Application for Registration of Importers

(File to Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), Bureau of Customs)

1. All importers whose Head/Principal Office are located in Metro Manila shall file
their application form with the Office of the Assistant Service Director
for Administration, CIIS.
2. All importers whose Head/Principal Offices are located OUTSIDE Metro Manila
shall register with the Office of the District Collector of the
Port/Sub-Port Collector under whose jurisdiction the physical location
of the Head/Principal Offices of the applicant(s) is/are located.
3. After the documents have been submitted by the applicant, the folder shall be
assigned to an agent to conduct the necessary validation/verification.
In the case of applications in ports outside Metro Manila, the District Collector
of Customs/Subport Collector of Customs shall utilize CIIS agents for
validation/verification as far as practicable.
4. Once the application is approved by the Director, CIIS, the applicant shall be
issued a Certificate of Registration with an assigned Registration
Number.
Other Documentary Requirements:
1) Mayors Permit
2) VAT or non-VAT certificate of applicant
3) TIN Card of the company/enterprise, its directors and principal officers (CEO,
CFO and Import-Export Officer, Proprietor or Partner)
4) For corporations, articles of incorporation and by-laws
5) For partnerships, articles of partnership and by-laws
6) For cooperatives, registration documents with the Cooperative Development
Authority
7) For sole proprietorships, proof of registration with the Bureau of Trade
Regulation and Consumer Protection, DTI
8) 2x2 pictures with official signature at the back of directors and principal
officers

9) Audited financial statements for the past three years, if applicable

10) Summary of importation for the past three years, if applicable
11) Corporate and individual clearances from BIR and BOC, where applicable, of
directors and principal officers and proprietors/ partners
12) BOI certificate of registration, if applicable
13) Income Tax Returns of the company, partners, proprietor/owner for the past
three years, as applicable
14) Affidavit of AssetsStatement of Assets and Liabilities filed with the BIR
15) List of articles regularly imported by the applicant
16) Name of retained/ in-house broker, if applicable
17) Other documents or information that may be required, which shall be covered by
a supplemental CMO to be issued from time to time.

Importation of certain commodities into the Philippines is regulated or prohibited for reasons
of public health and safety, national security, international commitments, and
development/rationalization of local industry. Imports are classified as follows:
1.

2.

3.

Freely Importable Commodities: The importation of these commodities is neither regulated

nor prohibited and may be imported without the prior approval of or clearance from any
government agency.
Regulated Commodities: The importation of these commodities requires clearances/permits
from appropriate government agencies, including the Philippine Central Bank or Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Prohibited or Banned Commodities: The importation of these commodities is not allowed
under existing laws.

The importation status of any commodity (whether prohibited, regulated, or freely

importable) may be checked/verified with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Bureau of Import
Services (BIS) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), or BSP and any of its authorized
agent banks. The Department of Agriculture (DA) can verify the importation status of agricultural
products, as well as indicate whether a Minimum Access Volume (MAV). Import Certificate is
required, such as for the importation of swine, chicken, etc.
Import documents required for shipments to the Philippines include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Commercial invoice/Pro forma invoice;

Bill of lading (for sea freight) or air waybill (for air freight);
Certificate of origin (if requested);
Packing list;
Applicable special certificates/import clearance/permit depending on the nature of goods
being shipped and/or requested by the importer/bank/letter of credit clause,
Commercial Invoice of Returned Philippine Goods and/or Supplemental Declaration on
Valuation.

Commercial Invoice

Air Waybill

Certificate of Origin

Packing List

Application for Import Letter of Credit

Application Form for Import permit