RCMC Registration

Overview

A Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) is issued to an exporter by an Export Promotion Council (EPC), commodity board or other authority recognised under the Foreign Trade Policy. It proves that the exporter is a member of the right council for the products or services exported and is generally needed to claim benefits under the Policy. Zenith identifies the right council, prepares the application, files it and supports renewal and amendments.

Who needs it

• Exporters who want to claim incentives, duty concessions or authorisations under the Foreign Trade Policy.
• Manufacturers and merchant exporters whose products fall under a commodity board or an EPC (for example agricultural and processed food, engineering goods, gems and jewellery, apparel, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, marine products, handicrafts or IT services).
• Exporters of goods that are covered by more than one council, who must choose the one that matches their main export activity.
• Exporters taking part in trade fairs, buyer-seller meets and delegations run by the councils.

What Zenith does

• Understands your products or services and recommends the council, with reasons.
• Checks that the Importer-Exporter Code is in place and in good standing.
• Prepares the council's application, uploads documents and follows up on queries.
• Handles later amendments and renewal.

Professional fees are customised; council membership fees are shown separately in the quotation.

Eligibility and key rules

• A valid IEC is required.
• The business must be a registered entity or proprietor engaged in exporting items that the council covers.
• GST registration is expected by most councils, and the exporter should have no outstanding dues to the council.
• Each council sets its own fee, form and document list, so the checklist varies; the DGFT portal and council sites carry the official forms.
• The certificate is generally valid for five years from issue, and exporters must keep the council updated with changes and export performance data.
• Misuse or misrepresentation can lead to suspension of the RCMC, recovery of benefits taken and further action under the Foreign Trade Act.

Documents required

• IEC certificate.
• GST registration certificate, where applicable.
• PAN of the entity.
• Incorporation certificate, partnership deed or proprietorship proof.
• Bank certificate or cancelled cheque.
• Identity proof of the authorised signatory and a photograph.
• Digital Signature Certificate for online filing, as many councils require.
• Export turnover details for renewals or where the council asks.

Process and timeline

1. Zenith identifies the council and confirms the product or service code to apply under.
2. The IEC is verified and the council's online form is opened.
3. Details, documents and the membership fee are submitted.
4. The council verifies and issues the RCMC electronically.
5. Zenith shares the certificate and the renewal reminder date.

Timelines depend on completeness, complexity and authority processing, and differ from council to council.

Government fees, penalties and due dates

• Membership fee: fixed by each council and varies with the council and sometimes with turnover or category.
• Renewal: before the validity (typically five years) ends.
• Updates: changes in name, address, signatory, products, bank or constitution must be reported to the council.
• A suspended or lapsed RCMC can affect incentive claims and require recovery of benefits already taken.
• Amounts and dates above reflect public sources read in October 2026 and change with notifications, so Zenith confirms the current figures in your quotation.

Common mistakes

• Joining the wrong council for the product, which can lead to rejection or later disputes.
• Applying before the IEC is active.
• Ignoring the renewal date, so an incentive claim falls in a period with no valid RCMC.
• Not updating the council after changes in address, partners or name.
• Treating the RCMC as an export incentive in itself; it is a pre-condition to claiming them.

FAQs