2026The number of enterprise registrations increased by 37% year-on-year,but more than 60% of new entrants relied on "agents" to complete the registration process.The "qualification" application process was delayed due to a mismatch in procedures.Under the new regulations,it’s no longer possible to complete the compliance registration solely with a business license.This article will break down the entire SOP process from industrial and commercial changes to registration with the General Administration of Customs,along with a checklist to avoid pitfalls.

The 3 Cognitive Traps of Import and Export Agency Qualifications and the Underlying Logic of Related Regulations

From a regulatory perspective,the qualification for import and export agency essentially involves a "multi-departmental coordinated filing system": the Market Supervision Administration is responsible for the qualification of the main body,the General Administration of Customs controls the declaration rights,the State Administration of Foreign Exchange supervises the receipt and payment of foreign exchange,and the Tax Bureau approves the tax refund qualification.After the amendment of the "Registration and Filing Measures for Foreign Trade Operators" in 2023,the filing process has been changed from the "approval system" to the "filing system",but the compliance requirements have become even more detailed.

5-Step Compliance Filing: From Material Preparation to Qualification Approval

Step 1: Change the business scope of the company (the core prerequisite)

Output:

• LoginTheNationalEnterpriseCreditInformationPublicitySystemSubmitanapplicationforchangingthebusinessscope,adding.Theimportandexportbusinessofgoodsandtechnologiesonbehalfofothers”(mustbedistinguishedfromself-operation)
• Uploadthescannedcopiesoftheoriginalandduplicatebusinesslicenses,andtheIndustryandCommerceAdministrationwillcompletethereviewwithin1-3workingdays(someregionssupportsame-daycompletion).

Step 2: Registration and filing for foreign trade operators (instant online approval)

Output:

• AccessChoose"EnterpriseuserregistrationPleaseentertheenterpriseinformationandclick"Submit"tocompletetheregistration.
• Aftersubmission,thesystemwillautomaticallygeneratethe"RegistrationFormforForeignTradeOperators",whichcanbedownloadeddirectly(noneedforapaperstamp).

Step 3: Registration of the customs declaration unit (declaration authority)

Output:

• LoginEnterthe"EnterpriseQualificationModules
• Uploadthebusinesslicense,theforeigntraderegistrationform,andthelegalrepresentative’sIDcard,andchecktheboxmarked.ImportersandexportersofgoodsThetypeofbusiness:Obtainthecustomsfilingnumberwithinoneworkingday.

Step 4: Register on the list of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (funding channel)

Output:

• Bringthebusinesslicense,thereceiptofcustomsregistration,andthelegalrepresentative’sIDcardtoLocalforeignexchangeadministrationbureau(oronlinevia“TheStateAdministrationofForeignExchange’sGovernmentServicesPlatform”）
• Filloutthe"RegistrationApplicationFormforEnterpriseswithForeignExchangeReceiptsandPaymentsinGoodsTrade",whichwilltakeeffectontheT+day.Youcanthenopenaforeignexchangesettlementaccount.

Step 5: Export Tax Rebate Registration (Tax Compliance)

Output:

• LoginElectronicTaxBureauEnterthe"ExportTaxRebateManagementModules,select"ApplicationforRecordation”
• Uploadthecustomsfilingnumberandthebankaccountopeninglicense,andthetaxauthoritywillcompletethereviewwithin5workingdaysafterthesubmission

2 invisible compliance nodes that 90% of enterprises overlook

1.Choice of Foreign Exchange Account Types: The agency business requires the opening of an account.To be verified account + settlement account"Two accounts.The account awaiting verification is used for temporarily holding foreign exchange,and the settlement account is used for transferring funds.If the two accounts are mixed,it will trigger monitoring by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE);

2.Annual filing and annual review: Before June 30th of each year,the "Annual Report on the Registration Information of Declarant Units" must be submitted through the "Single Window".Failure to submit it on time will result in the declaration unit being listed as a "Customs Untrustworthy Enterprise",which will affect the efficiency of subsequent declarations.

The three preparatory works that can be launched today

• Checkthebusinessscopeofthebusinesslicense:Confirmwhetheritincludes"AgencyIfthewords"Merchants"arenotmarkedonthebusinesslicense,thecompanyneedstosubmitthebusinesschangeapplicationimmediately
• Organizemateriallist:Preparehigh-definitionscansofbusinesslicense,legalrepresentativeID,andbankaccountopeningpermit(resolution≥300dpi)
• Makeanappointmentwiththelocalforeignexchangeadministrationbureau:Consulttherequirementsforopeningaforeignexchangeaccountinadvance(insomeregions,youneedtoverifyyourbusinessaddresson-site).