What Status Holder recognition gives you
- Authorisation and customs clearance on a self-declaration basis, subject to policy conditions
- Exemption from furnishing bank guarantees for schemes under the Foreign Trade Policy
- Self-certification of Certificates of Origin for preferential and non-preferential trade
- Priority and faster handling of applications by Regional Authorities and customs
- Eligibility to establish export warehouses as per notified norms
- Stronger credibility with overseas buyers, banks and credit insurers
How eligibility is computed
Recognition is granted on export performance measured in free foreign exchange over the current and preceding three financial years, aggregated across the IEC. Star levels move up in defined performance bands, with relaxed thresholds for specified categories such as MSME manufacturers, units in the North Eastern states and Jammu & Kashmir, and exporters of certain sectors. Deemed exports and specified service exports count where the policy permits, which is often where exporters underestimate their own numbers.
- FOB or FOR value of physical exports in free foreign exchange during the qualifying period
- Aggregation across all branches and units under the same IEC
- Eligible deemed export and service export earnings, where permitted
- Double weightage available to specified categories such as MSME manufacturers
- Realisation evidence through e-BRC and bank certificates
Common reasons applications get returned
The application itself is short; the evidence behind it is not. Regional Authorities verify the certified export figures against ICEGATE shipping bill data and e-BRC realisation records. If the chartered accountant's certificate reports figures the databases do not confirm — realisations pending, shipping bills filed under a different IEC branch, or currency conversion done on the wrong reference date — the file comes back. We reconcile the numbers before filing rather than after.
- CA-certified performance not reconciling with ICEGATE and e-BRC data
- Realisations outstanding for shipments claimed in the qualifying period
- Currency conversion applied on incorrect reference dates
- Double weightage claimed without supporting category proof
Eligibility checklist
- Active IEC with export performance in the current and preceding three financial years
- Realised export proceeds evidenced by e-BRC or bank realisation certificates
- Chartered accountant certificate of export performance in the prescribed format
- Valid RCMC from the relevant Export Promotion Council
- Category proof where double weightage is claimed — Udyam registration, unit location, sector
- No pending export obligation default or penal proceedings under the Foreign Trade Policy
Our process, step by step
- 01Performance computation: export data compiled from ICEGATE and e-BRC and mapped to the qualifying period.
- 02Star level assessment: applicable band determined, including double weightage entitlement.
- 03Certification: chartered accountant certificate prepared to reconcile exactly with the portal data.
- 04Filing: recognition application submitted on the DGFT portal with annexures and RCMC evidence.
- 05Issuance and renewal: certificate obtained, and re-application tracked as performance moves into a higher band.