Applications may be made by an individual proprietor, a partnership or a company, provided the business meets the requirements in the current rules. These generally cover the education and experience of the person who will be responsible for customs work, financial standing supported by bank documents, tax and trade licence registration, good character, and success in the examination Customs conducts. Some requirements also apply to partners or directors. Because the criteria and examination arrangements change from time to time, we always check the current rules and the custom house's latest notice before an application is prepared.

Customs holds examinations periodically rather than continuously, and the timing is announced by the relevant custom house. The process usually involves a written test on customs law and procedure, followed by an oral interview or viva. Candidates who fail generally need to wait for a later round and reapply. We cannot sit an examination for anyone, but we help applicants understand the legal topics typically covered, prepare the supporting paperwork so the file is complete, and make sure the business structure behind the candidate will satisfy the CF agent licensing criteria once the examination is passed.

Consequences depend on the current rules and how late the filing is. A short delay may be curable on payment of an additional fee and an explanation, while a longer lapse can mean the licence is treated as expired, leaving the agency unable to lodge declarations until the position is regularised. Customs may also question whether eligibility conditions are still met. We act quickly in these situations, prepare the explanation and documents, and engage with the custom house to restore authority to act. The better answer is a renewal calendar managed well before the deadline.

A licence is personal to the holder and is not a freely transferable asset. A buyer of an agency business therefore cannot assume the licence comes with the goodwill. Where the holder is a company, a change of shareholders may be possible with Customs approval, but the custom house will usually assess the new owners and the responsible person. Where the holder is an individual or partnership, a change in ownership may require a new application. We structure acquisitions, family successions and restructurings so that the CF agent licensing position is resolved before money changes hands.

The death of a proprietor or partner raises both succession and licensing questions. The surviving partners or heirs should notify the custom house promptly and seek guidance on whether the agency can continue temporarily, whether the licence needs to be amended or reissued, and what the new responsible person must show. Succession documents under the applicable personal law, such as a succession certificate, may be required. We coordinate the succession steps and the licensing application, so that consignments are not stranded. The existing licence, partnership documents and proof of who the heirs are should be gathered first.

Liability depends on the facts and the applicable provisions. Customs law places obligations on the agent to act with due diligence, verify information within its reach and not knowingly lodge false declarations. An agent who simply transmits documents prepared by the importer may still face questions if warning signs were ignored. Serious or repeated issues can lead to penalties, suspension or cancellation under the CF agent licensing rules. We advise agents on internal checks, document retention and written instructions from clients, and represent them when Customs opens proceedings against the agency. Good records are the best defence.

Often yes. Licences are generally tied to the custom houses or stations named, and each Commissioner controls access at his or her station. An agency licensed at Chattogram may need to apply for permission or a separate licence before working at Dhaka Custom House, Benapole or another land port, and staff working there typically need station-specific identity cards. Requirements vary between stations and over time. We check the current position with the receiving custom house and prepare the application so expansion plans are not delayed by avoidable gaps in CF agent licensing documentation.

The law allows importers and exporters to transact business with Customs themselves in some circumstances, and certain large or specially recognised businesses use in-house arrangements. In practice, most commercial consignments are cleared through licensed agents because of the procedural and system requirements involved. Whether self-clearance is realistic depends on the business, the station and current Customs practice. We advise importers on that choice, and where they use agents, on selecting a properly licensed agency and documenting the relationship so that responsibility for each declaration is clear. CF agent licensing remains central.