Foreign Trade Policy 2023: Rules for Status Holder Certificate 2024

The Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 has introduced simplified criteria for recognized exporters to attain "Status Holder" designation. This status, categorized from One Star to Five Star Export House, provides significant procedural advantages including priority custom clearance and exemption from furnishing Bank Guarantees (BGs) under various schemes. According to the current DGFT guidelines, status is granted based on the FOB/FOR value of export performance during the current and previous three financial years. ### What this means for exporters Becoming a Status Holder significantly reduces the cost of doing business. Exporters with this certification are eligible for self-certification of Certificates of Origin (CoO) and enjoy a higher entitlement for the procurement of capital goods under the EPCG scheme. Furthermore, Two Star and above holders can establish mandatory warehouses as per the specified norms. This classification is not just a badge of reputation but a tool for streamlining international logistics and financial liquidity. To apply, exporters must ensure their IEC is updated on the DGFT portal. The system now utilizes a more automated approach for status recognition based on electronic data from the ICEGATE system, reducing manual intervention and processing timelines for SME manufacturers.