Updated on August 04, 2025 03:17:20 PM
The APTA Certificate is a Certificate of Origin issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in India. The DGFT-issued APTA Certificate ensures that the commodity that is meant to be exported is fully and authentically manufactured or produced in the originating or exporting country. In order to legally verify the goods, the exporter is required to produce multiple essential documents before the DGFT authorities to prove that the goods have been genuinely manufactured in India, complying with all necessary trade-related standards, rules, and regulations. The exporter must also provide evidence in the form of records and documentation of the manufacturing process and the exact origin of raw materials used in production.
The necessity of obtaining the APTA Certificate of Origin is mainly for ensuring smooth customs clearance in the designated importing country. In case the goods being imported do not possess a Certificate of Origin, the importing country’s respective customs authorities are likely to tax the goods at comparatively higher rates, imposing additional custom duties and levies, which could significantly raise the overall cost of the products. The APTA Certificate of Origin serves as a crucial trade document used by the importing country to ensure that the products fall under duty-free categories, confirming that the goods are rightfully originating from the country as per the terms of a free trade agreement. This certification helps in reducing tariffs, lowering costs, and promoting trade relations between countries by ensuring mutually beneficial and fair trade practices.
APTA Registration [SAMPLE]
Table of Content
The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) Certificate of Origin is a document that proves goods are made in a country that is part of APTA. This agreement includes countries like Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Mongolia, South Korea, and Sri Lanka. It helps these countries trade with each other by reducing taxes on selected products. If exporters have this certificate, it means their products meet APTA rules and can get lower taxes when exported to other APTA countries. The government gives this certificate, and it helps businesses sell their products at better prices in the Asia-Pacific region.
Here’s a list of important documents typically required for APTA (Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement) registration to ensure smooth processing.
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APTA registration enables businesses to export goods under the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement, ensuring preferential trade benefits and smoother transactions. Here’s a step-by-step process:
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The APTA registration fee in India is ₹3,500, which includes a ₹2,000 ID creation fee and a ₹1,500 certificate generation fee per invoice, which is mandatory for all applicants applying.
| Particulars | Fees |
|---|---|
| ID Creation Fee | 2,000 |
| Certificate Generation per Invoice | 1,500 |
| Total Fees | 3,500 |
Note: The aforementioned Fees is exclusive of GST.
APTA (Asian Pacific Trade Agreement) registration provides businesses with various benefits that can enhance their trade prospects within the member countries. Some of the key benefits include:
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In India, the authorized agencies responsible for issuing certificates of origin are clearly listed in Appendix 35 of the Handbook of Procedures, Volume-1, as per the Foreign Trade Policy. These are:
| Agreement | Agencies authorized to issue Certificate of Origin |
|---|---|
| Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) | Export Inspection Council (EIC); Export Development Authorities; Development Commissioners of EPZs and SEZs; FIEO |
| Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP) | EIC for all products; Tobacco Board, Guntur for tobacco and tobacco products |
| India Afghanistan PTA | EIC |
| India ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement | EIC |
| India Chile PTA | EIC |
| India JAPAN CEPA | EIC |
| India Mercosur PTA | EIC |
| India Singapore CECA | EIC |
| India South Korea CEPA | EIC |
| South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) | EIC |
The four methods of supplying trade in services are:
India has enhanced its market access commitments for neighbouring service providers. These commitments provide companies with an opportunity to build market expertise and grow by international expansion. Under Free or Preferential Trade Agreement there are multiple options where certificate of origin can be generated from India for import benefits to importing companies:-
ICPTA - India Chile Preferential Trade Agreement
SAFTA - South Asia Free Trade Agreement
SAPTA - SAARC Preferential Trade Agreement
IKCEPA - India Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
IJCEPA - India Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements
AIFTA - ASEAN India Free Trade Agreement
ISFTA - India Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement
APTA - Asia Pacific Trade Agreement
GSP - Generalized System of Preferences
GSTP - Global System of Trade Preferences
IMCECA - India Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement
ISCECA - India Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement
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Conclusion
The APTA Certificate of Origin that is offered by the Indian Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) acts as an assurance that export goods are both manufactured and produced in the originating country. This certificate is required for import clearance in the importing country to avail trade at less tariff under the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement and affordable trade. Exporters need to present legal documents on origin as well as processing of the products to be exported. Some of the advantages APTA registration has include affordable trades that help in improving and bringing out better trade relations between the different members of the society.
At Professional Utilities, we leverage our industry knowledge and expertise to help businesses navigate complex regulations, minimize risks, and optimize operations for maximum efficiency and profitability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To get an APTA Certificate, register on the DGFT portal with a DSC, upload required documents like invoice and product details, and apply online. Once approved, download the certificate to avail duty benefits under the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement.
APTA member countries are India, China, South Korea, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Lao PDR—they offer preferential tariff benefits under the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement.
India has preferential access, economic cooperation and Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with about 54 individual countries. India has signed bilateral trade deals in the form of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) / Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) / Free Trade Agreement / Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with some 18 countries. India is a late & cautious, starter in concluding comprehensive PTA covering substantially all trade with some of its trading partners.
Country of origin / Rules of origin (ROO) are the criteria
needed to
determine a product for purposes of international trade. Their significance
is
derived from the fact that duties & restrictions in several cases depend
upon
the source of imports.
Rules of origin are used:
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