AEPC Registration: Apparel Export Promotion Council RCMC and Texprocil Membership
AEPC registration is membership of the Apparel Export Promotion Council, which issues the RCMC for garment and knitwear exporters. Cotton yarn, fabric and made-up exporters join Texprocil instead.
You apply on the DGFT portal with an active IEC. We pick the right council, prepare the file, pay and file it, and handle renewals.
What it is
The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) is the export promotion council for readymade garments, knitwear and related apparel products. Membership gives you the Registration-cum-Membership Certificate, or RCMC. DGFT asks for it whenever you seek an export authorisation or a benefit under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Here is the catch: councils are chosen by your main line of business. Texprocil, the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, covers cotton, cotton yarn, fabrics and made-ups, but not readymade garments. A wrong pick can get the application rejected, so we confirm product scope before filing. Our page on RCMC registration explains how all the councils fit together.
Who it applies to
Garment manufacturers
Merchant exporters
Cotton yarn and fabric exporters
Why it matters
RCMC for DGFT work
Access to the council
Low fee for small units
Documents required
Identity and registration
- Active IEC with updated DGFT profile
- PAN of the firm or company
- GST registration certificate
- Proof of constitution, such as partnership deed or incorporation papers
Business proof
- Udyam registration, if you claim MSME or start-up rates
- Declaration of previous-year export figures on letterhead
- Details of the product lines you export
Signing and payment
- DSC token or Aadhaar e-sign on the DGFT portal
- Online payment through the DGFT portal
- Authorisation letter if we file for you
How it works
Confirm the council
We check your products against AEPC and Texprocil scope and note your main line of business, which decides where you apply.
Choose the membership category
We match you to the right slab: new member, women entrepreneur, young entrepreneur or start-up, or MSME for Texprocil.
File on the DGFT portal
Under Services, we open the e-RCMC application, select the council, attach documents, sign with your DSC or Aadhaar e-sign and pay online.
Answer queries and renew
We reply to council queries, share the RCMC and keep your renewal date in a diary so the certificate never lapses.
AEPC and Texprocil fees at a glance
| Item | Fee before GST |
|---|---|
| AEPC new member: women entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs or start-ups | ₹8,000 plus ₹1,000 entrance |
| AEPC new member: others | ₹12,000 plus ₹1,000 entrance |
| AEPC renewal, turnover up to ₹5 crore | ₹12,000 |
| AEPC renewal, turnover ₹5 crore to ₹50 crore | ₹15,000 |
| AEPC renewal, turnover above ₹50 crore | ₹20,000 |
Picture a Faridabad knitwear unit with first exports of about ₹20 lakh and a woman director. It qualifies for the women entrepreneur slab and pays far less than a large exporter.
These are from AEPC’s circular for 2026-27, and GST at 18% is added. A new member in the others category therefore pays ₹13,000 plus ₹2,340 GST, which is ₹15,340. A women entrepreneur or start-up pays ₹9,000 plus ₹1,620 GST, which is ₹10,620. The circular says subscription once paid is neither refundable nor transferable.
For Texprocil, the published renewal fee for 2025-26 was ₹9,440 for associate members and ₹16,520 for ordinary members, both including GST. New MSME associates with exports under ₹15 lakh pay ₹2,950 in total. Check each council’s latest circular on the day you apply, because slabs change from year to year.
Timelines
AEPC renewal 2026-27
The circular set 31 May 2026 as the last date to pay without penalty. If you missed it, tell us now and we will check the position with the council.
Texprocil renewal
Renewal is done on the DGFT portal under e-RCMC. Amendments cost ₹1,000 plus GST per change.
RCMC validity
An RCMC issued through the DGFT e-RCMC system is valid from 1 April of the licensing year for five financial years ending 31 March. Annual subscription still applies to keep membership active.
What happens if you miss renewal
Membership can lapse
A council can treat a member who has not paid the year’s subscription as lapsed. The RCMC then stops supporting your benefit applications.
Scheme applications stall
Advance Authorisation, EPCG and other benefit files ask for a valid RCMC. An expired one delays or blocks them.
Late fees may apply
Some councils charge a late fee after the due date. We check the current circular so you know the exact amount before paying.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get AEPC registration?
Hold an active IEC, then log in to the DGFT portal, choose Apply for e-RCMC, select the Apparel Export Promotion Council, attach your documents, sign with a DSC or Aadhaar e-sign and pay online. The council reviews the file and issues the RCMC. We prepare and submit the application and answer council queries for you.
What is the AEPC membership fee?
For 2026-27, a new member in the others category pays ₹12,000 plus a ₹1,000 entrance fee, and women entrepreneurs and young entrepreneurs or start-ups pay ₹8,000 plus ₹1,000. GST at 18% is extra. The subscription is not refundable. We confirm the current circular before you pay.
Which council do cotton yarn and fabric exporters join?
Cotton, cotton yarn, cotton fabrics and cotton made-ups, excluding handloom items and readymade garments, fall under Texprocil. Readymade garments and knitwear go to AEPC. Your main line of business decides the council. If your range spans both, we help you pick the one that suits your main exports.
Is RCMC compulsory for every exporter?
RCMC is needed when you apply for an export authorisation or a benefit under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, as para 2.57(a) states. You can export without it, but you cannot claim those schemes. We tell you if your case does not need it.
How long is an RCMC valid?
An e-RCMC runs from 1 April of the licensing year for five financial years ending 31 March, but councils collect their subscription each year. Texprocil also offers three-year and five-year renewals at a discount. We diarise both the RCMC end date and each payment date.
Can I change details after getting the RCMC?
Yes, you can amend details such as address or product lines through the DGFT portal. Texprocil charges ₹1,000 plus GST per amendment from 1 April 2025. We prepare the amendment and the supporting documents so the council does not return it with queries.
Do I need an IEC before applying?
Yes. An active IEC with an updated profile is a prerequisite for the e-RCMC application on the DGFT portal. If you do not yet hold one, we get it first through IEC registration and then move to the council application.
What does Taxhint do and what does the council do?
We select the council, prepare documents, file on the DGFT portal, pay the fee and reply to queries. The council reviews eligibility and issues the RCMC. We also handle renewals. Where a CA certificate or export declaration is needed, a practising professional signs it, and we coordinate it for you.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Government fees are the council subscription and entrance fee shown in the table above, plus 18% GST. IEC charges apply separately if you need a new IEC.
Ready to begin?
Share your product range and last year’s exports and we will tell you which council to join and what it will cost.