Register with the Tea Board of India without the confusion. A dedicated compliance expert identifies the right licence for your tea business, prepares your documents, files the application on the Board's portal and follows up until the certificate is issued.
Free call & custom quote · Professional fee + government fee
Tea Board registration means obtaining the licence or registration that the Tea Board of India requires for your activity in the tea trade, such as exporting, manufacturing, buying at auction or running a tea warehouse. The Board is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, constituted under the Tea Act, 1953.
Last updated: October 2026. Licence categories, fees and documents are set by the Tea Board and can change, so we confirm the current position before filing.
The Tea Board of India, headquartered in Kolkata, promotes and regulates the cultivation, processing, domestic marketing and export of Indian tea. It works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, and issues the registrations and licences that tea growers, manufacturers, buyers, warehouse owners and exporters need to operate legally.
Which registration you need depends on what your business does. An exporter needs an exporter licence under the Tea (Distribution and Export) Control Order, 2005, and then the Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) to meet export requirements and avail export benefits. Tea manufacturers and buyers who take part in auctions register under the Tea (Marketing) Control Order, 2003, and a warehouse that stores tea needs a licence under the Tea Warehouse (Licensing) Order. A business that only sells packed tea within India may not need a Tea Board licence, but it still needs FSSAI and GST compliance.
Applications are filed online and the Board publishes guidelines, forms and the current list of required documents for each category. For official information visit the Tea Board of India website. Tea Board registration does not protect your brand name; for that, see our trademark registration online service.
The laws and certificates that shape Tea Board registration.
The right licence depends on what your business does with tea.
Required to export tea from India.
Registration-cum-Membership Certificate from the Tea Board.
For tea factories under the Tea (Marketing) Control Order.
For buyers who purchase tea at auctions or from producers.
For premises used to store tea.
For distributors and for businesses renewing existing licences.
Not sure which licence applies to your tea business? Share a short description and our experts will check it free of charge.
Why tea businesses register with the Board.
An exporter licence lets you ship tea from India within the law.
The certificate supports your claim to benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Operate within the Tea Act and the Control Orders and avoid penalties.
Registered buyers and manufacturers can take part in the regulated tea trade.
Overseas and domestic buyers prefer suppliers who are properly registered.
Consistent documents help with banks, customs and future renewals.
Apply from anywhere in India through the Board's online portal.
From choosing the licence to receiving the certificate, here is how online Tea Board registration works.
Timelines depend on the licence category, document accuracy and any queries raised. Not to scale.
We review whether you export, manufacture, buy, store or distribute tea, and list the licences that apply.
We check PAN, GST, Importer-Exporter Code and FSSAI status so the application does not stall later.
Names, addresses and signatures are matched across documents, and declarations are drafted in the Board's format.
We create the login, fill in the form, upload the documents and pay the prescribed fee online.
We track the application and help you reply to any clarification asked by the Board.
Once issued, we share the certificate and note renewal and return-filing dates for you.
Keep these ready to avoid delays. The Board publishes the exact list for each category and we confirm it for your case.
The total cost depends on the type of licence, the number of registrations and whether your documents are ready. It generally has three parts:
Set by the Tea Board for each licence or registration, and paid online. The schedule can change, so we confirm the current fee before filing.
Our fee depends on how many registrations you need and the state of your records. Call free for a custom quote before you pay anything.
IEC, GST, FSSAI, document corrections and multiple registrations are charged separately when needed.
We share a clear, itemised quote before you begin – no hidden charges. Get your free quote →
Choose the situation that matches your business, or call free for a custom quote.
You want to export tea and need the licence and membership certificate.
You run a tea factory, buy tea at auction or store tea.
Several licences, changed business details or a renewal due soon.
Our professional fee is quoted after a free call. The government fee is set by the Tea Board and is separate. Not sure which option fits? Ask for a free licence check.
If you export, manufacture, buy at auction or store tea, check your registration status.
Bulk, packet, tea bag and instant tea exporters need an exporter licence and RCMC.
Factories that process tea register under the Tea (Marketing) Control Order.
Buyers who purchase at auctions or from producers register as buyers.
Premises used to store tea need a warehouse licence before use.
Brands that export or buy in bulk should check which registrations apply.
Startups planning to export or manufacture should map their licences before launch.
A quick view of how the main registrations differ. Ask us which one applies to your business.
| Registration | Who needs it | Governing order | Prerequisites | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exporter licence | Anyone exporting tea | Tea (Distribution and Export) Control Order, 2005 | PAN, GST, IEC | Needed before RCMC |
| RCMC | Registered tea exporters | Foreign Trade Policy framework | IEC, exporter licence | Supports export benefits |
| Manufacturer or buyer registration | Factories and auction buyers | Tea (Marketing) Control Order, 2003 | Business and premises papers | Category-specific forms |
| Warehouse licence | Owners of tea storage premises | Tea Warehouse (Licensing) Order | Premises and capacity details | Obtain before using the premises |
Matching documents and the right category prevent most delays.
Registration is the start. Here is how to keep it in good standing.
Keep the licence and RCMC with your export and tax records for banks, customs and buyers.
Submit any export or other returns the Board requires, including nil returns where applicable.
Inform the Board when the address, constitution or authorised person changes.
Check the current renewal rule for your licence and set a reminder well ahead of the date.
Selling under your own tea brand? Protect the name with trademark registration online, keep it alive with trademark renewal online, and see trademark hearing online if your mark faces an objection. For local support, see our pages for trademark registration in Dwarka and Jaipur.
Quick answers on Tea Board of India registration.
The Tea Board of India is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, set up under the Tea Act, 1953. It regulates and promotes the cultivation, manufacture, marketing and export of tea, and issues registrations and licences for the tea trade.
It depends on your activity. Exporting tea requires an exporter licence under the Tea (Distribution and Export) Control Order, 2005. Manufacturers, buyers at auctions and warehouse operators have their own registrations or licences. A business that only sells packed tea within India may not need Tea Board registration, but still needs FSSAI and GST compliance.
Common ones are the exporter licence, registration of tea manufacturers and buyers under the Tea (Marketing) Control Order, 2003, tea warehouse licences, and the Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) for exporters. The categories and forms are published by the Board and can change.
The Registration-cum-Membership Certificate is issued by the Tea Board to registered tea exporters. It is used to avail benefits and to meet export requirements under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Identify the right licence for your activity, keep your business, tax and identity documents ready, register on the Tea Board's online application portal, upload the documents, pay the prescribed fee online and track the application until the certificate is issued.
Generally PAN, GST registration, business incorporation or registration papers, address proof, Importer-Exporter Code for exporters, bank details, and category-specific papers such as the exporter licence for RCMC, FSSAI details or warehouse and factory documents. The Board publishes the exact list for each category.
Yes, exporters normally need an Importer-Exporter Code and a Tea Board exporter licence before the RCMC is issued. A first-time exporter should plan these steps in sequence.
Government fees depend on the type of licence or registration and are set by the Tea Board, so they can change. Our professional fee depends on the number of registrations and how ready your documents are. We confirm the current government fee and share an itemised quote after a free call.
The time depends on the licence category, how complete your application is and whether the Board raises queries. Applications with matching, correct documents move faster. We do not promise a fixed date.
Renewal rules and validity differ by licence and have been simplified in recent years. Check the current rule for your category on the Tea Board portal, and keep the renewal date in your compliance calendar. We send renewal reminders to our clients.
Usually yes. Tea Board registration is separate from FSSAI licensing for food safety, GST registration and the Importer-Exporter Code. Which of these apply depends on whether you manufacture, trade, pack or export tea.
Tea Board registration does not protect your brand name. To protect it, apply for a trademark in the relevant class, which is a separate filing with the Trade Marks Registry.
Planning to export, manufacture or store tea? Speak to our compliance expert today – the licence check and the quote are free.
Tell us what you need and our team will get back to you with the right guidance.
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