--- title: "What Are the Qualification Requirements and Full-Process Approval Nodes for Applying for Import and Export Operation Rights?" description: "Many micro，small and medium-sized foreign trade practitioners are trapped in delayed approval due to unqualified qualifications and face penalties for falling into compliance misunderstandings，as they are not familiar with the qualification requirements and approval procedures for import and export operation rights application. By disassembling the whole application process，reviewing document details in advance，connecting core approval nodes and formulating abnormal disposal plans，we can achieve..." url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/qualification-requirements-and-approval-nodes-for-import-export-operation-rights.html" language: "en" type: "Q&A" category: "General Trade Q&A" datePublished: "2026-10-31" dateModified: "2026-10-31" brand: "Zhongshen Trading China" answerCount: 9 --- # What Are the Qualification Requirements and Full-Process Approval Nodes for Applying for Import and Export Operation Rights? ## Question I am the head of a small and micro enterprise that has just transformed into cross-border beauty wholesale business in Shanghai. I just got my business license with the added scope of "import and export of goods" last week, and originally planned to launch the first order of importing beauty products from South Korea as soon as possible. But I was completely confused when applying for import and export operation rights — I didn't even know whether I should complete the record-filing for foreign trade operator first or the registration of import and export goods consignee/consignor at customs first. Different process statements can be found online, and I also heard that a peer in the same district got his application rejected for missing a document, which delayed the container arrival. He not only paid more than RMB 100,000 for demurrage, but also lost the customer's long-term order. Now I'm so anxious that I can't even eat, I'm afraid of stepping into pitfalls and delaying my business. I want to know how to handle the procedures step by step, what core materials need to be prepared, and what easily overlooked compliance details can avoid subsequent problems? ## Answers ### Answer 1 — Best Answer First of all，pre-document review details: You need to confirm in advance that the business scope of your business license includes "import and export of goods" or "import and export of technology". If not，you need to complete **industrial and commercial business scope addition** first，at the same time，prepare materials including official seal，copy of legal person's ID card，articles of association，etc。and focus on checking whether there are relevant authority provisions for foreign trade business in the articles of association，to avoid being rejected due to non-compliance of the articles of association. The connection of core approval nodes shall be promoted in the following order: Step 1，go to the Municipal Bureau of Commerce to complete **Foreign Trade Operator Filing** (1-2 working days)，Step 2，go to the customs to apply for the Registration Certificate of Consignee and Consignor of Import and Export Goods (3-5 working days)，Step 3，apply for IC card at China Electronic Port (2-3 working days)，Finally，complete the directory registration at the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. You need to follow up the approval progress synchronously between nodes to avoid disconnection and delay. For abnormal contingency plans: If your filing is rejected，you need to ask for the official rejection notice immediately and supplement materials in a targeted manner，if the customs registration review exceeds the time limit，you can apply for an expedited channel with the filing letter from the Bureau of Commerce. After final compliance implementation，all documents shall be archived and retained. After completing the first customs declaration，update the enterprise tax filing information synchronously to ensure the full process compliance of subsequent foreign trade business. **status:** accepted **Author:** Linda Gao **Date:** 2026-10-31 ### Answer 2 After completing the application for import and export operation rights, you need to update the information on your Customs Declaration Unit Registration Certificate simultaneously, focus on checking the consistency between the customs declaration unit code and the enterprise's unified social credit code, to avoid the failure of subsequent declaration form entry into the system due to code inconsistency. If it involves the first customs declaration, you need to complete the customs declarer filing on the "Single Window" in advance to ensure that the customs declarer's qualification matches the enterprise's filing information. In case of customs valuation disputes, you need to prepare purchase contracts, invoices, payment vouchers and other documents in advance, and submit the price inquiry response letter as required by the customs, to avoid customs declaration delay or cargo detention caused by insufficient evidence. At the same time, you need to pay attention to the customs "customs clearance integration" policy, bind the local customs brokerage firm in advance, to achieve efficient connection of cross-regional customs declaration. **status:** suggested **Author:** Victor Sun **Date:** 2026-10-31 ### Answer 3 After completing the application for import and export operation rights, you need to update the enterprise qualification information to your cooperative international logistics enterprise in time, to ensure that the bill of lading issuing entity is consistent with the operation right filing information, and avoid the failure of bill of lading transfer or delivery block caused by inconsistent cargo ownership entity. When selecting logistics routes, you need to confirm whether the logistics enterprise has the transportation qualification for the corresponding commodity category according to the cargo scope permitted by the operation right. For example, for dangerous goods, you need to select a logistics provider with UN packaging qualification. In case of container rolling or cabin overbooking, you can use the valid import and export operation right filing letter to apply for priority expedited space, and you need to clearly specify the cargo ownership transfer clause in the bill of lading to avoid demurrage loss caused by cargo ownership disputes. **status:** suggested **Author:** Cindy Chen **Date:** 2026-10-31 ### Answer 4 After obtaining import and export operation rights, you need to go to the tax department to complete export tax refund (exemption) filing in time, focus on checking whether the enterprise type and tax refund (exemption) method in the filing match the actual business. If you choose the "exemption, credit and refund" method, you need to ensure that the enterprise has general taxpayer qualification. For import business, you can apply for the value-added tax deferred payment policy, which delays the payment of import link VAT to the tax declaration period, easing the capital pressure of the enterprise. At the same time, you need to sort out the pricing of cross-border related party transactions to ensure compliance with the arm's length principle, and avoid tax inspection caused by unreasonable transfer pricing. In addition, you can use the preferential tax policies available for enterprises with import and export operation rights, such as export tax refund (exemption), import equipment duty exemption, etc., to optimize the enterprise's tax cost structure. **status:** suggested **Author:** Daniel Xu **Date:** 2026-10-31 ### Answer 5 After completing the application for import and export operation rights, you need to go to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange to complete the registration of trade foreign exchange receipt and payment enterprise directory. After registration, you can handle cross-border foreign exchange receipt and payment through CIPS or SWIFT system. When handling foreign exchange receipt and payment, you need to ensure the consistency between transaction documents and foreign exchange receipt and payment. For example, export foreign exchange receipt requires customs declaration, invoice, bill of lading and other documents, while import foreign exchange payment requires purchase contract, customs declaration, payment voucher and other documents. If it involves foreign exchange receipt and payment through offshore account, you need to report the account information to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange synchronously, to avoid account freezing caused by non-filing. At the same time, you need to pay attention to exchange rate fluctuations, and use tools such as forward foreign exchange settlement and sale to optimize foreign exchange purchase cost and hedge exchange rate risk. **status:** suggested **Author:** Eric Zhou **Date:** 2026-10-31 ### Answer 6 After completing the application for import and export operation rights, you need to update the enterprise's international trade contract template signed with overseas parties, clarify that the contract subject is the enterprise with import and export operation rights, to avoid invalid contract caused by inconsistent subject qualification. When drafting letter of credit clauses, you need to avoid soft clauses, such as "negotiation can only be effected after the sample is confirmed by the buyer", etc. At the same time, you need to add a force majeure clause in the contract to clarify the division of liabilities caused by force majeure such as policy changes, epidemics, etc. In addition, you need to complete intellectual property customs protection filing in time. If the import and export goods involve self-owned brands or authorized brands, you can apply for intellectual property filing to the customs by virtue of your import and export operation right, to avoid goods infringement or customs detention. **status:** suggested **Author:** Lucas Liu **Date:** 2026-10-31 ### Answer 7 After completing the application for import and export operation rights, the first batch of goods for declaration is very likely to be randomly selected for inspection by the customs. You need to prepare packing list, invoice, contract, product specification and other documents in advance, to ensure that the document information is consistent with the actual goods. During on-site inspection, you need to arrange personnel familiar with the goods to be present to cooperate. In case of devanning inspection, you need to confirm in advance whether the packaging marks, quantity and specifications of the goods are consistent with the customs declaration, to avoid inspection failure caused by inconsistent marks. If it involves machine inspection, you need to inform the logistics enterprise of the material and structure of the goods in advance, to avoid secondary inspection caused by abnormal machine inspection image. At the same time, you need to check the authenticity of the container seal to ensure that the container has not been opened during transportation. **status:** suggested **Author:** Michael Zhang **Date:** 2026-10-31 ### Answer 8 After obtaining import and export operation rights, you need to establish a sound export tax refund document management system to ensure the "four-flow consistency" of customs declarations, invoices, foreign exchange receipt vouchers, bills of lading and other documents, to avoid tax refund application rejection caused by inconsistent documents. When making pre-declaration of export tax refund, you need to check the consistency between customs declaration information and tax system information in the electronic tax bureau in advance. If there is information delay, contact the customs to update the data in time. In case of tax correspondence investigation, you need to submit purchase contracts, payment vouchers, cargo transportation vouchers and other materials in time to cooperate with the tax authorities to complete the verification. At the same time, you need to sort out tax refund documents monthly to ensure timely cross-month declaration, and avoid cancellation of tax refund qualification caused by overdue declaration. **status:** suggested **Author:** Grace Wang **Date:** 2026-10-31 ### Answer 9 After completing the application for import and export operation rights, you need to re-sort out the enterprise's supply chain structure, optimize the cooperation mode with suppliers and customers according to the cargo scope permitted by the operation right. For example, you can directly sign purchase contracts with overseas suppliers to reduce cost loss in intermediate links. When selecting trade terms, you can flexibly switch between CIF/FOB terms according to your qualification. For example, selecting FOB for export business can transfer logistics risk to the buyer, and selecting CIF for import business can lock in logistics costs. At the same time, you need to establish an inventory linkage strategy, plan the inventory level in advance according to the approval progress of the import and export operation right, to avoid inventory backlog or stock-out caused by delayed business launch. **status:** suggested **Author:** Evelyn Li **Date:** 2026-10-31 ## 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/) ## Structured Data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "QAPage", "inLanguage":"en", "isPartOf": { "@id":"https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/#website" }, "publisher":{ "@id":"https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/#organization" }, "mainEntity": { "@type": "Question", "name": "What Are the Qualification Requirements and Full-Process Approval Nodes for Applying for Import and Export Operation Rights?", "text": "I am the head of a small and micro enterprise that has just transformed into cross-border beauty wholesale business in Shanghai. I just got my business license with the added scope of "import and export of goods" last week, and originally planned to launch the first order of importing beauty products from South Korea as soon as possible. But I was completely confused when applying for import and export operation rights — I didn't even know whether I should complete the record-filing for foreign trade operator first or the registration of import and export goods consignee/consignor at customs first. Different process statements can be found online, and I also heard that a peer in the same district got his application rejected for missing a document, which delayed the container arrival. He not only paid more than RMB 100,000 for demurrage, but also lost the customer's long-term order. Now I'm so anxious that I can't even eat, I'm afraid of stepping into pitfalls and delaying my business. I want to know how to handle the procedures step by step, what core materials need to be prepared, and what easily overlooked compliance details can avoid subsequent problems?", "answerCount": 9, "upvoteCount": 3, "datePublished": "2026-10-31T22:01:57Z", "dateModified": "2026-10-31T22:02:09Z", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zhongshen Trading China", "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/qualification-requirements-and-approval-nodes-for-import-export-operation-rights.html" } ,"acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "First of all，pre-document review details: You need to confirm in advance that the business scope of your business license includes "import and export of goods" or "import and export of technology". If not，you need to complete industrial and commercial business scope addition first，at the same time，prepare materials including official seal，copy of legal person's ID card，articles of association，etc。and focus on checking whether there are relevant authority provisions for foreign trade business in the articles of association，to avoid being rejected due to non-compliance of the articles of association. The connection of core approval nodes shall be promoted in the following order: Step 1，go to the Municipal Bureau of Commerce to complete Foreign Trade Operator Filing (1-2 working days)，Step 2，go to the customs to apply for the Registration Certificate of Consignee and Consignor of Import and Export Goods (3-5 working days)，Step 3，apply for IC card at China Electronic Port (2-3 working days)，Finally，complete the directory registration at the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. You need to follow up the approval progress synchronously between nodes to avoid disconnection and delay. For abnormal contingency plans: If your filing is rejected，you need to ask for the official rejection notice immediately and supplement materials in a targeted manner，if the customs registration review exceeds the time limit，you can apply for an expedited channel with the filing letter from the Bureau of Commerce. After final compliance implementation，all documents shall be archived and retained. After completing the first customs declaration，update the enterprise tax filing information synchronously to ensure the full process compliance of subsequent foreign trade business.", "upvoteCount": 3, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/qualification-requirements-and-approval-nodes-for-import-export-operation-rights.html#acceptedAnswer", "datePublished": "2026-10-31T22:52:19Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Linda Gao","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/linda-gao/"} } ,"suggestedAnswer": [ { "@type": "Answer", "text": "After completing the application for import and export operation rights, you need to update the information on your Customs Declaration Unit Registration Certificate simultaneously, focus on checking the consistency between the customs declaration unit code and the enterprise's unified social credit code, to avoid the failure of subsequent declaration form entry into the system due to code inconsistency. If it involves the first customs declaration, you need to complete the customs declarer filing on the "Single Window" in advance to ensure that the customs declarer's qualification matches the enterprise's filing information. In case of customs valuation disputes, you need to prepare purchase contracts, invoices, payment vouchers and other documents in advance, and submit the price inquiry response letter as required by the customs, to avoid customs declaration delay or cargo detention caused by insufficient evidence. At the same time, you need to pay attention to the customs "customs clearance integration" policy, bind the local customs brokerage firm in advance, to achieve efficient connection of cross-regional customs declaration.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/qualification-requirements-and-approval-nodes-for-import-export-operation-rights.html#suggestedAnswer-2", "datePublished": "2026-10-31T22:36:03Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Victor Sun","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/victor-sun/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "After completing the application for import and export operation rights, you need to update the enterprise qualification information to your cooperative international logistics enterprise in time, to ensure that the bill of lading issuing entity is consistent with the operation right filing information, and avoid the failure of bill of lading transfer or delivery block caused by inconsistent cargo ownership entity. When selecting logistics routes, you need to confirm whether the logistics enterprise has the transportation qualification for the corresponding commodity category according to the cargo scope permitted by the operation right. For example, for dangerous goods, you need to select a logistics provider with UN packaging qualification. In case of container rolling or cabin overbooking, you can use the valid import and export operation right filing letter to apply for priority expedited space, and you need to clearly specify the cargo ownership transfer clause in the bill of lading to avoid demurrage loss caused by cargo ownership disputes.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/qualification-requirements-and-approval-nodes-for-import-export-operation-rights.html#suggestedAnswer-3", "datePublished": "2026-10-31T22:22:39Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Cindy Chen","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/cindy-chen/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "After obtaining import and export operation rights, you need to go to the tax department to complete export tax refund (exemption) filing in time, focus on checking whether the enterprise type and tax refund (exemption) method in the filing match the actual business. If you choose the "exemption, credit and refund" method, you need to ensure that the enterprise has general taxpayer qualification. For import business, you can apply for the value-added tax deferred payment policy, which delays the payment of import link VAT to the tax declaration period, easing the capital pressure of the enterprise. At the same time, you need to sort out the pricing of cross-border related party transactions to ensure compliance with the arm's length principle, and avoid tax inspection caused by unreasonable transfer pricing. In addition, you can use the preferential tax policies available for enterprises with import and export operation rights, such as export tax refund (exemption), import equipment duty exemption, etc., to optimize the enterprise's tax cost structure.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/qualification-requirements-and-approval-nodes-for-import-export-operation-rights.html#suggestedAnswer-4", "datePublished": "2026-10-31T22:20:08Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Daniel Xu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/daniel-xu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "After completing the application for import and export operation rights, you need to go to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange to complete the registration of trade foreign exchange receipt and payment enterprise directory. After registration, you can handle cross-border foreign exchange receipt and payment through CIPS or SWIFT system. When handling foreign exchange receipt and payment, you need to ensure the consistency between transaction documents and foreign exchange receipt and payment. For example, export foreign exchange receipt requires customs declaration, invoice, bill of lading and other documents, while import foreign exchange payment requires purchase contract, customs declaration, payment voucher and other documents. If it involves foreign exchange receipt and payment through offshore account, you need to report the account information to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange synchronously, to avoid account freezing caused by non-filing. At the same time, you need to pay attention to exchange rate fluctuations, and use tools such as forward foreign exchange settlement and sale to optimize foreign exchange purchase cost and hedge exchange rate risk.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/qualification-requirements-and-approval-nodes-for-import-export-operation-rights.html#suggestedAnswer-5", "datePublished": "2026-10-31T22:18:29Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Eric Zhou","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/eric-zhou/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "After completing the application for import and export operation rights, you need to update the enterprise's international trade contract template signed with overseas parties, clarify that the contract subject is the enterprise with import and export operation rights, to avoid invalid contract caused by inconsistent subject qualification. When drafting letter of credit clauses, you need to avoid soft clauses, such as "negotiation can only be effected after the sample is confirmed by the buyer", etc. At the same time, you need to add a force majeure clause in the contract to clarify the division of liabilities caused by force majeure such as policy changes, epidemics, etc. In addition, you need to complete intellectual property customs protection filing in time. If the import and export goods involve self-owned brands or authorized brands, you can apply for intellectual property filing to the customs by virtue of your import and export operation right, to avoid goods infringement or customs detention.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/qualification-requirements-and-approval-nodes-for-import-export-operation-rights.html#suggestedAnswer-6", "datePublished": "2026-10-31T22:16:47Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Lucas Liu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/lucas-liu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "After completing the application for import and export operation rights, the first batch of goods for declaration is very likely to be randomly selected for inspection by the customs. You need to prepare packing list, invoice, contract, product specification and other documents in advance, to ensure that the document information is consistent with the actual goods. During on-site inspection, you need to arrange personnel familiar with the goods to be present to cooperate. In case of devanning inspection, you need to confirm in advance whether the packaging marks, quantity and specifications of the goods are consistent with the customs declaration, to avoid inspection failure caused by inconsistent marks. If it involves machine inspection, you need to inform the logistics enterprise of the material and structure of the goods in advance, to avoid secondary inspection caused by abnormal machine inspection image. At the same time, you need to check the authenticity of the container seal to ensure that the container has not been opened during transportation.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/qualification-requirements-and-approval-nodes-for-import-export-operation-rights.html#suggestedAnswer-7", "datePublished": "2026-10-31T22:11:12Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Michael Zhang","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/michael-zhang/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "After obtaining import and export operation rights, you need to establish a sound export tax refund document management system to ensure the "four-flow consistency" of customs declarations, invoices, foreign exchange receipt vouchers, bills of lading and other documents, to avoid tax refund application rejection caused by inconsistent documents. When making pre-declaration of export tax refund, you need to check the consistency between customs declaration information and tax system information in the electronic tax bureau in advance. If there is information delay, contact the customs to update the data in time. In case of tax correspondence investigation, you need to submit purchase contracts, payment vouchers, cargo transportation vouchers and other materials in time to cooperate with the tax authorities to complete the verification. At the same time, you need to sort out tax refund documents monthly to ensure timely cross-month declaration, and avoid cancellation of tax refund qualification caused by overdue declaration.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/qualification-requirements-and-approval-nodes-for-import-export-operation-rights.html#suggestedAnswer-8", "datePublished": "2026-10-31T22:06:19Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Grace Wang","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/grace-wang/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "After completing the application for import and export operation rights, you need to re-sort out the enterprise's supply chain structure, optimize the cooperation mode with suppliers and customers according to the cargo scope permitted by the operation right. For example, you can directly sign purchase contracts with overseas suppliers to reduce cost loss in intermediate links. When selecting trade terms, you can flexibly switch between CIF/FOB terms according to your qualification. For example, selecting FOB for export business can transfer logistics risk to the buyer, and selecting CIF for import business can lock in logistics costs. At the same time, you need to establish an inventory linkage strategy, plan the inventory level in advance according to the approval progress of the import and export operation right, to avoid inventory backlog or stock-out caused by delayed business launch.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/qualification-requirements-and-approval-nodes-for-import-export-operation-rights.html#suggestedAnswer-9", "datePublished": "2026-10-31T22:02:09Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Evelyn Li","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/evelyn-li/"} } ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ {"@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/"},{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Q&A", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/"},{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "General Trade Q&A", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-general-trade/"} ,{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What Are the Qualification Requirements and Full-Process Approval Nodes for Applying for Import and Export Operation Rights?"} ] } ] ```