Export Promotion Council Registration (RCMC): Steps, Fees, Docs, Renewal & Amendments

If you’re a new exporter, this is how it usually goes.

You’ve finally got your IEC, your first shipment is being planned, and you’re feeling on track… until someone (a consultant, a CHA, your buyer, or your internal ops person) asks:

“Do you have RCMC?”

That one question matters because RCMC is what connects your exporter identity to your industry council, and that’s what unlocks most export benefits, authorisations, and council programs.

This guide breaks the process down in plain steps: what EPC/RCMC means, how to pick the right council, how to apply online through DGFT e-RCMC, what documents you’ll need, and what to do for renewal/amendment.

TL;DR

Export Promotion Council registration vs IEC (what’s the difference?)

IEC (Importer-Exporter Code)

Your IEC is your base license to export/import. FTP 2023 states that no export/import of goods should be done without an IEC (unless exempted). Think of IEC as your trade ID.

EPC registration (RCMC)

Your RCMC is your sector registration + membership certificate issued by your EPC/commodity board/development authority (the “Registering Authority”). Think of RCMC as the proof that you belong to a recognised export body for your main line of business.

The order matters

You generally need an active IEC first, then you apply for RCMC.

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What is an Export Promotion Council (EPC)?

An EPC is a sector-specific body (engineering, textiles, gems & jewellery, services, etc.) that supports exporters with things like industry programs, trade events, market access support, and policy representation.

DGFT recognises multiple “Registering Authorities”, including EPCs and commodity boards, and also publishes the official list in Appendix 2T.

What is RCMC (and why do exporters care)?

RCMC stands for Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate.

It becomes important when you do anything that touches export benefits/concessions/authorisations, because DGFT clarified that RCMC must be valid on the date you apply to DGFT for benefits/concessions under FTP. 

So even if your export operations are running, RCMC is what keeps your “benefits track” clean

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How to pick the correct council (without overthinking it)

Step 1: Decide your main line of business

DGFT’s policy circular makes it explicit: while obtaining RCMC, an exporter declares their main line of business and must obtain RCMC from the council concerned with that line.

Step 2: Match it to the official DGFT list (Appendix 2T)

DGFT’s Appendix 2T lists Export Promotion Councils / Commodity Boards / Development Authorities and their jurisdictions. 

If you’re unsure, search: “DGFT Appendix 2T RCMC” and match your product category.

Step 3: What if you export multiple categories?

If your exports don’t cleanly fall under one council, DGFT’s e-RCMC user guide mentions that:

(There are also specific notes for exporters based in North-Eastern states in the same DGFT guide.) 

Quick examples (so you can self-check fast)

How to do Export Promotion Council registration online (DGFT e-RCMC)

This is the clean “do it yourself” path.

Before you start

DGFT’s e-RCMC page lists key prerequisites:

Step-by-step: Apply for e-RCMC on DGFT

DGFT’s user help file maps the flow like this: 

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Documents required for EPC/RCMC registration (practical checklist)

DGFT’s portal flow is standard, but document requests can vary by council. Here’s what most exporters keep ready so the application doesn’t get stuck mid-way:

Always keep ready

Often asked (especially for fee slabs/membership categories)

Submission requirement

Practical tip: Most delays come from mismatches (IEC address ≠ GST address ≠ business proof) and unreadable scans, not from “complex rules”

Engineering Export Promotion Council registration (EEPC) — what’s different?

If your main line is engineering exports, EEPC India is typically the registering authority you pick inside DGFT e-RCMC.

Who should register with EEPC?

If you export engineering categories such as industrial machinery, automobiles/components, iron & steel and related engineering products, EEPC is usually the fit (again — “main line of business” is the test). 

How to join EEPC (actual process)

You apply through DGFT e-RCMC and choose EEPC as the Registering Authority. The DGFT application flow stays the same. 

EEPC subscription slabs (example table)

EEPC publishes slab-based subscription tied to export turnover. One page shows slabs like up to ₹30 lakhs = ₹6,500 and scaling upwards by turnover. 

Here’s the slab table you already have (kept intact), but with one important fix:

Important correction: This fee table is typically framed as “Subscription for FY ____ based on export turnover of previous FY ____.” One EEPC page format shows “Export during previous year 2024-25 → Subscription for 2025-26”.

Notes to keep:

What you get as an EEPC member 

In practice, EEPC membership is useful for:

Fees, validity, and timelines (what to actually expect)

Validity (RCMC)

DGFT states: RCMC is deemed valid from 1 April of the licensing year and valid for 5 financial years ending 31 March of the final year (unless specified otherwise). 

Fees

Fees depend on the Registering Authority and usually vary by exporter category + export turnover slabs. For engineering exporters, EEPC’s slabs are a clear example of how councils structure this. 

Timelines

DGFT’s portal makes submission straightforward; approval time depends on the council’s verification and document quality. Most “delays” are self-inflicted:

Renewal, amendment, and common problems (so you don’t get stuck)

Renewal (when your RCMC validity ends)

DGFT’s help file says renewal can be done inside the portal flow: Services → e-RCMC → Renewal of RCMC (for certificates that are expired). 

Amendment (when business details change)

DGFT’s v4.0 help file documents the amendment path: Services → e-RCMC → Amendment for RCMC, and the portal pre-populates old details for editing. 

Common reasons exporters amend:

“Main line changed” — do you need a fresh RCMC immediately?

DGFT clarified that if your main line of business changes after obtaining RCMC from a council, that RCMC remains acceptable till the expiry of its validity (you don’t need to rush into a fresh one immediately while the old one is valid). 

Common errors + quick fixes

1) Wrong council selected RCMC is tied to the registering authority you choose. If you pick the wrong one, you may need to apply afresh with the correct authority.

2) IEC not linked / profile not updated. DGFT explicitly calls out the need for an updated IEC profile. Fix the IEC profile first, then resume e-RCMC. 

3) Payment done, status still pending Wait a bit and recheck payment history/status. If it’s still stuck, raise a helpdesk ticket.

4) Document format/size issues Keep PDFs clean, readable, and consistent with the portal’s format expectations.

If you get stuck: DGFT helpdesk details

DGFT provides toll-free numbers and also lists the helpdesk email:

After EPC registration: Set up how you’ll get paid,  the Skydo way

Getting your RCMC is the “registration” part of exporting. Getting paid smoothly (and staying audit-ready) is the part that actually affects your cash flow.

This is where many new exporters hit friction with banks:

Skydo is designed to remove that friction for exporters. Instead of asking your buyer to do an international wire, Skydo gives you global bank account details in minutes (US/UK/Canada/Australia + more), so your buyer can pay you like a local transfer. 

Here’s what that changes in practice:

If you’re setting up exports seriously, treat RCMC + payments + remittance documentation as one stack. Skydo is built to keep that stack predictable—so you can focus on shipping and selling, not follow-ups and fee surprises.