India-UAE CEPA Certification - Process, Fees & Documents

Documents required for the India-UAE CEPA certification process must be submitted in the English language. Listed below are the set of documents required for India-UAE CEPA registration process:

Total fees for obtaining India UAE-CEPA certificate is ₹3,860 per application including professional fees and GST. IUCEPA certificate of origin is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance.

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Under the India-UAE CEPA, products are considered originating goods of a party when they meet the applicable Rules of Origin (RoO) prescribed under the agreement.

1. Wholly Obtained products
2. Value-added Criteria for products.
3. Change in Tariff Heading (CTH) product's 4-digit HS code changes during Indian processing
4. Change in Tariff Sub-Heading (CTSH) product's 6-digit HS code changes during Indian processing
5. Change in harmonized system (HS) chapter
6. Final manufacturing before export must be done in the exporting country.
7. Sharing of detailed products info with authorities to comply with preferential treatment
8. The Product has undergone sufficient working or production per the Product specific rules (PSR) as agreed by the parties under CEPA.

Note: Non-originating materials failing the CTH/CTSH rule are still permitted if their value does not exceed 10% of the factory/manufacturing price (ex-works price) of the finished product. This tolerance does not apply to Chapters 50–63 (textiles and apparel).

Example: Raw cashew in shell imported from Ivory Coast, HS 0801.31 → Processed cashew kernel exported to UAE, HS 0801.32

Proof of origin:

Eligible exporters can provide Proof of Origin Certificate of the product through any of the following means :

1. eCoO (Electronic Certificate of Origin): Digitally issued by an authorized agency via the DGFT Trade Connect portal.
2. Self-Declaration by Approved Exporter: Available to exporters registered as Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) or approved exporters under the CAROTAR 2020 framework (Customs Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements Rules). Self-declarations must include a signed declaration of origin statement.
3. A paper certificate of origin of CEPA registration in electronic or hard copy format issued by the authorized government body.

The following are the benefits that can be obtained when holding the India UAE CEPA Certificate under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between India and UAE:

Under the Agreement, the UAE will reduce tariffs on 97% of tariff lines (total tariff lines -7581) that account for 99% of Indian exports in value terms, including the immediate reduction of taxes on 80.3% of lines.

• The exporter shall submit the minimum required information and supporting documents for the certificate of origin under India UAE cepa or IUCEPA registration.
• Any exporter falsely representing any material information relevant to the determination of the origin of products shall be liable to prosecution and penalties.
• Exporters are required to keep minimum information and supporting documents of their products for five years from the expiry date of the CEPA certificate of origin.
• The exporter shall keep appropriate commercial accounting records for the production supply of the products.
• The exporter shall notify the issuing authority, customs authority, and the importer of any chances that could affect the accuracy or validity.

Under CAROTAR 2020 framework, Indian customs authorities have the right to verify the origin of imported goods and may suspend preferential treatment if CoO documentation is found inaccurate or fraudulent.

1. If the certificate of origin establishes the Product's non-compliance, then custom duties shall be levied under the India UAE cepa agreement.
2. Each Party shall also adopt or maintain measures that provide for the imposition of civil and administrative laws. Where appropriate, it shall implement criminal sanctions for violations of its customs laws.

Note: The above agencies are authorized to issue Certificates of Origin under the India-UAE CEPA as per the official notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI.

Proof of Origin documents vary based on the trade agreement and the rules set by the countries involved. They mostly include basic details about the products being exported such as the tariff codes, details of the exporter and importer, and the country of origin.

Exporters holding Star Export House status are authorized to use Self-certification to declare the origin of their goods without obtaining a certificate from any third-party issuing authority. Self-declaration is currently functional under India-UAE CEPA. Non-Preferential CoO is applicable to all export destinations where no bilateral trade agreement is in force.

India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) Certificate of Origin (CoO) may be rejected due to following reasons:

• Failure to comply with applicable RoO including failure to satisfy required Change in Tariff Heading (CTH), Change in Tariff Sub-Heading (CTSH), or minimum value-addition threshold
• Incomplete, false or inconsistent documentation may lead to rejection of India-UAE CEPA certificate of origin
• Failure to establish sufficient working or production in India as per the Product Specific Rules (PSR) prescribed under CEPA
• Mismatch between declared manufacturer/exporter details and information provided on DGFT Trade Connect Portal
• Submission of expired, unsigned, or improperly attested supporting documents

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:-

India UAE CEPA has benefited companies that intend to expand the cooperation in trade relations between India and UAE. Under CEPA, a Certificate of Origin is essential to avoid being fined or penalized and to fully reap the benefits from tariff liberalization and other trade liberalization measures. To simplify IUCEPA registration process consult Professional Utilities, a reputable entity with more than a decade of experience businesses can also explore the India–Oman Free Trade Agreement to unlock additional trade opportunities and expand their presence in the Middle East market. Additionally, Professional Utilities offers comprehensive support for multiple trade agreements and certifications, helping businesses grow globally with ease. .