RCMC Registration (Registration-cum-Membership Certificate)
An RCMC is the membership certificate an exporter gets from the Export Promotion Council or Commodity Board for its main product. FTP 2023 requires it for DGFT authorisations and most FTP benefits. Corpseed prepares and files your e-RCMC on the DGFT portal.
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Get Support AnytimeWhat is RCMC (Registration-cum-Membership Certificate)?
A Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) is the certificate an exporter receives when it registers with, and becomes a member of, an Export Promotion Council (EPC), a Commodity Board or an Export Development Authority that DGFT has notified as a Registering Authority. The format of the certificate is in Appendix 2R and the application form is ANF 2C (Handbook of Procedures 2023, paras 2.77 and 2.79).
Under para 2.57(a) of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, anyone who applies for an authorisation to import or export under the FTP (other than for items listed as Restricted in ITC (HS)), or for any other benefit or concession under the FTP, must provide an RCMC, unless the FTP specifically exempts them.
Two registrations count as an RCMC for this purpose (FTP para 2.57(b)):
- the Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES) issued by the Spices Board; and
- the Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Coir and Coir products issued by the Coir Board.
Applications are made online through DGFT's e-RCMC service. DGFT states that the RCMC application process is completely electronic and paperless, and no paper or scanned copy of ANF 2C is to be sent to any DGFT office.
Low-value exports (as of November 2026): DGFT Notification No. 36/2026-27 dated 15 September 2026 inserted para 2.57(c) in the FTP. No RCMC or Certificate of Registration is needed for an export consignment whose FOB value does not exceed Rs 3,00,000. Consignments above that value still need a valid RCMC wherever the FTP requires one.
Which council issues your RCMC?
When you apply, you declare your main line of business. You must take the RCMC from the council that looks after the product of your main line of business (Handbook of Procedures, para 2.80(a)). The list of notified Registering Authorities and the products each one covers is in Appendix 2T.
| Your situation | Registering Authority | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Your main product is covered by an EPC, Commodity Board or Export Development Authority | That council or board, as listed in Appendix 2T (for example, the Apparel Export Promotion Council for readymade garments, EEPC India for engineering goods, APEDA and MPEDA for the products listed against them) | HBP 2.80(a) |
| Your export product is not covered by any EPC or Commodity Board | Federation of Indian Exporters Organisation (FIEO) | HBP 2.80(b) |
| Multi-product exporter not registered with any EPC, whose main line of business is not yet settled | Option to take the RCMC from FIEO | HBP 2.80(b) |
| Multi-product exporter with head office or registered office in the North Eastern States | Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council (except products looked after by APEDA, the Spices Board and the Tea Board) | HBP 2.80(c) |
| Exporter of handicrafts and handloom products from the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh | Director, Handicrafts, Government of Jammu and Kashmir | HBP 2.80(d) |
If you want to be registered as a manufacturer exporter, you must give evidence of manufacturing (HBP 2.79(a)). Prospective or potential exporters may register as associate members of an EPC (HBP 2.79(b)).
For medical devices, see our page on RCMC from the Export Promotion Council for Medical Devices.
When do you need an RCMC?
You need an RCMC when you
- apply for an authorisation to import or export under the FTP, other than for items listed as Restricted in ITC (HS). Examples are Advance Authorisation (FTP Chapter 4) and EPCG Authorisation (FTP Chapter 5); or
- apply for any other benefit or concession under the FTP (FTP para 2.57(a)).
You do not need an RCMC for
- Duty Drawback, RoSCTL and RoDTEP. DGFT Trade Notice No. 19/2024-25 dated 4 October 2024 clarified that these are post-export remission schemes and the RCMC requirement does not apply to them.
- An export consignment with an FOB value of up to Rs 3,00,000 (FTP para 2.57(c), inserted by Notification No. 36/2026-27 dated 15 September 2026).
For Advance Authorisation, if the applicant is a branch office or a manufacturing unit, its name should appear in the electronic RCMC and in the IEC of the applicant (Handbook of Procedures, para 4.03).
Details and documents needed for e-RCMC
Before you apply, DGFT requires an active Importer-Exporter Code (IEC), an updated IEC profile, and a linked Digital Signature token or Aadhaar e-signature for submitting the application.
The e-RCMC form (ANF 2C) asks for:
- IEC, PAN, firm name, date of incorporation, nature of concern and CIN or LLPIN, if any
- export performance for the last three years, taken from the IEC profile filed online in ANF-1
- address of the firm and details of the branch applying, including its GSTIN
- industrial registration details (number, issuing authority, date, product)
- details of the proprietor, partners, directors, karta or managing trustee
- status holder details and MSME status, if any
- name of the council, main line of business, category of exporter, number of years of membership applied for, and the previous year's annual turnover
- export products with ITC (HS) codes, or services with service codes
- details of the authorised representative for the council
- payment of the council's fee, shown in the fee details section of the form
If you apply as a manufacturer exporter, keep proof of manufacturing ready (HBP 2.79(a)).
How to apply for e-RCMC on the DGFT portal
- Check that your IEC is active and your IEC profile is updated, and that a Digital Signature token or Aadhaar e-signature is linked to your DGFT login.
- On the DGFT website, go to Services, then e-RCMC, then Apply for e-RCMC.
- Select the Export Promotion Council or Commodity Board for your main line of business, the council office, and the branch that is applying.
- Enter your products or services with their codes, your export performance and the other details in ANF 2C.
- Pay the council's fee online and sign the application digitally.
- The council examines the application. On being admitted to membership, you are granted the RCMC in the format in Appendix 2R (HBP 2.79(a)).
Renewal and amendment of an existing RCMC are also filed under the e-RCMC service, and anyone can view RCMC details by entering the IEC and the first three characters of the firm name.
The time taken depends on the council's scrutiny of the application.
RCMC fee, validity and compliance
Fee
The fee is the membership fee of the council you apply to. It is shown and paid in the fee details section of the e-RCMC application.
Validity
An RCMC is deemed valid from 1 April of the licensing year in which it was issued and is valid for five years, ending on 31 March, unless otherwise specified (HBP para 2.81).
After you get the RCMC
- Changes: if the ownership, constitution, name or address of the exporter changes, you must inform the Registering Authority within one month of the change. The authority may condone delay on merits (HBP 2.82).
- De-registration: the Registering Authority may de-register an RCMC holder for a specified period for violating the conditions of registration, after a show cause notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond (HBP 2.83).
- Appeal: a person aggrieved by a decision of the Registering Authority on an RCMC may appeal to DGFT, or an officer DGFT designates, within 45 days (HBP 2.84).
- Undertakings: in ANF 2C you undertake to abide by the terms of the registration on all your exports, by any code of conduct that is prescribed, and by any export floor price the Registering Authority stipulates.
Why Corpseed for RCMC?
Corpseed identifies the Export Promotion Council or Commodity Board that covers your main product, checks your IEC profile, and prepares and files the e-RCMC application, renewals and amendments on the DGFT portal. The council decides on membership and issues the RCMC. We can also line up your RCMC with your Advance Authorisation or EPCG application.
Connect With Corpseed
Connect with the Corpseed team to discuss your requirements at IVR: 7558640644 or hello@corpseed.com. It takes 20–25 minutes to discuss the requirement.
Dedicated Manager
Once you discuss the requirement, we will align a dedicated Account Manager to understand your business needs and assist throughout the process.
Real Time Update
Track the progress of your application and always know what’s in progress and what’s done.
Job Completed
Once the job is completed, you will receive registrations & certifications directly to your email ID and at your doorstep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about this service.
What is an RCMC?
RCMC stands for Registration-cum-Membership Certificate. It is issued by the Export Promotion Council, Commodity Board or Export Development Authority that covers your main product, when you register and become its member (Handbook of Procedures 2023, para 2.79).
Who issues the RCMC?
The council concerned with the product of your main line of business. The list is in Appendix 2T. FIEO issues RCMCs where the export product is not covered by any council or board, and multi-product exporters not registered with any EPC whose main line is not yet settled may choose FIEO (HBP para 2.80).
Is RCMC mandatory for every exporter?
No. It is needed when you apply for an authorisation or any other benefit or concession under the FTP (para 2.57). It is not needed for Duty Drawback, RoSCTL or RoDTEP (Trade Notice 19/2024-25), or for an export consignment with an FOB value of up to Rs 3,00,000 (Notification 36/2026-27).
How long is an RCMC valid?
It is valid from 1 April of the licensing year in which it was issued, for five years ending 31 March, unless otherwise specified (HBP para 2.81).
Can I apply for RCMC offline?
No. DGFT states that the RCMC application process is completely electronic. You apply, renew or amend through Services, then e-RCMC on the DGFT website, and no paper copies of ANF 2C are to be submitted.
What do I need before applying?
An active IEC with an updated IEC profile, and a Digital Signature token or Aadhaar e-signature linked to your DGFT login.
Our company changed its name or address. What should we do?
Inform the Registering Authority within one month of the change (HBP para 2.82) and file an amendment through the e-RCMC service.
Can a new business that has not exported yet get an RCMC?
Prospective or potential exporters may register and become associate members of an EPC (HBP para 2.79(b)).
We export spices or coir. Do we need a separate RCMC?
The Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES) issued by the Spices Board, and the Coir Board's Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Coir and Coir products, are treated as an RCMC under FTP para 2.57(b).
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