Tea Board Licence for Exporters and Tea Businesses
Exporting tea from India needs an exporter licence from the Tea Board under the Tea (Distribution and Export) Control Order, 2005. The licence fee is ₹2,800 plus GST, and a regular exporter licence runs for five years. We file it on the Tea Board’s online portal, along with RCMC and other Tea Board registrations your business needs.
What it is
A Tea Board licence is permission from the Tea Board of India to carry on a regulated tea activity, such as exporting, manufacturing or warehousing tea. The Tea Board was set up under the Tea Act, 1953 and began work on 1 April 1954. It is headquartered in Kolkata and works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
For exporters, the governing order is the Tea (Distribution and Export) Control Order, 2005. Applications go online through the Tea Board’s e-services portal (onlineapps.teaboard.gov.in), where licensees also file their returns. You need an Import Export Code from DGFT before you apply.
Who it applies to
You ship tea out of India
Merchant exporters and producers who ship tea abroad, in bulk or in packets, need the exporter licence. A Faridabad trader who buys packet tea from blenders and sells it to overseas buyers falls squarely here.
You grow or make tea
Tea factories, mini tea factories and tea gardens register with the Board. Flavoured-tea makers have a separate registration.
You buy, store or distribute tea
Tea buyers, distributors, warehouse keepers, auction brokers and tea-waste dealers hold their own Tea Board licences or registrations.
Why it matters
Export within the law
The Control Order makes the licence a condition for exporting tea, whether you ship one container or fifty.
Qualify for an RCMC
The Tea Board also issues RCMC to tea exporters. Under Foreign Trade Policy 2023, para 2.57, you need an RCMC to claim benefits under the policy unless specifically exempted.
Show up on the Board’s register
The Board’s website keeps a database of licensed manufacturers and exporters, so your licence can be looked up.
Documents required
For a new exporter licence
- Application Form ‘A’, signed and dated with the seal of the proprietor, partner or director
- Copy of the IEC, attested, with the same address as in Form ‘A’
- Application fee paid online
For a Tea Board RCMC
- Application in Appendix-19A and 19B, signed by a director with seal
- Copy of the IEC
- Fee paid online
Supporting records we keep ready
- PAN and GST registration
- Incorporation certificate, partnership deed or LLP agreement
- Address proof of the business
Tea Board licences and their government fees
The Tea Board’s published fee structure lists each licence with its validity. The fees below are before 18% GST. If you only export tea, start with the first row.
| Licence or registration | Validity | Fee (₹) | With GST (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exporter licence | 5 years | 2,800 | 3,304 |
| Permanent exporter licence | Lifetime | 2,800 | 3,304 |
| Buyer registration | Lifetime | 9,000 | 10,620 |
| Distributor | Lifetime | 50,500 | 59,590 |
| Warehouse licence | 3 years | 14,000 | 16,520 |
| Tea Mark registration | 3 years | 1,000 | 1,180 |
| Manufacturing registration | Lifetime | 1,20,000 | 1,41,600 |
| Mini tea factory | Lifetime | 1,000 | 1,180 |
The clearance certificate for a tea export carries no fee.
How it works
Match your activity to a licence
We match what you do with tea to the right Tea Board licence. Many exporters need only the exporter licence and an RCMC.
Check the IEC address
We check that your IEC is active and that its address matches what you will put in Form ‘A’.
Apply on the Tea Board portal
We register you on the e-services portal, fill Form ‘A’, upload the documents and pay the fee online.
Add the RCMC
Once the licence is in hand, we file the RCMC application in Appendix-19A and 19B, so you can claim policy benefits.
File returns and renew on time
We file returns on the portal and apply for renewal before the five-year exporter licence ends.
Timelines
Before your first export
Apply once your IEC is active and before you sign a shipment date, since the licence is a condition for exporting.
Five years for a regular licence
An exporter licence is valid for five years. Renewal costs the same ₹2,800 plus GST.
Lifetime for permanent exporters
A permanent exporter licence does not need renewal. Its fee is also ₹2,800 plus GST.
What happens if you miss it
Export blocked or delayed
Exporting tea without a valid licence breaches the Tea (Distribution and Export) Control Order, 2005. Sort the licence out before you book the shipment.
Lapsed licence
An exporter licence that is not renewed after five years stops covering your exports. Renewal is filed on the same portal.
No RCMC, no benefits
Under Foreign Trade Policy 2023, para 2.57, an RCMC is needed to claim benefits under the policy unless specifically exempted.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Tea Board licence to export tea?
Yes. Tea exports are regulated under the Tea (Distribution and Export) Control Order, 2005, and exporters need an exporter licence from the Tea Board. The fee is ₹2,800 plus 18% GST, and a regular licence is valid for five years. You also need an Import Export Code from DGFT before you apply. We file both in the right order.
What is the fee for a tea exporter licence?
The Tea Board’s fee structure lists ₹2,800 for an exporter licence, which is ₹3,304 with 18% GST. Renewal after five years costs the same. A permanent exporter licence also costs ₹2,800 plus GST but does not need renewal. The clearance certificate for each tea export carries no fee. Our professional fee is quoted separately before we begin.
How long is the exporter licence valid?
A regular exporter licence is valid for five years, after which it must be renewed for ₹2,800 plus GST. A permanent exporter licence is valid for life. Here is the catch: a regular licence that lapses stops covering your shipments, even if orders are already booked. We note your expiry date and file the renewal on the Tea Board portal in good time.
What documents are needed for a new exporter licence?
The Tea Board’s guidelines ask for three things: Application Form ‘A’ signed and dated with the seal of the proprietor, partner or director; an attested copy of your IEC with the same address as in Form ‘A’; and the fee paid online. All documents are self-attested with the company seal. We prepare Form ‘A’ and check the IEC address before filing.
Where do I apply?
Applications are filed online on the Tea Board’s e-services portal at onlineapps.teaboard.gov.in. The same portal handles RCMC, other Tea Board licences and the filing of returns. The Tea Board is headquartered in Kolkata, but you do not need to visit; the process is online. We create your login and handle the filing from our Faridabad office.
Does the Tea Board issue RCMC?
Yes. The Tea Board accepts RCMC applications from tea exporters on its portal, using Appendix-19A and 19B with a copy of the IEC. Under Foreign Trade Policy 2023, para 2.57, an RCMC is needed to apply for most benefits under the policy unless specifically exempted. We file the RCMC right after your exporter licence.
What is a permanent exporter licence?
It is an exporter licence that stays valid for life, so you do not renew it every five years. The Tea Board lists it separately in its fee structure, at ₹2,800 plus GST, and it uses the same Form ‘A’ and IEC copy as a new licence. The Board decides eligibility. We check whether you can apply for it and file the application.
Do tea traders inside India need a Tea Board licence?
Some do. The Tea Board issues registrations to buyers, distributors, warehouse keepers, auction brokers, tea-waste dealers and manufacturers, each with its own fee and validity. A distributor registration, for example, costs ₹50,500 plus GST and is valid for life. Tell us how your business handles tea and we will confirm which registration, if any, applies.
Do I also need FSSAI to export tea?
Tea is a food product, so the food safety rules under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 apply to your business. Whether you need a central or state FSSAI licence depends on your activity and turnover. Picture an NCR company that packs tea under its own brand for export: it needs FSSAI for the packing unit as well as the Tea Board licence. We can arrange the FSSAI licence alongside your Tea Board filings.
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 from the Tea Board’s fee structure: exporter licence ₹2,800 + 18% GST (₹3,304) for five years, with the same amount for renewal; permanent exporter licence ₹2,800 + GST; clearance certificate for tea export, nil. Other licence fees are listed in the table above.
Ready to begin?
Tell us what tea you plan to export and how you source it. We will file the Tea Board licence and RCMC together.