Documents Required for Import Customs Clearance in Bangladesh

Most delays at Chattogram port and Dhaka airport are not caused by customs officers. They are caused by documents: a missing certificate, an invoice that doesn't match the bill of lading, or a licence that expired last month. This checklist covers the documents a C&F agent needs to clear a typical commercial import in Bangladesh, grouped by when you need them.

1. Before you import: registrations

These belong to the importer, not to the shipment, and must be valid before the LC is opened:

• Trade licence from the city corporation or local authority, renewed every year.
• e-TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) from NBR.
• BIN (Business Identification Number), the VAT registration. The BIN on the bill of entry must match the importer.
• IRC (Import Registration Certificate) from the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports, renewed annually. Commercial importers and industrial importers have different IRC categories and import limits.
• Membership certificate of a recognised chamber of commerce or trade association, needed for the IRC.

Expired registrations are one of the most common reasons a bill of entry cannot be submitted, so check renewal dates before each shipment.

2. Banking documents

• Letter of Credit (LC) or other approved payment documents, opened through an authorised dealer bank.
• LCA form (Letter of Credit Authorization), issued by the bank with the LC. Customs checks that the goods, value and HS code agree with it.
• Proforma invoice or indent used to open the LC.
• Insurance cover note and its money receipt. Marine insurance from a Bangladeshi insurer is normally required for the LC.

3. Shipping documents from the supplier

These usually reach you through the bank once the supplier presents them under the LC:

• Commercial invoice, signed, showing a full description of the goods, quantity, unit price, total value and terms of delivery (FOB, CFR, CIF and so on).
• Packing list showing the contents, weights and marks of each package.
• Bill of lading for sea cargo, or airway bill for air cargo, endorsed by the bank so that the goods can be released to you.
• Certificate of origin, especially important if you want a preferential duty rate under a trade agreement such as SAFTA or APTA.

All of these must be consistent. If the invoice, packing list, bill of lading and LCA describe the goods or quantity differently, expect questions at assessment.

4. Product-specific certificates

Depending on what you import, you may also need:

• Phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country, and an import permit from the Plant Quarantine Wing, for plants, seeds, fruit, grains and timber.
• Health or veterinary certificate for animals and animal products, plus radioactivity and fitness-for-consumption test reports for many foods.
• BSTI clearance for products under BSTI's mandatory certification list, including many food items, cosmetics and electrical goods.
• Drug Administration approval for medicines, pharmaceutical raw materials and some medical devices.
• Licences or NOCs from the relevant authority for restricted goods, such as BTRC for wireless and telecom equipment, the Department of Explosives for chemicals and explosives, or the Department of Environment for some waste and hazardous materials.

Check what your HS code requires before shipping. Several of these certificates must come from the exporting country and cannot be arranged after the goods arrive.

5. Documents prepared at the port

Your C&F agent prepares or collects these during clearance:

• Bill of entry, lodged electronically in ASYCUDA World with the HS code, value and duty calculation.
• Authorisation letter from the importer appointing the C&F agent.
• Delivery order from the shipping line or airline, released after their charges are paid.
• Duty payment challan or e-payment receipt.
• Examination and assessment records, and finally the release order.
• Port authority bills for handling and storage, paid before the goods leave the port.

Common document problems

• Description mismatch: the LC says "garments accessories" but the invoice says "zippers and buttons". Use the same precise description everywhere.
• HS code mismatch between the LCA and the bill of entry. If the correct code is different, fix it with the bank before assessment.
• Weight or quantity differences between the packing list and the bill of lading.
• Late originals: the goods arrive before the endorsed bill of lading, and storage charges start running. Ask your bank to chase the documents early.
• Expired IRC or trade licence discovered on the day of submission.

A simple checklist

1. Registrations valid: trade licence, e-TIN, BIN, IRC.
2. LC, LCA, proforma invoice, insurance cover note.
3. Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, certificate of origin.
4. Product certificates and permits for your HS code.
5. Authorisation letter for your C&F agent.

Before the goods ship, check the duty with our import duty calculator and confirm the code in the HS code directory. If you would like us to review your documents before arrival, contact our team. A ten-minute check can save days of storage charges.