China Export Customs Registration: New Exporter Setup (2026)

Before a Chinese factory ships its first container to Africa, a few registrations need to be in place. China export customs registration is the one most new exporters worry about, and the procedure has been simplified since 2019. This guide explains, using official sources, how customs declaration registration works, what else a new exporter usually sets up (tax refund filing, origin certificates, online platforms), and what you should confirm with the authorities. Everything is stated as of October 2026. Rules and procedures differ by region and change often, so confirm with China Customs, your local tax bureau or your customs broker before you act.

What China export customs registration means

To declare goods to Customs, a business needs to be recorded as a customs declaration entity. According to China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), in their joint Announcement [2019] No. 14 (issued 9 January 2019, effective 1 February 2019), the registration of the customs declaration entity for shippers and consignees was combined with business registration under the "Multiple Certificates in One" reform. The announcement text is published on the Beijing municipal government English site. We could not open GACC's own English pages in our review, so please check the current wording on the GACC website.

How China export customs registration works for a new company

Under that announcement, applicants tick an option for this registration when they apply for business registration and supply the relevant information. The market regulator handles it through the combined process and shares the data with Customs, which then completes the registration after receiving it; companies do not need to visit Customs for these formalities. Customs no longer issues a separate registration certificate. If you need a written record, the announcement says you can print a receipt online and have it stamped with the Customs seal locally.

The same announcement says companies that do not use the combined process can still apply through the "Single Window" Enterprise Qualification subsystem or the "Internet+ Customs" Enterprise Administration subsystem, under GACC Announcement No. 143 (2018). You can check the status of your registration through those same systems, and questions can go to the Customs hotline 12360 or your local Customs office.

Is your company already registered?

Established factories that already trade domestically should not assume they are ready to export. Check your registration status in the systems above, and confirm that the name and unified business details match your business licence exactly. Mismatched company names between the licence, the invoice and the customs declaration are a common cause of correction work, so decide early which legal entity will be the exporter and keep it consistent on every document.

Declaring goods: the International Trade Single Window

Customs declarations are normally filed electronically. The Shanghai municipal government describes the China (Shanghai) International Trade Single Window as a platform launched in 2014 that follows the principle of "one platform, one submission", connecting 22 departments and handling goods declarations online. For Beijing and Tianjin ports, a 2020 joint announcement (No. 6, issued 10 February 2020) says export goods declarations must go through the International Trade Single Window from 16 December 2019, with other channels for emergencies only. That announcement is local to those ports, but it shows the direction of travel. Most exporters work through a customs broker or freight forwarder, who files the declaration for them; ask them exactly which data and documents they need from you. See the Shanghai Single Window description and the Beijing-Tianjin announcement.

Other setups a new exporter usually handles

Export tax refund filing. A tax-bureau Q&A published by the Shenzhen tax authority (9 January 2025), about small-scale VAT taxpayers exporting VAT-exempt goods, says eligible entities must file records with the tax authorities, including when they first apply for export refund or exemption; other taxpayer types have their own rules. The mechanism is explained in our guide to the China export VAT rebate.
Certificates of origin. CCPIT says enterprises register accounts, staff and seals on its online system before applying for certificates; see our post on certificates of origin from China.
Export credit insurance. Optional, but worth knowing about before you offer credit terms; see payment terms and Sinosure.
Bank arrangements. Ask your bank how export payments in foreign currency are received and documented. We have not verified bank or foreign-exchange rules, so take advice from your bank.

A simple new-exporter order of operations

Confirm your business licence scope allows the trading you plan, and which legal entity will export.
Check your customs declaration registration status in the official systems, or through your broker.
Register for the tax refund filing your accountant advises.
Choose a forwarder or broker and ask for their onboarding list.
Prepare a test shipment's documents before the first real order; see export documents for Africa.

Remember that regulations also apply at the destination. The buyer and their clearing agent, not Comilmart, must confirm import registration, duties and clearance in Africa, and the seller arranges and pays for shipping. Our guide to selling products in Africa from China gives the wider market picture.

Frequently asked questions

Do I still get a customs registration certificate? According to GACC and SAMR Announcement [2019] No. 14, Customs no longer issues the registration certificate for the customs declaration entity; you can print an online receipt and have it stamped locally. Confirm with your local Customs office.

Can a trading company or broker declare for me? Many exporters use brokers or forwarders. The exact legal responsibilities depend on the arrangement, so ask your broker and Customs how responsibility is divided.

How do I check my registration status? The 2019 announcement points to the Single Window Enterprise Qualification subsystem and the Internet+ Customs Enterprise Administration subsystem, or the 12360 hotline.

Is customs registration enough to get an export tax refund? No. Tax refund filing is a separate step with the tax authorities. Ask your accountant or local tax bureau.

Does Comilmart need my customs registration? The supplier application asks for your company registration number, tax number and business licence uploads. Ask via live chat if you are unsure which documents apply.

Getting started

With your China export customs registration in order, the next step is to meet buyers. Learn how it works at /sell-to-africa, then apply at /apply-manufacturer. Applying is free, and the form states that admin review takes about 24 to 48 hours. Comilmart does not guarantee buyers or orders, but a verified supplier profile with a clear company record helps African buyers decide whether to contact you.