Wiki](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/wiki/)
- [Trade Class](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/guide/)
- [Global Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/country/)

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