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RCMC Registration
Registration Cum Membership Certificate from your sector's export promotion council.
What is RCMC Registration?
An RCMC (Registration Cum Membership Certificate) is issued by the relevant Export Promotion Council for your product category, required to claim benefits under India's Foreign Trade Policy and often requested by international buyers as proof of sector recognition.
RCMC exists to give each product sector a designated council that both regulates entry into Foreign Trade Policy benefit schemes and actively promotes that sector's exports internationally โ so a single mechanism serves the dual purpose of compliance gatekeeping and trade development, rather than leaving these functions scattered across ad-hoc bodies.
India's Foreign Trade Policy designates a specific Export Promotion Council (or a commodity board like APEDA, Spices Board, or Tea Board, which function similarly) for each broad product category โ engineering goods, chemicals, textiles, handicrafts, and so on. If your product doesn't map neatly to any council, FIEO (the Federation of Indian Export Organisations) serves as the default council of last resort for general merchandise exporters.
RCMC is the credential many Foreign Trade Policy schemes check before releasing a benefit, and it's also frequently requested during tenders, buyer onboarding, and trade-finance documentation as independent proof that your business is a recognised, active participant in your export sector โ not merely a claim on your own letterhead.
Who Needs It
Key Benefits
Documents Required
- IEC certificate
- Business registration and product category details
- Bank certificate and export turnover details, if applicable
- GST registration certificate
- Memorandum/Articles of Association or partnership deed, as applicable
Our Process
Council Identification
We identify the correct Export Promotion Council for your product category.
Documentation Compilation
We compile IEC, GST, business registration, and turnover documentation against the identified council's checklist.
Application Filing
The RCMC application is filed with the relevant council.
Verification
The council verifies the submitted business and product details.
Certificate Issuance
The RCMC is issued, valid for a five-year period typically.
Validity & Renewal
RCMC is issued for five financial years, running from 1 April of the year of issuance to 31 March five years later โ so effective validity can run shorter than a full five years depending on the month you're issued the certificate.
Penalty for Non-Compliance
Trading on a lapsed RCMC disqualifies shipments from Foreign Trade Policy scheme benefits, and non-compliance under the governing Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 can extend to fines or cancellation of the certificate in more serious cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hold RCMC from multiple councils?
Yes, if your business exports across multiple product categories spanning different councils, you can hold RCMC from each relevant one.
What if my product doesn't fall under any specific council?
FIEO serves as the default Export Promotion Council for exporters whose products aren't covered by a dedicated sector body, so we route the application there in that case.
Is RCMC the same across every council?
The RCMC concept and its role under Foreign Trade Policy are consistent, but each council sets its own fee structure, documentation nuances, and membership category tiers.
Do I need RCMC to simply obtain IEC?
No โ IEC and RCMC are independent registrations; IEC is the base requirement to trade at all, while RCMC is layered on top specifically to access Foreign Trade Policy incentive schemes and council membership benefits.
What happens if my RCMC lapses?
A lapsed RCMC can disqualify you from claiming FTP scheme benefits until renewed, so we track the five-year validity window and file the renewal well ahead of expiry.
Does RCMC membership cost scale with company size?
Yes โ most councils tier their membership fee by export turnover or company category, so a larger exporter typically pays a higher fee slab than a smaller one.
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