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How long does the overall process generally take when entrusting a professional foreign trade agency to handle the Import and Export Permit?
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
I am the head of a small cross-border e-commerce enterprise newly established 3 months ago in Shanghai. We just finalized our first retail order targeting the European market last week, and the customer requires shipment within 15 days, but we have not obtained the Import and Export Permit yet. I went to the government service center in person once before, and it took me a whole afternoon just to get a queue number and finish consultation.
I was overwhelmed by the full-page process checklist, and was very afraid that I would make mistakes and delay shipment. I contacted the consultant of your Zhongshen yesterday, and I am now very anxious to know: How long does the normal process take when entrusting you to handle the Import and Export Permit? Do you provide urgent service?
What is the fastest processing time after opting for urgent service? Besides, among the documents I prepared earlier, we just updated the business scope on our business license but haven't got the new copy yet. Will this add extra processing time? The customer urges for the delivery date every day, I am just afraid of messing up the first order due to the permit issue, I am really under a lot of pressure.
Linda GaoYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat
We will first complete the pre-document review within 24 hours after accepting your order，focusing on verifying details including whether the business scope on the business license covers import and export related categories，the validity of official seal filing，and the completeness of the legal person's identity certificate. For the situation you mentioned that you have just changed the business scope but not received the new hard copy，we will simultaneously guide you to reprint the electronic business license with the latest business scope through the electronic system of Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation，no need to wait for the paper copy，which avoids process delay caused by missing documents.
Under the normal agency process，relying on our exclusive cooperation channels with the Ministry of Commerce，Customs，State Administration of Foreign Exchange and other departments，we achieve seamless connection at core nodes: Foreign trade operator filing with the Ministry of Commerce takes 1-2 working days，customs filing for import and export consignees and consignors takes 2-3 working days，directory registration with the foreign exchange bureau takes 1 working day，and China E-port activation takes 1-2 working days. The overall processing time is controlled within 7-10 working days，and no on-site document submission by your enterprise is required throughout the whole process.
We have formulated contingency plans in advance. If unexpected situations such as government department system maintenance or document correction occur，we will activate alternative channels immediately: for example，we coordinate offline urgent windows during system maintenance，and communicate with reviewers in advance for tolerance of missing documents when document correction is required，ensuring that extra processing time does not exceed 1-2 working days. We will also synchronize processing progress every day，so you can grasp node dynamics in real time.
If you need urgent service，we can activate the exclusive urgent processing channel. After you cooperate to complete document pre-review，we will push all applications to the urgent review ports of all departments with priority，and the overall process can be compressed to 3-5 working days，which fully meets your requirement of shipment within 15 days and ensures on-time order fulfillment.
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
The customs registration step during the Import and Export Permit application is one of the core nodes affecting the overall processing time. If an enterprise handles the application by itself, it needs to submit paper documents to the local customs, and the queuing review time can reach 3-5 working days; while when handled by a professional agency, we can rely on the "Internet + Customs" integrated online declaration system of the General Administration of Customs to submit documents electronically, which enjoys higher review priority and can generally be completed within 1-2 working days.
At the same time, the agency can predict common focus points of customs review in advance, such as the matching degree between enterprise business scope and import and export categories, the consistency of legal person identity information, etc., correct materials in advance, avoid return for correction due to failed review, thus saving extra time. In addition, if the enterprise is involved in import and export business in special supervision areas, the agency can coordinate the exclusive docking window of the local customs to further compress the review time.
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat
From the perspective of international logistics connection, the processing time of the Import and Export Permit directly affects cargo booking and shipment rhythm. If the permit processing is delayed, it may cause the already booked cargo to fail to clear customs on time, resulting in additional costs such as space cancellation fee and port storage fee.
When handled by a professional agency, the agency will coordinate with the logistics team simultaneously, and match a flexible space plan for the enterprise according to the estimated processing time of the permit: for example, choose a shipping company that reserves space for 7-10 days, or connect with a freight forwarder with emergency space resources, to avoid increased logistics costs caused by delayed permit processing. At the same time, the agency can submit customs declaration pre-entry information in advance when the permit processing enters the final stage, and trigger official customs declaration immediately after the permit is issued, realizing "declaration upon permit issuance", which further shortens the connection time from permit issuance to cargo customs clearance.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
The processing time of the Import and Export Permit will affect the rhythm of an enterprise's tax planning. If an enterprise plans to enjoy the export tax rebate policy, it needs to complete export tax refund (exemption) filing after the Import and Export Permit is issued, and this filing needs to be synchronized with the import and export qualification information.
When handled by a professional agency, the agency will sort out the enterprise's tax qualification materials in advance while processing the permit, such as the general VAT payer certificate, financial accounting system documents, etc. After the permit is issued, the agency can complete the submission of export tax refund (exemption) filing within 1 working day, avoiding tax filing delay caused by waiting for the permit, which affects the tax refund timeliness of the first export order. In addition, if the enterprise is eligible for the non-invoice tax exemption policy in cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones, the agency can coordinate with the tax authority in advance and complete relevant qualification pre-review simultaneously during permit processing, further compressing the overall compliance time.
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
The Import and Export Permit is a necessary qualification for enterprises to carry out cross-border foreign exchange collection and payment, and its processing time directly affects the enterprise's foreign exchange settlement rhythm. If the permit processing is delayed, the enterprise cannot collect foreign exchange through formal channels, which may lead to customer order abandonment or the use of non-compliant settlement methods, and then trigger foreign exchange supervision risks.
When handled by a professional agency, the agency will guide the enterprise to complete the preparation for opening a foreign exchange account in advance while processing the permit, such as submitting the enterprise business license, legal person identity certificate and other materials to the bank for pre-review. After the permit is issued, the activation and directory registration of the foreign exchange account can be completed within 1 working day, realizing "settlement upon permit issuance". At the same time, the agency can process the foreign exchange settlement application for the enterprise with priority relying on the exclusive docking channel of the cross-border payment system, avoiding capital turnover difficulties caused by delayed permit processing.
Andy GuoYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat
From the perspective of legal compliance, the processing time of the Import and Export Permit directly affects the enterprise's performance risk under international trade contracts. If shipment cannot be made on time due to delayed permit processing, the enterprise may face breach of contract claims from customers.
When handled by a professional agency, the agency will sort out the performance clauses in the international trade contract for the enterprise in advance, for example, adding a supplementary clause that "the performance period can be extended if shipment delay is caused by delayed processing of the Import and Export Permit by government departments", to reduce the enterprise's breach risk. At the same time, the agency will synchronize the permit processing progress every day. If a delay is predicted, it will assist the enterprise to communicate with the customer in advance to strive for an extension of the performance period, avoiding contract disputes caused by information asymmetry.
Grace WangYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat
After the Import and Export Permit is issued, the enterprise's cargo may face on-site customs inspection during the first customs clearance, and the processing time of the permit affects the preparation rhythm for inspection. When handled by a professional agency, the agency will guide the enterprise to prepare auxiliary inspection documents for the cargo in advance during permit processing, such as packing list, invoice, product description, etc. After the permit is issued, these documents can be submitted to customs for pre-inspection review simultaneously, reducing the probability of on-site inspection.
At the same time, if the enterprise's cargo belongs to sensitive categories, the agency can communicate with the inspection department of the local customs in advance while processing the permit, explain the compliance of the cargo, further shorten the on-site inspection time, and avoid cargo detention at the port caused by inspection delay.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
The processing time of the Import and Export Permit affects the audit compliance of export tax rebate. If an enterprise carries out import and export business without authorization before the permit processing is completed, its export tax refund application may be rejected, and even trigger tax audit risks. When handled by a professional agency, the agency will sort out the compliance requirements of export tax rebate for the enterprise during permit processing, such as the core standard of "consistency of four flows", guide the enterprise to standardize the matching process of order, logistics, capital and invoice in advance.
After the permit is issued, the preparation for the export tax refund declaration of the first order can be started immediately. At the same time, the agency will pre-review the enterprise's tax refund documents relying on the internal tax refund audit system, ensuring that the documents meet the requirements of the tax authority, and avoiding tax refund application delay caused by non-compliant documents.
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
From the perspective of supply chain planning, the processing time of the Import and Export Permit affects the overall supply chain layout of the enterprise. If the enterprise plans to expand cross-border e-commerce business, it needs to complete the docking and stock preparation arrangement for the overseas warehouse after the permit is issued.
When handled by a professional agency, the agency will formulate a phased supply chain layout plan for the enterprise according to the estimated processing time of the permit: for example, complete the qualification review of the overseas warehouse within the first 3 days of permit processing; complete domestic storage and packing preparation of the cargo during the middle stage of processing; arrange cargo shipment to the overseas warehouse immediately after the permit is issued, realizing "shipment upon permit issuance", further shortening the response time of the supply chain. At the same time, the agency will match flexible supply chain resources for the enterprise, such as third-party warehouse service providers that can adjust the stock preparation volume at any time, avoiding increased supply chain costs caused by delayed permit processing.