RCMC Renewal: Process, Documents, Fees & Validity (2026)
TL;DR - Summary
- What is RCMC renewal and who needs to do it? - RCMC renewal is the process of extending a Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate for another validity period. Exporters whose RCMC is nearing expiry need to renew it to continue using the certificate for applicable Foreign Trade Policy benefits.
- How long does an RCMC certificate stay valid? - An RCMC is generally valid for 5 financial years, from 1 April of the issuing year through 31 March of the fifth financial year. Membership fees may have separate renewal requirements during the five-year validity period.
- How do I renew my RCMC certificate online? - To renew an RCMC online, log in to the DGFT Common Digital Platform using your IEC credentials, go to Services > e-RCMC > Apply for Renewal, and complete the application using DSC or Aadhaar e-Sign.
- What happens if an RCMC certificate lapses without renewal? - If an RCMC expires without renewal, the exporter may no longer be able to use the certificate for benefits or concessions that require a valid RCMC. The impact on a specific export benefit depends on the applicable Foreign Trade Policy and scheme rules.
What Is RCMC Certificate Renewal?
RCMC renewal is the process of extending a Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate before its existing validity period ends. An RCMC is issued by Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards, Development Authorities and other authorised bodies to exporters dealing in specific products.
A valid RCMC may be required for claiming certain Foreign Trade Policy benefits and concessions, depending on the scheme and applicable exemptions. This includes export schemes such as RoDTEP, Duty Drawback and the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme, where RCMC requirements apply.
How Long Is an RCMC Certificate Valid?
An RCMC remains active for five financial years. Its validity begins on 1 April of the licensing year in which the certificate is issued and continues until 31 March of the fifth financial year.
The five-year validity period applies to RCMCs issued through the DGFT framework by Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards, Development Authorities and other authorised bodies.
The certificate's expiry date is separate from any membership fee obligations imposed by the issuing organisation. Some EPCs require members to pay fees every year or at other intervals during the five-year period, so exporters should check their council's rules.
Put a reminder in your calendar about 60 days before your RCMC expires. That buffer gives you time to complete the renewal and sort out any issues before you actually need to rely on a valid certificate.
Who Needs to Renew RCMC?
Indian exporters whose RCMC is approaching the end of its five financial year validity period need to renew it if they require a valid RCMC for their applicable export benefits, authorisations or other Foreign Trade Policy requirements. Additionally,
- Exporters using Foreign Trade Policy benefits or concessions that require a valid RCMC should renew it before expiry to avoid issues with future applications or claims.
- Exporters registered with EPCs or Commodity Boards may also need to keep membership fees or other periodic requirements up to date. These requirements are separate from the RCMC's five-year validity and depend on the registering authority.
RCMC issuing authorities include Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), Commodity Boards and Development Authorities such as the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), depending on the exporter's main line of business.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) requires exporters to obtain the RCMC from the authority concerned with their main product category, while the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) can issue an RCMC for certain multi-product exporters not covered by an EPC or Commodity Board.
What Are the RCMC Renewal Fees?
RCMC renewal does not involve a separate DGFT filing fee. The amount an exporter pays is the membership fee charged by the relevant Export Promotion Council, Commodity Board or other registering authority.
The fee depends mainly on the council issuing the RCMC and the exporter's turnover slab. Different bodies, including FIEO, EEPC India, HEPC, CHEMEXCIL and APEDA, follow their own fee structures.
In many cases, the fee is charged per year and attracts GST, but the actual amount varies between councils. Exporters should check the latest fee schedule or renewal instructions issued by their own council before making the payment.
When completing the renewal application, the turnover figure should refer to the export turnover requested by the council, rather than the business's overall turnover. Renewal generally involves paying the applicable membership fee for the next period, with the amount determined according to the council's current fee structure and applicable turnover slab.
RCMC Renewal Fees by Major EPC
Exact rupee figures vary by council and change periodically.
| Council / Authority | Sector | 2026–27 RCMC / Membership Fee | Fee Basis | Portal to Verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIEO | Multi-product / services | From ₹7,000 + 18% GST | Membership category | fieo.org |
| EEPC India | Engineering goods | From ₹6,500 + GST | Export turnover slab | eepcindia.org |
| HEPC | Handloom products | ₹1,000 + 18% GST for the 2026–27 renewal mentioned in its notice | Annual renewal | hepcindia.com |
| CHEMEXCIL | Chemicals, cosmetics, dyes | Turnover-based; current fee to be confirmed from CHEMEXCIL | CA-certified export turnover | chemexcil.in |
| APEDA | Agricultural and processed food | ₹5,000 + 18% GST = ₹5,900 | RCMC registration/renewal | apeda.gov.in |
Note: The figures are council-specific and can change.
⚠️ COMMON MISCONCEPTION
RCMC fee schedules are set by the respective councils and can change. Third-party fee figures may therefore become outdated, so check the issuing authority's current fee schedule before paying.
How to Renew RCMC Online via DGFT: A Step-by-Step Guide
You can renew an RCMC online through the DGFT Common Digital Platform, which handles RCMC applications and renewals for exporters. Before starting, make sure your IEC details are up to date and your Aadhaar e-Sign or DSC is ready for authentication.
- Sign in to DGFT: Open the DGFT portal and log in with your IEC-linked credentials.
- Check your IEC setup: Make sure your IEC is linked to either Aadhaar e-Sign or a Digital Signature Certificate. If it is already linked, you can move ahead.
- Open the RCMC service: From the dashboard, go to Services > e-RCMC > Apply for RENEWAL OF RCMC.
- Start the application: Choose Start Fresh Application if you are beginning a new renewal request. If you have already saved a draft, open that application instead.
- Choose the existing RCMC: Select the RCMC you want to renew and proceed. Your existing firm details should populate from your DGFT records.
- Enter the renewal details: Follow your council's instructions and provide the requested information, such as the membership period, financial year, MSME or EOU/SEZ status and export turnover.
- Pay the applicable fee: Select the membership fee based on the applicable turnover slab. If you have already paid the council separately, enter those payment details. Otherwise, use the payment option available on the portal.
- Add supporting documents: Upload the documents requested for your renewal, such as your IEC, GST registration and constitution documents, along with any additional documents specified by the relevant council.
- Review and save: Confirm that your IEC profile is updated, review the information entered in the application and use Save & Next to continue.
- Authenticate and submit: Complete the application using your DSC or Aadhaar e-Sign and submit it for review. The relevant council then processes the renewal and issues the renewed RCMC once approved.
Note: Processing time can vary between councils and applications, so avoid treating a single number of working days as a universal DGFT timeline.
What Documents Are Required for RCMC Renewal?
RCMC renewal generally requires the ANF 2C application, IEC certificate, PAN, GST registration certificate and proof of the applicable council membership fee, along with supporting documents based on the exporter's business structure and circumstances.
- Constitution proof depends on the type of business. Companies may need their Memorandum and Articles of Association, partnerships or LLPs may need a Partnership Deed, and trusts may need a Trust Deed.
- A Chartered Accountant's certificate of export earnings and a Board Resolution or Power of Attorney authorising the signatory may also be required where applicable.
- Individual applicants and proprietorships may need Aadhaar along with PAN as identity proof.
- A bank certificate or cancelled cheque may be required to verify the exporter's bank account details.
- MSME or Udyam registration is optional, although it can be useful for eligible small and medium-sized businesses.
Note that before submitting the renewal application through DGFT, the IEC profile needs to be updated, with the application authenticated using a DSC token or Aadhaar e-Sign as applicable.
Requirements can differ between issuing authorities. Exporters should check the specific document list provided by their EPC or other registering authority before submitting the renewal application.
Why Should Exporters Renew RCMC?
Exporters should renew their RCMC to keep their registration with the relevant Export Promotion Council or other authorised body active and maintain access to benefits and services linked to a valid certificate. Besides that,
- A current RCMC is required to claim benefits, concessions and export incentives under the Foreign Trade Policy, including schemes such as RoDTEP and Duty Drawback. Exporting without an RCMC may still be possible where the certificate is not required, but applicable benefits may not be available.
- RCMC renewal is also relevant for concessional or duty-free import schemes linked to export obligations, such as EPCG, where a valid RCMC forms part of the applicable requirements.
- RCMC and GST requirements are separate. A valid RCMC is not, by itself, a general requirement for filing a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) for zero-rated exports or for procuring goods at lower tax rates.
- An active RCMC also gives exporters access to council-backed trade fairs, buyer-seller meets, market intelligence and training programmes, along with other RCMC registration benefits for export businesses.
- Keeping the RCMC current can also strengthen an exporter's credibility with international buyers, financial institutions and trade banks by demonstrating registration with the relevant export promotion body.
How Does Skydo Help Receive International Payments With Full Compliance?
Renewing your RCMC takes care of one part of export compliance. The real hassle starts when the payment arrives, and you need a reliable way to receive and document those export proceeds. Skydo brings the payment and documentation side into one platform for Indian exporters. With Skydo,
- Receive payments through global accounts: Skydo provides free global virtual accounts, allowing overseas clients to pay through local transfer methods in supported markets. Account setup takes around 5 minutes only.
- Get FIRA automatically: Skydo generates a free FIRA (Foreign Inward Remittance Advice) for every payment and makes it available instantly in the dashboard or inbox.
- Connect payments with export records: For eligible exporters, Skydo supports eBRC workflows, including mapping inward remittance records to shipping bills and generating eBRCs. It also provides EDPMS closure assistance.
- Know the transaction cost upfront: Skydo charges a flat fee of $19 for payments up to $2,000, $29 for payments from $2,001 to $10,000, and 0.3% above $10,000, plus applicable GST. It uses the live FX rate with zero FX margin and zero hidden costs.
How do I renew my RCMC certificate online?
Log in to the DGFT portal with IEC credentials, navigate to Services, then e-RCMC, then Apply for Renewal of RCMC. Select the existing RCMC number, fill in turnover and membership details, upload required documents, pay the council's fee online, and submit using Aadhaar e-Sign or a DSC. Processing typically takes 7 to 10 working days, depending on the council and how complete the application is.
What are the RCMC renewal fees for 2026-27?
How long is an RCMC certificate valid?
Is RCMC mandatory for import?
What happens if my RCMC lapses?
Can I renew RCMC without visiting the EPC office?
What is the difference between RCMC renewal and fresh RCMC registration?
How early should I apply for RCMC renewal?
