ERC (Export Registration Certificate)

Definition

An Export Registration Certificate (ERC) is the registration a business in Bangladesh obtains from the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCI&E) to act as an exporter. Banks rely on it: Bangladesh Bank's foreign exchange guidelines tell authorized dealer banks to confirm that an exporter is registered with the CCI&E, and to quote the registration number, before certifying the export declaration (EXP) form.

By Naim Islam

Published 17 September 20263 min read

Navy title card: ERC (Export Registration Certificate), with a summary checklist of documents an ERC application asks for — A summary of documents the CCI&E's citizen charter lists for an export registration certificate application.Exportain

On this page

In practice

Where the ERC comes from

The CCI&E is the government office under the Ministry of Commerce that issues import, export and indenting registrations in Bangladesh¹ ². It lists the Importers, Exporters and Indentors (Registration) Order, 2023 among the laws it works under³ ⁴. Its 2026–27 citizen charter describes the export registration certificate as an online service. The business applies through the office's Online Licensing Module (OLM, olm.ccie.gov.bd), the certificate is issued online, and renewals go through the same system¹.

The charter's document list for a new export registration shows what sits behind the certificate¹:

an up-to-date trade license in the firm's name and at its address
an e-TIN or tax certificate
a certificate from the business's nominated bank
an up-to-date membership certificate from a recognized chamber or trade association
the applicant's national ID card
for a limited company, the certificate of incorporation and an up-to-date Form 12; for a partnership, the registered partnership deed
any license or permit a regulated business needs for its trade
proof that the income tax return was filed
the treasury challan for the registration fee and VAT

The office publishes its fee schedule separately and has revised it before⁵, so check the current fee on the CCI&E site rather than a figure quoted elsewhere.

Why a buyer asks to see it

Exports from Bangladesh are declared on an EXP form, and the exporter's bank is told to check CCI&E registration before certifying that form⁶. In other words, the registration is part of the paperwork that lets your goods leave the country. The registration also matters further up the chain. Under Bangladesh Bank's guidelines, a factory opening back-to-back LCs for its inputs needs a valid CCI&E registration⁷.

When a supplier sends you a copy, check that the company name and address match its trade license, its quotation and the proforma invoice, and ask whether the registration has been renewed. The CCI&E also publishes public notices when it cancels a registration. Its home page has listed notices canceling specific ERCs².

The ERC and Exportain's Export Verified badge

On Exportain, a supplier can submit its ERC for review by Exportain staff. An approved ERC is what the Export Verified badge records: the badge means "Exportain has checked this seller's Export Registration Certificate (ERC)"⁸. This is a document review by Exportain's team. It is not a check against any government database, and it does not guarantee capacity, quality or delivery⁸. For a large order, ask the supplier for the current certificate yourself as well.

BGMEA and BKMEA: Bangladesh's two garment industry associations. An ERC application needs a chamber or trade association membership certificate.
How supplier verification works on Exportain: all five trust badges explained.
LC (Letter of Credit): including the back-to-back LCs that also require CCI&E registration.