The goal of this article is to give you knowledge on how you can obtain an export license in Nigeria in this current year
If you have a business or businesses that has expanded to the point where you would like to export your goods or products to other parts or countries of the world, you must first apply for an export license from the Federal Government of Nigeria so as to be able to conduct your business without hindrance.
You may wonder; how exactly does this process work? Do not worry, we will provide the details of this shortly so keep reading and you will find out more.
The Registration Process For Obtaining An Export License In Nigeria
Before we head on to answering questions like; “How can I get a license to export goods from Nigeria?” “How can I determine the status of a Nigerian exporter?” “What actions do I need to take now to register as an exporter in Nigeria?” “What steps must be taken before exporting from Nigeria in terms of certification?”, we would like to first remind you that as of the year of writing this article, in order for you to export from Nigeria, export registration must be obtained from the authorities of the Nigerian Government, without this, you will not have the liberty to operate as an exporter in the country.
In most countries, if you need to export products or services, a one-time registration process is carried out.
How Much Does It Cost To Obtain Export License In Nigeria
The cost of obtaining an export license vary depending on the situation. An export license in Nigeria cost 30,500 naira but if you are renewing your export license it is 14,500 naira
An export certificate is valid for the first two years before it can be renewed for another year every year.
In Nigeria, this export license may be obtained from the relevant government agencies, if necessary.
Anyone who wishes to export goods from Nigeria must first register with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), an exporter must fill out the e-Registration form on the website of the NEPC in order to get their license.
Today, in Nigeria, there exists two government organizations who have the authority to issue export licenses.
These organizations are; the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, which is in charge of issuing licenses for extraction and exportation of mineral resources in Nigeria.
It is known as a mining license; the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), which is the second organization, is tasked with giving export permits for manufactured goods and agricultural commodities.
A consular invoice is needed in some countries and is used to track and identify items.
Possessing an exporter’s certificate gives you the advantage of opening up access to services that promote international trade, services such as export incentives, export capacity building programs, and networks of exporters for collaboration, idea sharing, and trade connections.
How To Obtain Export License
The first step to take in gaining an export license is getting signed up on the NEPC e-registration portal and uploading the necessary paperwork required.
The invoice will be subsequently prepared, and once payment has been received by the organization, the certificate is normally issued within 72 hours, with an exception of cases where information is either missing or incorrect.
Getting an export certificate costs money, although the prices vary depending on whether it is a new application or a renewal of one as stated above
Formerly, instead of physically collecting certificates from NEPC, exporters were required to print out an electronic certificate for their records and now they are no longer required to do so.
In order to pass through the process of e-registration, the NEPC requires particular documents, however, the type of documentation required varies.
If your organization is a limited liability company, the following documents are required:
- Your certificate of incorporation which was issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria (CAC).
- Certified True Copy of Memorandum and Articles of Association.
- Certified True Copy of Form CAC1.1 Particulars of Directors (Section C).
The following documents are necessary if you run an organization that is a cooperative society:
- Certificate of Registration issued by State Ministry of Commerce, Local
- Governments and Federal Capital Territory Area Councils.
- Bye Laws of the Society.
If the organization is either a government owned or privately owned company, the following documents are required:
- Certificate of Registration issued by Corporate Affairs Commission
- Constitution of the Organization
- Memorandum for Guidance of Applicant.
What Specific License Is Needed To Export Specific Goods From Nigeria Today?
As mentioned before, in most countries, if you need to export products or services, a one-time registration process will be carried out.
In Nigeria, this export license may be obtained from the relevant government agencies in the exporting nation, if it is found to be necessary.
Majority of the time, in order to function as an exporter or importer, a single export registration is good enough for the exportation or importation of goods from the exporting country.
However, if commodities that have been prohibited are exported, the exporting nation may require a special export license so as to export such prohibited goods.
The exportation nation has a noticeably different government department that gives export licenses or export permits in order to manage such peculiar products. There are product permits that are published periodically on the website of the exporting nation.
These products are products that fall under the categories of freely exportable, limited to export, and prohibited to export.
Conclusion
In this article, we explain the requirements for export registration that must be satisfied before you, as an exporter, can export products from Nigeria. It will be in your best interest to absorb the given information so as to have an understanding of how to export goods from Nigeria to the world.