Online e-Certificate Management System for Imports

As part of the IT Revamp, the DGFT has introduced the Online e-Certificate Management System for Imports vide a Trade notification dated 15^th February 2021. All applicants seeking  Free Sale and Commerce Certificates and Status Holder Certificates are required to apply online under the "e-Certificate Management System" in the importer/exporter's dashboard through the DGFT Website. The current article briefs the Online e-Certificate Management System for Imports.

The Gist of DGFT Trade Notice

The Direct General of Foreign Trade has announced the following information to importers.

• With effect from 22/2/2021, the following application types must be submitted online through the importer/exporter's dashboard on the DGFT official Website.
• • I Card (as under ANF-2B)
  • Free Sale and Commerce Certificate (as under ANF-2H & 2I)
  • End-User Certificate (as under ANF-2J)
  • Status Holder Certificate (as under ANF-3C)
• For electronic verification, all such certificates will be issued electronically with a QR code and a Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN).
• Importers are advised to access DGFT's' Certificate Management System'' to access the new e-module.
• DGFT also announced that the entire process is designed to be paperless and contactless; any submission, communication, clarification, correction as well as approval of submitted applications would be electronic.

Note: Attested paper copies of the certificates may be requested from the jurisdictional DGFT RA when required.

Status Holder Certificate System

Status Holders are business leaders who have excelled in international trade and have successfully contributed to the country's foreign exchange. A person can become a Status Holder by applying for a Status Holder Certificate. A Status Holder shall be eligible for privileges as specified by the Foreign Trade Policy.

Eligibility for Status Holder Certificate

• All goods, services, and technology exporters with an import-export code (IEC) number shall be eligible for recognition as a status holder.
• Status recognition will depend on export performance. An applicant shall be categorized as the status holder on achieving export performance during the current and previous three financial years

Note: For the Gems & Jewelry Sector, the performance during the recent and last two financial years shall be considered for recognition as the status holder

Prerequisites for applying for Status Holder Certificate

The requirements for using for Status Holder Certificate and avail benefits under a Status holder certificate are as follows:

• The applicant's user profile must be linked with an IEC.
• A valid DSC must be registered in the DGFT system. The applicant can verify the same from My Dashboard > View and Register Digital Signature Token.
• Export/Import/Turnover details of the firm must be entered and updated in the IEC profile.

Application Fee

There is no application fee for the issuance of a Status Holder Certificate.

The validity of the Status Holder Certificate

A Status Holder Certificate is valid for five years from the date of issuance of the Status Holder Certificate or until the validity of the Foreign Trade Policy.

Documents Required

Following is the list of documents/attachments that are mandatory to apply for the issuance of a Status Holder Certificate

• Certificate of Exports where Double Weightage has been claimed (Applicable only if the application is for One Star Export House)
• Certificate of Foreign Exchange Earned by Supply of Service
• Certificate of For value of Deemed Exports in Format
• Exports from SEZs / EOUs / EHTPs / STPs / BTPs units which are included in IEC and are taken for calculation of grant of status
• Annexure to ANF 3C

e-Identity Card System

Identity cards may be issued to the proprietor/ partners/ directors and the authorized employees. To facilitate the collection of authorizations and other documents,

Eligibility for Status Holder Certificate

Proprietor/Partner/Director or an authorized firm employee may be issued an identity card for representing their firm at DGFT. No more than three identity cards can be given to a firm. However, in the case of limited companies, the Head of the Regional Office may approve the allotment of more than three identity cards per company.

Application fee

A flat fee of Rs.500 must be paid electronically in the online system to obtain an identity card.

Identity card validity

An identity card is valid for three years from the date of issuance.

Documents Required

The following attachments/documents are mandatory for submission of r application for the issuance of an identity card:

• A passport-sized photograph of the person in whose name the identity card is to be issued
• Proof of identity, which may be an Aadhaar Card/Pan Card/Voter ID/Driving License etc
• Scanned copy of the employee details on the company letterhead

Free Sale and Commerce Certificate System

A Free Sale and Commerce Certificate is a certificate issued for the export of any other item which is not restricted or prohibited for export, confirming that the product is freely sold in the country but without any indication that the product is evaluated for safety and efficacy and is registered for use in the country. It gives assurance from a foreign agency that the products listed on the certificate are freely sold and manufactured in the country seeking to export a particular item.

Benefit of Free Sale and Commerce Certificate

Manufacturer exporters of merchant exporters may be benefitted from the Free Sale and Commerce Certificate.

Application Fee

A flat registration fee of Rs. 1000 must be paid electronically in the online system for each application for authorization issuance.

Validity

The Free Sale and Commerce Certificate issued shall be valid for two years from the date of issuance.

Documents Required

Following is the list of documents that is mandatory to apply for the issuance of a Free Sale and Commerce Certificate:

• Details of items for which a Free Sale and Commerce Certificate is sought to be obtained
• Certificates such as the FSSAI etc

End-User Certificate System

An End-user certificate (EUC) is a document used in international transfers, including sales and arms provided as aid, of weapons and ammunition to certify that the buyer is the final recipient of the materials and is not planning on transferring the materials to another party.

• In case of import of any freely importable item in India, if a foreign Government insists on certification of the end-user of the article before permitting the export of the same from their country.
• Many governments require EUCs to restrict the flow of materials to undesired destinations.

The benefit of End User Certificate

Any importer importing goods such as weapons and ammunition may benefit the importer by certifying that the buyer is the final recipient of exported materials and has no intention of re-exporting them.

Application fee

A fee of Rs.200 needs to be paid electronically in the online system for each application for the End User Certificate issuance.

Documents Required

Following is the list of documents that are mandatory to apply for the issuance of an End User Certificate:

• Self-certified copy of a letter from a foreign supplier in support of a request for an end-user Certificate
• The requisite certificate from a Chartered Engineer certifying that goods proposed to be imported required by the manufacturing unit for its use

Procedure to use e-Certificate Management System

The application procedure for applying for the I Card (as under ANF-2B) / Free Sale and Commerce Certificate (as under ANF-2H & 2I) / End User Certificate (as under ANF-2J) and Status Holder Certificate through the importer's dashboard on the DGFT Website is as follows:

New User Registration

• Access the DGFT website and proceed with the registration process. Provide the Registration Details and Select Register User as " Importer/Exporter."

Online e-Certificate Management System for Imports - DGFT Homepage

• Furnish the OTPs received by email and mobile number. Upon successfully validating the OTP, you can receive a notification containing the temporary password you need to change upon the first login.

Online e-Certificate Management System for Imports - DGFT User Registration

Apply for Certificates

After logging in to the portal, Navigate to Services and select Certificate Management. The applicant can proceed with the application by clicking on the certificate link.

• Click on the "Start Fresh Application" button or the "Proceed with Existing Application" button if the user has already saved a draft application.
• On the applicant details, the screen user needs to provide all details. The IEC Number of the firm will be auto-populated as per IEC.

Upload Documents

On the next screen, "Attachment," the applicant must upload all required documents mentioned above.

User Declaration

Under the declaration screen, the user will select the terms and conditions check box to accept it. Users can update the "Place" field if required and then click on the "Save and Next" button.

Summary page

The applicant can verify the filled-in details in previous screens and click on the "Print Summary" button to see the printable version of the form. Click on the "Sign" button to digitally sign the application form. Finally, the user clicks on the "Submit" button to apply.

Fee Payment

• The user can verify the fee details on the application fee payment screen and click the "Submit" button to pay against the application.
• After Successful Payment, the user will be redirected to the DGFT Website, and the receipt shall be displayed; the user can also download the ticket.
• The applicant will receive the application submission message with the File number on the screen. The user will be redirected to Submitted applications via My Dashboard by clicking on the OK button on the E-payment receipt.