CLE Registration: Council for Leather Exports Membership
CLE registration is membership of the Council for Leather Exports, the export promotion council for leather, footwear and leather goods. You apply online through the DGFT e-RCMC menu, pay a fee based on your export value, and receive an RCMC. We prepare the file, submit it and follow it up.
What it is
The Council for Leather Exports (CLE) is sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and is based in Chennai. It looks after exporters of leather, footwear, garments and finished leather goods. Membership gets you a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC).
Para 2.57(a) of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 requires an RCMC when you apply for an export authorisation or a benefit under the policy, unless you are specifically exempt. For a leather exporter, CLE is normally the council that issues it. See our page on RCMC registration if you are still choosing a council.
Who it applies to
Leather and footwear manufacturers
Picture a Kanpur or Agra footwear unit that has started shipping to Europe. To claim a policy benefit tied to exports, it needs the RCMC, and the council is CLE.
Merchant exporters
A Delhi trader who buys finished leather bags and ships them abroad joins as a merchant exporter. The council has a separate fee category for this, and the entrance fee is ₹3,500.
New exporters with an IEC
You need an active Importer-Exporter Code first. If you do not have one, start with import export registration.
Why it matters
Needed for policy benefits
Schemes such as duty exemption and EPCG ask for an RCMC from the right council. Without it, the application cannot go forward.
One council for your sector
As the sector’s export promotion council, CLE is where you register and renew, and it is the body that answers your membership queries.
One certificate, many uses
DGFT and banks ask for it whenever they want to know your registering authority.
Documents required
Online with the application
- Membership application form
- Self-attested IEC copy
- Self-attested GST registration copy
- Bank certificate showing export activity
For manufacturers
- Udyam registration certificate, industrial licence or IEM
- Same proof appears again at renewal
Hard copy to the regional office
- Partnership deed for firms
- MoA and AoA for companies and cooperatives
- Three years of income tax returns for proprietors
How it works
Pick your fee category
We read your export value, your status as manufacturer or merchant, and place you in the right fee category.
Gather and check documents
We collect the IEC, GST, Udyam or licence and bank certificate, and check the IEC profile is updated on the DGFT portal.
File on the e-RCMC menu
Using your DSC or Aadhaar e-sign, we submit the application and pay the fee on the DGFT portal. The council does not accept cheques or drafts.
Post hard copies, chase the RCMC
Here is the catch: the online file is not enough. We post the hard copies to the regional office within the stated window, follow up, and share the RCMC when it is issued.
CLE membership categories and fees
Fees below are from the council’s new-membership schedule for 2025-26. GST at 18% is included in the totals. The schedule is revised from time to time, so we confirm the current one before you pay.
| Category | Export value (FOB) | Total with GST |
|---|---|---|
| Associate, MSME unit | Below ₹15 lakh | ₹1,180 |
| Associate, merchant exporter | Below ₹15 lakh | ₹10,030 |
| Ordinary | ₹15 lakh to ₹1 crore | ₹15,340 |
| Ordinary | ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore | ₹29,500 |
| Ordinary | ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore | ₹35,400 |
| Ordinary | ₹10 crore to ₹50 crore | ₹53,100 |
Higher categories run up to ₹1,82,900 for the premium category, exports above ₹500 crore. These totals include the one-time entrance fee of ₹5,000 for ordinary members and ₹3,500 for merchant associates.
Timelines
Issue of RCMC
The council’s published procedure says the RCMC is issued to your registered email within three working days of receiving the fee.
Hard copies
Documents sent by post are due at the regional office within three working days of the online submission.
Renewal
Membership expires on 31 March and renewal falls due from 1 April. The 2026-27 renewal circular runs from ₹5,900 to ₹1,77,000 by category.
What happens if you miss renewal
RCMC not current
In practice, without a current RCMC your authorisation or benefit application can be held up at DGFT.
Wrong category
Your category depends on the previous year’s export value. Declaring it wrongly invites queries from the council.
Delay in awards and elections
The council asks members to submit renewal data so exports are counted for awards and elections. Late data means you can miss out.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for CLE registration?
Apply online through the DGFT portal under the e-RCMC menu, using your IEC login. Upload the application form, IEC, GST certificate and bank certificate, pay the fee, and sign with a DSC or Aadhaar e-sign. The council does not accept manual forms or cheques. We file the application for you and track it.
What is the CLE membership fee?
It depends on your export value and whether you are a manufacturer or merchant. For 2025-26, an MSME unit exporting below ₹15 lakh paid ₹1,180 with GST, while ordinary members paid from ₹15,340 up to ₹1,82,900. The council revises the schedule, so we confirm the current amount before you pay.
How long does CLE take to issue the RCMC?
The council’s procedure says the RCMC is issued to your registered email within three working days of receiving the membership fee. The clock starts only when your application and payment are complete. Clean documents help, and we check them before submission so queries are less likely.
Is an IEC needed before joining CLE?
Yes. You need an active IEC with an updated profile on the DGFT portal, because the application is made from your IEC login. If you do not have one yet, we can arrange the IEC first and then move to the council application. The IEC fee is ₹500.
What is the difference between associate and ordinary membership?
Associate members export below ₹15 lakh FOB in the council’s schedule, while ordinary members export above it. The fee rises with the category. Merchant exporters pay an entrance fee as well. We read your last year’s figures and place you in the right category.
Do I have to renew CLE membership every year?
Yes. Membership expires on 31 March each year, and renewal is due from 1 April. You submit it on the DGFT e-RCMC menu with a bank or CA certificate of the previous year’s exports. We keep the date and handle the renewal for you each year.
Which documents are needed from a manufacturer?
Manufacturers add a Udyam registration certificate, industrial licence or IEM to the IEC, GST and bank certificate. Companies send MoA and AoA, firms send the partnership deed, and proprietors send three years of returns. Our Udyam registration service covers a missing certificate.
Can I get an RCMC from CLE if I export mixed products?
Under the e-RCMC scheme you declare your main line of business, and you apply to the council for that line. If leather goods are your main line, CLE is the right council. If not, another council may suit you better. We review your product mix before you apply.
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.
Council fees depend on your export category and are shown in the table above. We confirm the current schedule before you pay.
Ready to begin?
Share your export value and product line, and we will tell you the CLE category, the fee and the documents you need.