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ISFTA Certificate Online- An Overview

The ISFRA certificate is for you if you are an exporter trading between India and Sri Lanka. Comply with the regulatory framework for cross-border shipping and transactions through the ISFTA certificate online if exporting under the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. Registration fulfils your regulatory obligations and boosts your credibility as an Indian exporter.

With Corpbiz, you can check ISFTA registration eligibility, complete documents, and work with the Export Inspection Council for fast approval. We help you stay updated on EIC news, prepare for audits, manage paperwork, and comply with your certification.

ISFTA Certificate Online
30-Min Free Expert Advisory
What is an ISFTA Registration?

What is an ISFTA Registration?

An ISFTA registration is a legal permit that enables Indian exporters like you to claim benefits under the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement whenever you export goods to Sri Lanka. With the registration, you can avail preferential customs duties often at a reduced or zero-rate on eligible goods.

What are the Benefits of ISFTA Certificate Registration with Corpbiz?

The benefits of ISFTA certificate registration with Corpbiz include compliance, no chances of errors, no penalties, and cost-effectiveness. Key advantages of registering with Corpbiz are as follows:

Benefits of ISFTA Certificate Registration
Professional Guidance

Professional Guidance

Our experts will help you adhere to strict rules, like a minimum 35% DVA and related substantial transformation criteria, to ensure you don’t face any rejection for the certification.

No More Unnecessary Delays

No More Unnecessary Delays

You may face delays if there’s an error in the HS code, goods description, or consignee details. A third-party outsourcing will enable you to minimize the delay and risk involved in the cargo being stuck at customs.

Say Bye to Faulty Documentation

Say Bye to Faulty Documentation

Our professionals, with in-depth knowledge of the CAROTAR rules, ensure that your documentation is compliant with the latest Customs Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements (CAROTAR) rules, eliminating potential rejections.

Time Effective

Time Effective

The Certificate of Origin process is fully online through the CoO 2.0 platform, so you may need a professional to guide you through the online system, document uploading, and acquire the digital signature. Our team will take over online application tasks so that you can focus on core business operations.

Enhanced Turnaround Time

Enhanced Turnaround Time

Our specialized experts will complete the application process for the ISFTA certificate online faster than your internal teams, given their expertise, expediting the approval of your registration.

Saves Money on Penalties

Saves Money on Penalties

You can avoid interests, penalties, and fines otherwise involved in demurrage and other potential charges due to incorrect documentation by availing ourselves with specialization in free trade customs regulatory requirements.

Regulatory Compliance

Regulatory Compliance

Our team will ensure you are up to date with the latest rules, tariff concessions, and upgraded procedures in the ISFTA, reducing the chance of missing out on mandatory requirements.

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Check Your Eligibility for ISFTA Certificate Online in 2 Mins

Find out if you're eligible for the ISFTA certificate online if you have a business in F&B, agricultural machinery, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals, shipping machinery, fuels, or oil. You will need an ISFTA registration to claim the benefits of zero-rated/fewer tariffs under the free trade agreement.

Who Can Apply for India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement Certificate?

The list of eligible entrepreneurs and businesses who can apply for India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement Certificate-

  • Indian exporters
  • Manufacturers who are exporters
  • Merchant exporters
  • Customs brokers as authorized representatives
  • Consultants and company employees on behalf of the exporters

What are the Criteria for Obtaining the ISFTA Certificate of Origin?

The criteria for obtaining the ISFTA Certificate of Origin are as follows:

  • A valid Import and Export Code (IEC)
  • Proper registration on the DGFT e-CoO digital portal.
  • The application should be made via an authorized agency.
  • a minimum 35% (DVA) for goods manufactured with imported units.
  • Details like the HS codes and quantities must match the shipping paperwork.
  • Documents like commercial invoice, Packing list, shipping bill, & Bill of Lading.
  • A manufacturer’s declaration and cost sheet must support the application.
  • The proposed products shouldn’t fall under the Negative list of the ISFTA.
  • The HS code of the goods should match the schedule of the Free Trade Agreement.
  • Compliance with the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for threshold limits (if required).
Criteria for Obtaining the ISFTA Certificate

Curious to Know about Other Free Trade Agreements?

Have a look at the other prominent free trade agreements India takes part in to reduce custom duties and open the door for trade opportunities-

  • SAFTA- South Asia Free Trade Agreement
  • ICPTA- India Chile Preferential Trade Agreement
  • IKCEPA- India Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
  • SAPTA- SAARC Preferential Trade Agreement
  • AIFTA- ASEAN India Free Trade Agreement
  • IJCEPA- India Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
  • APTA- Asia Pacific Trade Agreement
  • GSTP- Global System of Trade Preferences
  • ISCECA- India Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement
  • GSP- Generalized System of Preferences
  • IMCECA- India Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement
  • India-UAE CEPA- India-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
  • India-Australia ECTA- India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement
What are the Mandatory Documents for ISFTA Certificate of Origin?

What are the Mandatory Documents for ISFTA Certificate of Origin?

The documents required for the ISFTA Certificate of Origin are as follows:

  • A commercial invoice to the Sri Lankan buyer
  • Details on the net weight, quantity, and packaging of goods
  • A copy of the shipping bill
  • Registered email and mobile number
  • Airway or Bill of Lading confirming the shipment.
  • A detailed cost breakdown- sheet and value addition statement
  • Declaration by the manufacturer
  • A list of purchase invoice of raw materials
  • Bill of entry for imported material goods (if applicable)
  • The Import Export Certificate Code of the exporter
  • A letter of authorization if the application is filed by a third party.

Documentation for ISFTA Registration Still Pending?

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  • Expert-led Remote Support
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How to Obtain an ISFTA Certificate Online with Corpbiz?

Check out how Corpbiz will help you obtain an ISFTA Certificate online, as explained below:

  • Step 1: Eligibility Check
    Take advantage of the 30-min free consultation for a quick eligibility assessment. Our associates will confirm that you have a valid IEC code, product qualification under the free trade agreement, and compliance with the Rules of Origin (RoO).
  • Step 2: Enrollment on the Online Portal
    After confirming that your products are eligible for export under the India-Sri Lanka FTA, we’ll register you on the DGFT e-CoO portal with your IEC details and help you create the login credentials to initiate the application process.
  • Step 3: Documentation
    In the next step, we’ll assist you in preparing the commercial invoices, Bill of Lading, cost sheets, relevant invoices for raw materials, packing list, and other supporting documents.
  • Step 4: Application Filing
    Our associates will help you log in to the digital DGFT CoO portal to fill in the exporter & import information, description of the products with HS codes, FOB value, and origin criteria. We’ll upload the documents and pay the applicable fees.
  • Step 5: Review by the Authority
    The concerned authorities like the EIC or EPC will scrutinize your documents, verify the information of the shipment, and confirm the original compliance before signing off on your application. Our customs experts will coordinate with them if they have any concerns about your paperwork.
  • Step 6: Grant of the ISFTA Registration Certificate
    Once the authority is satisfied with the documents and application, they issue the certification with a digital signature. You can now download the certificate, and we’ll help you submit it with the Sri Lankan importer for further compliance.
  • Step 7: Issuance of the Certificate in Retrospect (If required)
    If there was an issue with the documentation or filing the application for claiming the benefits after the shipment has already taken place, then the certificate will be marked as “issued retrospectively”.

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Why Trust Corpbiz for Obtaining the ISFTA Certificate Registration?

Get end-to-end legal and regulatory assistance for all your customs-related licenses and registrations through top professionals. We are Asia's No. 1 LegalTech platform, offering business consulting and compliance management solutions. Key reasons to choose Corpbiz for obtaining the ISFTA certificate registration are as follows:

  • Supported 576+ Exporters since 2018
  • Handling End-to-end ISFTA Documentation
  • Supporting Business Owners PAN India and Globally
  • 99% Approval Rate for ISFTA Registration
  • 10+ Years of Proven Experience
  • 100% Transparency in Pricing for ISFTA Registration
  • Saved 20 Lakh+ Hours of Exporters

Frequently Asked Questions about India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement Certificate

The registrations are issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade’s authorized agencies, such as:
  • Export Inspection Council
  • Export Promotion Council
  • Chamber of Commerce

All applications are made through the DGFT’s e-filing CoO portal.

The certificate demonstrates that the goods originate in India and helps Sri Lankan buyers obtain them at zero or preferential rates, depending on the type of goods. The registration allows the importers to clear goods through the Sri Lankan customs.

The registration is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance of the certificate, meaning it should be submitted to the Sri Lanka authorities within the prescribed timeline to claim the rates. Key points pertaining to the validity of the certificate include:
Only valid per shipment and consignment, as mentioned in the document.
You cannot use the same permit for future shipments, meaning a fresh certificate for each separate consignment of goods.

No, the registration document is only valid for 12 months for specific shipments, so if you’re planning another consignment, then you will have to apply for a fresh certificate. Besides, once the validity is over, the certificate expires. However, if there was an error in the document, then you can apply for a duplicate or re-issuance of the same.

No, you cannot generally amend a certificate after it is issued by the authorities. However, if there are issues like missing information or incorrect details, then you can request a fresh one, citing the reasons for the cancellation of the previous one.

Your application can be rejected on the following grounds if your products fall under the negative list, the HS code is not properly matched with the invoice and shipping bill, value addition isn’t properly supported, the declaration by the manufacturer is incorrect or incomplete.

An ISFTA registration is used to claim preferential duties under the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. In contrast, a normal Certificate of Origin is used for general trade between internal jurisdictions without any tariff concessional benefits.

  • Your application will be rejected.
  • You will be suspended from CoO issuances.
  • The authority will levy penalties under the Foreign Trade Policy.
  • Lastly, and most importantly, you won’t be able to claim any tariff benefits.

The cost range is between INR 200 to 1,500 per certificate, as per the issuing agency like the chamber of commerce, EIC, or EPC. Book a 1:1 virtual call with our consultants and get more details on the fee structure of the registration.

The registration permit is issued at the time of the export of transportation or after shipment. Depending on the type of authority, your certificate can be issued based on the draft of the shipping paperwork.

Common documents needed for exporting goods to Sri Lanka under the FTA from India includes export invoice, packing list, shipping bill, a transport document confirming the shipment, a declaration by the manufacturer, a proof of the minimum 35% DVA for imported contents (if any), purchase invoices of raw materials, power of attorney (POA) if required, and IEC certificate.

You can expect the grant of registration by 1 to 3 working days, depending on the correctness of the documentation, verification by the authorities, and the government agency’s workload.

Mostly, no, but the authority will conduct an inspection if:
  • You are a first-time exporter to verify the manufacturing capacity and ensure compliance with origin rules.
  • The goods are risky or sensitive to imported raw materials.
  • The authority has a doubt in value additions and origins, like inconsistency in the cost sheet, wrong HS code classification, or some other discrepancy.

Furthermore, the authorities also have a right to conduct unannounced inspections to verify production records, stocks, and purchase invoices.

Yes, sometimes, very rarely, the registration is granted if:
  • The shipment already gone through.
  • The exporter provided proper and sufficient justification.
  • The supporting paperwork was verified.

The goods must satisfy:
  • The wholly obtained criteria;
  • The 35% domestic value addition in the case of imported goods, or
  • Change in tariff heading (CTH) mandate, if applicable.

About the Author


NE
Neha Dawra

Legal Researcher

Written by Neha Dawra. Last updated on Jun 10 2026, 11:53 PM

Neha Dawra has 4+ years of experience in legal research and intellectual property advisory. Her expertise lies in analyzing IP laws, drafting structured legal content, and simplifying complex registration procedures into clear, simple insights.

 

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