The long and short of it is: Not really. However, preparing all the needed documents, along with processing time, may prove to be cumbersome for some business owners just to get a Bureau of Customs Accreditation.

With that, let us walk you through the importation process, some regulations, and the needed documents to procure an import license from the Bureau of Customs in the Philippines.

What is an import license?

An import license refers to a document that allows businesses to import or bring goods from another country into the Philippines. It enables businesses to comply with the importation laws and regulations of the importing country and ensures that the products that will be brought into a country are safe and of quality.

The Bureau of Customs issues import licenses in the Philippines following a list of required documents, paperwork, and processing fees. When you get an approved license, you have to renew it annually. That’s on top of complying with other importation rules.

What are the procedures to import to the Philippines?

First off, you need to enlist your business with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). You may be required to apply for other business licenses depending on the items you will import.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) requires businesses to procure an Import Clearance Certificate if you are an importer. As an importer, you will create an account with the Client Profile Registration System (CPRS). The Import Clearance Certificate is valid only for three years, but the Customs Client Profile Accreditation must be renewed yearly.

On top of that requirement, the following are three required categories of permissions in order to take import clearance cargo delivery from the Philippines customs bonded area:

• Philippines Customs authorities
• Carrier of goods
• Custodian of cargo handling at specific import customs ports in the Philippines

Moreover, the required documents have a specific way of preparation in order to comply with all the import requirements. If you’re a new importer, you may click here to see the documents the BOC requires.

Upon the arrival of your goods in the country, whether by sea, land, or air, the BOC requires more documents, such as the following:

• Invoice
• Packing list
• Import permit
• Bill of landing
• Customs import declaration
• Certificate of origin

And if you’re bringing in food, medicine, chemicals, animals, or plants, you must procure also a certificate of product registration from the Philippines Food and Drug Administration.

So with all the documents and filing, it may not really be worth it to go through the hassle of acquiring a BOC accreditation, especially if importing goods will be just a one-time deal for you.

But what if you really need or want to import something from another country? The solution: Get a shipping and importation expert like Importanything.Ph. 

We Are All That You Need Instead of a Bureau of Customs Accreditation

In just two easy steps, we’ll take care of everything for you.

You only need to register to get a Client ID which is like your passport to import anything from countries we cover. Then copy the shipping link we’ll provide and forward it to your supplier.

If you’re already in touch with a supplier and want to know how much the importation cost will be, you only need to ask for the gross measurements of your cargo with packaging and fill out the necessary form with us. 

And yes, we will handle all the BOC concerns for you. So all you need to do really is to wait for your cargo to arrive and be released. We can also deliver it to your place if you want.

While a Bureau of Customs Accreditation may look swell, undergoing the tedious process of paperwork preparation and fees might just be all that worth it when ImportAnything.Ph can take care of all the “hassle” for you.