How to Apply for an Export Agency Certificate? 15 Key Questions Foreign Trade Enterprises Must Know

What isExport RepresentationCertificate? Which Enterprises Need to Apply?

Export agency certificate (Export Agency Certificate) is a key document in international trade that proves an enterprise has legalimport and exportagency qualifications. According to the latest 2025 revision of theforeign tradeForeign Trade Law, the following three types of enterprises must apply:

• Companies providing comprehensive foreign trade agency services for other enterprises
• Carry outCross-border E-commerceEnterprises engaged in B2B export business
• Agencies involved in import/export of specially controlled goods

What Materials Are Required to Apply for an Export Agency Certificate?

Based on 20 years of agency service experience, the 2025 material checklist mainly includes:

• Basic documents
  • Duplicate of the enterprises business license (must include import/export business scope)
  • Foreign Trade Operator Registration and Record Filing Form
• Qualification certificate
  • Tax payment certificates for the past three years (2022-2024)
  • Customs AEO certification (if applicable)
• Specialized materials
  • Standard template for agency service agreements
  • Risk control system documentation

What Are the Specific Steps for Online Application?

After full implementation of electronic approval in 2025, the process has been optimized to:

• Step 1: Log in to the International Trade Single Window system
• Step 2: Select the Agency Qualification Application module
• Step 3: Upload scanned documents in PDF format (resolution no less than 300dpi)
• Step 4: Pay review fees online (supports digital RMB payment)
• Step 5: Check approval progress in real-time (average processing time reduced to 5 working days)

What are the common issues during the application process? How to avoid them?

Based on experience serving Fortune 500 companies, special attention should be paid to:

• Documentation issues
  • Business license not updated to the latest version (Year 2025 requires unified use of electronic business licenses)
  • Agency agreement lacks risk-sharing clauses
• Operational issues
  • File scanning does not meet AES256 encryption standard
  • Failed to check the Electronic Signature Confirmation option

How long is the certificate valid? How to renew upon expiration?

New regulations effective from 2025:

• Validity period extended from 3 years to 5 years
• Renewal requires application submission 90 days in advance
• Simplified renewal materials, exempt from resubmitting basic certificates
• Additional ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) assessment report requirement

How to reissue a lost certificate? How long does it take?

Key points of reissuance process:

• Immediately submit Certificate Loss Declaration in the system
• Prepare reissuance application (requires legal representatives signature and electronic company seal)
• Pay reissuance fee (Year 2025 standard is 200 yuan)
• Express channel can complete reissuance within 3 working days

What items are included in the application fees?

Year 2025 fee breakdown:

• Administrative approval fee: 500 yuan (national unified standard)
• Digital certificate production fee: 300 yuan
• Electronic records management fee: 100 yuan/year
• Optional value-added services:
  • Legal compliance review: starting from 2000 yuan
  • Customized risk management solutions: starting from 5000 yuan