APEDA Registration (RCMC) for Agri & Food Exporters

Exporting fruits, vegetables, rice, dairy, meat, beverages or processed food? An APEDA Registration-cum-Membership Certificate is the registration scheduled-product exporters are expected to hold. We prepare and file the application for you.

  • Fully online, no office visit
  • Filed within 24-48 hours of complete documents
  • WhatsApp support throughout
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APEDA RCMC Registration Package

₹ 2,999/- + Govt. Fee ₹5,900/-
  • Eligibility & product coverage check
  • Document review & RCMC application filing
  • Support on scrutiny queries
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50,000+

Customers served

24-48 Hrs

Application filing time

7-15 Days

Typical RCMC issuance (working days)

What is APEDA registration, what does it cost and how long does it take?

APEDA registration means obtaining a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, which regulates and promotes exports of its scheduled agricultural and processed food products. APEDA issues the RCMC through the DGFT e-RCMC system, and an active Import Export Code (IEC) is needed before you can apply.
Cost: the official fee is ₹5,000 plus 18% GST, which comes to ₹5,900, and our professional fee is ₹2,999. Time: we file your application within 24-48 hours of receiving complete documents, and the RCMC is typically issued in about 7 to 15 working days after a clean submission. Validity: five years, after which it has to be renewed.
An RCMC is separate from an IEC. The IEC is a general import-export identity, while the RCMC is the product-specific membership for scheduled APEDA products. If you do not have an IEC yet, start with IEC code registration, because APEDA cannot process an application without it.

APEDA Registration Services for Agricultural and Processed Food Exporters
Apply for IEC Code Registration

How long does APEDA registration take?

With complete and consistent documents, most applications move from order to RCMC in roughly two to three weeks. Here is where the time goes.

24-48 Hrs

Our filing time after we receive complete documents

7-15 Days

Typical APEDA scrutiny and approval, in working days

2-3 Weeks

Indicative end-to-end time with clean documents

Benefits of APEDA registration

The RCMC is what connects your business to APEDA’s export framework. These are the practical advantages for a registered exporter.

01. Legal standing as an APEDA exporter

Registration with APEDA is compulsory for exporters of scheduled products, and the RCMC is your proof that you are registered.

02. Access to financial assistance schemes

APEDA’s schemes for infrastructure, quality, market development and transport assistance are open to registered members, subject to each scheme’s terms.

03. Trade fairs and buyer connections

Registered exporters can take part in international trade fairs and buyer-seller meets promoted through APEDA.

04. Route into quality and certification programmes

Membership helps you engage with APEDA’s quality initiatives, including the organic production programme it administers.

05. Eligibility for RCMC-linked trade schemes

Where a Foreign Trade Policy benefit asks for a valid RCMC for scheduled products, holding one lets you apply.

06. Credibility with buyers and banks

Overseas importers, freight partners and lenders take a registered exporter with a valid certificate more seriously.

07. Market information and guidance

APEDA shares market information and guidelines for the development of scheduled products, which registered members can draw on.

08. One certificate for five years

The RCMC stays valid for five years, so you are not repeating registration paperwork with every shipment.

09. A cleaner compliance trail

Matching IEC, GST and APEDA records mean fewer questions and fewer holds when you ship.

Products Covered Under APEDA

Not all products require APEDA registration, but many agricultural and food items are covered. Some of them include:

  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Meat and poultry products
  • Dairy products
  • Bakery items
  • Honey
  • Cereals
  • Pickles and chutneys
  • Processed foods
  • Herbal and medicinal plants

If your business deals with any of these, then you must apply for APEDA registration.

Who needs an APEDA RCMC

Any exporter of APEDA’s scheduled products, whether you manufacture them or buy and ship them as a merchant exporter, and whatever your legal form: proprietorship, partnership, LLP or company.

Fresh produce exporters

Fruits, vegetables, floriculture and similar fresh agricultural products.

Rice & cereal exporters

Basmati and non-basmati rice and cereal-based products.

Processed food & beverage brands

Pickles, snacks, confectionery, bakery, juices and beverages.

Dairy, meat & poultry exporters

Animal-origin and dairy products exported in packaged form

Examples of APEDA scheduled products

Category Examples

Fruits and vegetables

Fresh and processed fruits, vegetables and their products

Cereals

Basmati rice, non-basmati rice and cereal products

Animal products

Meat and meat products, poultry products, dairy products

Processed foods

Pickles, papads, chutneys, confectionery, biscuits and bakery products

Sweeteners and cocoa

Honey, jaggery, sugar products, cocoa products and chocolates

Beverages 

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

Other scheduled

items Groundnuts, peanuts, walnuts, guar gum, floriculture, herbal and medicinal plants

APEDA registration fee breakdown

A transparent split between what APEDA charges and what we charge.

Component Amount Notes

SetupFiling professional fee

₹2,999 

Eligibility check, document review, application filing and scrutiny support

Official APEDA fee 

₹5,000

Paid at actuals on the DGFT e-RCMC portal

GST on the official fee (18%) 

₹900

Charged on the government fee

Official fee including GST

₹5,900

RCMC valid for five years

The official fee is set by APEDA and can change, so we confirm the current amount before you pay.

Documents required for APEDA registration

Keep clear scans of these ready. Names and addresses must match exactly across all of them, since mismatches are a common reason for queries.

  • Active Import Export Code (IEC)
  • PAN of the business
  • GST Registration Certificate
  • Incorporation certificate, partnership deed or proprietor proof
  • Cancelled cheque or bank certificate
  • Address proof of the business premises
  • List of export products with HS codes
  • FSSAI or Udyam proof, for manufacturers, as the product requires
  • Digital signature or Aadhaar e-sign access
  • Business email ID and mobile number
  • Pan card , adhaar card , photograph of all directors / partners or Proprietor

Step-by-Step Process of APEDA Registration

The process of APEDA registration is simple and can be done online. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Visit the Official Website

Go to the official APEDA website and find the registration section.

Step 2: Create Login Credentials

Enter your email ID and create a password to start the process.

Step 3: Fill Application Form

Enter all required details like business name, IEC code, and contact details.

Step 4: Upload Documents

Upload scanned copies of all necessary documents.

Step 5: Pay Registration Fee

Pay the required fee online through net banking, debit card, or credit card.

Step 6: Submit Application

After checking all details, submit the application.

Step 7: Get Certificate

Once approved, you will receive your APEDA registration certificate (RCMC).

APEDA RCMC validity, renewal and changes

Your registration does not last forever, and details that change need to be kept up to date.

Five-year validity

An APEDA RCMC is valid for five years. Diarise the expiry so you can renew before it lapses.

Renewal fee

Renewal currently carries the same official fee of ₹5,000 plus 18% GST, totalling ₹5,900, per APEDA’s published procedure.

 

Updating your details

If your address, products or constitution change, the RCMC details should be amended so they match your IEC and gst records.

 

Get your APEDA RCMC filed correctly the first time

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is APEDA registration?

It is the Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) issued by APEDA to exporters of its scheduled agricultural and processed food products, applied for through the DGFT e-RCMC system.

How long does APEDA registration take?

We file your application within 24-48 hours of receiving complete documents, and APEDA typically issues the RCMC in about 7 to 15 working days after a clean submission. Queries or corrections add time, so this is an estimate and not a guarantee.

 

What are the benefits of APEDA registration?

It gives you legal standing as an exporter of scheduled products, access to APEDA’s financial assistance and promotion schemes, eligibility for RCMC-linked trade schemes, and added credibility with buyers and banks, all on a certificate valid for five years.

Is APEDA registration mandatory for exporting food products?

Registration is compulsory for exporters of APEDA scheduled products. Whether your particular product is covered depends on APEDA’s scheduled list and its HS code, so confirm this before you ship.

How much does APEDA registration cost?

Our professional fee is ₹2,999. The official APEDA fee is ₹5,000 plus 18% GST, totalling ₹5,900, paid at actuals on the portal.

How long is an APEDA RCMC valid?

An APEDA RCMC is valid for five years and has to be renewed before it expires.

Do I need an IEC before applying for APEDA registration?

Yes. An active IEC from DGFT is a prerequisite, and APEDA cannot process an RCMC application without it.

Does an APEDA RCMC replace the IEC?

No. The IEC is a general import-export identity, while the RCMC is the product-specific membership for scheduled products. You need both.

Can a merchant exporter get an APEDA RCMC?

Yes. A merchant exporter provides the prescribed IEC documentation, while a manufacturer or manufacturer-cum-merchant exporter additionally provides manufacturing proof for the products concerned.

What happens if APEDA raises a query on my application?

You will need to supply the correction or extra document requested. We help you respond, though the approval time extends until the query is resolved.

 

Are spices, tea, coffee or cashew covered by APEDA?

No. Those are handled by their own commodity boards, so they need a different registration than an APEDA RCMC.