Import Code Registration and Renewal in Dubai

In most cases, a new import code registration takes two to four working days from the time all documents are submitted. This can vary depending on whether your licence is a mainland DET licence or a free zone licence, and whether any additional approvals are required from the licence-issuing authority. We prepare and submit everything on your behalf and notify you as soon as the code is issued and active.

The standard document set includes a copy of your current trade licence, Emirates ID (for UAE nationals or residents) or passport copy (for licence holders who are non-residents), a company memorandum of association or equivalent formation document, and your company's bank account details in some cases. For free zone companies, a free zone registration certificate is also typically required. We confirm the exact list based on your company type before proceeding.

Yes. Dubai Customs import codes are tied to the validity of your trade licence. When your trade licence renews, you must update or reactivate your customs code to reflect the new licence period. If this renewal is not completed, your customs code will lapse and any pending or new import declarations will be rejected. We handle the renewal process as soon as your updated licence is available.

Yes, free zone companies can obtain a Dubai Customs import code, though the process has some differences from mainland licence holders. In most cases, the free zone authority must be involved in confirming the company's trade activities, and the code may be structured differently to reflect the company's status within the free zone. We manage free zone import code registrations regularly and advise on any specific requirements for your particular free zone.

Without a valid import code, the Dubai Trade Portal will reject your customs declaration at the submission stage. Your goods will remain on hold at the port or airport, and storage or demurrage charges will begin to accumulate. There is no shortcut around this requirement — the code must be registered and active before any commercial declaration can be filed. If your code has recently lapsed, we can expedite the renewal process to minimise the time your shipment is held.

Your import code is linked to your trade licence, which specifies your permitted business activities. You can import any goods that fall within the activities listed on your licence under a single import code. If you wish to import goods outside your current licence activities, you would first need to add those activities to your licence before the customs code can be used for those goods.

Generally, each legal entity (each separately licensed company) requires its own customs import code. A single company with multiple trade names or branches operating under one trade licence can typically use a single customs code, but separate legal entities — even if under the same ownership group — require separate codes. We clarify this based on your specific corporate structure.

No. The import code is a registration that allows your company to file customs declarations as an importer. The Customs Card (also called the Mukhallas Card) is a separate credential required by licensed clearing agents and customs brokers to act on behalf of others when submitting declarations. If you are registering as an importer, you need an import code. If you are acting as a clearing agent, you also need a Customs Card. See our Customs Card registration service for more details.

Yes. If your business is registered for UAE VAT, we strongly recommend linking your Tax Registration Number to your customs code as part of the same process. This ensures that import VAT is correctly reconciled with your FTA VAT account and reduces the risk of discrepancies during tax filing. See our VAT TRN Linking service for full details.