April 3, 2026

Accreditation & Registration

Before any importation can take place, businesses must be registered and accredited with the Bureau of Customs. This process establishes the importer's legal authority to transact with customs and to lodge import declarations through the electronic system.

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Without accreditation, shipments cannot be processed - regardless of whether goods have already arrived at the port. For a full overview of the importation process, see our Step-by-Step Importation Guide Philippines.

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Scope of Accreditation

Importer accreditation confirms that a business or individual is recognized by customs as a legitimate importing entity. It allows the importer to:

This registration is required for both commercial importers and entities bringing in goods on a limited basis.

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General Requirements

While documentation requirements may vary, accreditation typically requires:

All submitted information must be consistent and up to date, as discrepancies may delay approval.

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Types of Accreditation

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Regular Importer

For businesses engaged in continuous importation as part of their operations. This is the standard accreditation for companies with recurring shipments.

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Non-Regular Importer (NRI)

For entities that import on an occasional or one-time basis. See our guide on the Non-Regular Importer (NRI) Process Philippines for the full process.

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Timing Considerations

Accreditation should be completed before shipment. Importers who only start the registration process after goods have been dispatched often run into:

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Getting accredited early is one of the simplest ways to avoid unnecessary costs and delays.