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he Kenya Revenue Authority has set October 31, 2026, as the renewal deadline firmly. Several customs-related business licences expire on December 31, 2026, requiring immediate application action.
Bonded warehouses, Manufacture Under Bond facilities, and transit godowns must renew their licences now. Licensed customs agents and transit shed operators whose licences expire must also apply immediately.
KRA Requires Applicants to Submit Renewals Through Customs iCMS System Platform Only
All renewal applications must be submitted through the Customs iCMS system on or before. The October 31, 2026 deadline applies to all customs-related business licensing renewals nationwide uniformly.
Operators must submit a valid 2026 licence, CB6 security bond, and current company. They must also provide valid title or lease documents for property verification purposes completely.
Tax Compliance Certificates and Audited Accounts Required for All Warehouse License Applicants
Applicants must submit company and directors’ Tax Compliance Certificates for the application review process. They must also provide 2025 audited accounts and a completed C18 form.
Customs agents must apply through the iCMS platform using form C20 specifically designated. They must accompany the form with their 2026 CR12 or CR13 registration.
Agents Must Submit Bond, Debt Clearance and Previous Licence Documentation for Verification
They must submit a bond and debt clearance certificate along with documentation needed. Previous C21 licence and a KIFWA Clearance Certificate for application year are required.
Transit shed operators seeking 2027 to 2029 licenses must provide 2024 to 2026. They must submit security bond, company registration certificate, and Gazette Notice for operation.
Transit Shed License Applicants Pay 1.3 Million Kenyan Shillings or Ten Thousand US Dollars
Successful transit shed applicants will pay a licence fee of Ksh1.3 million equivalent. The USD10,000 fee applies to all approved transit shed operator licence applications uniformly.
Transit shed operators must submit the Gazette Notice to operate legally throughout the period. The current CR12, company and directors’ Tax Compliance Certificates must accompany all applications.
KRA Will Conduct Further Vetting After Applicants Submit All Required Documentation Completely
Submission of required documents does not guarantee renewal of any customs-related business licence. Applicants will undergo further vetting before the Kenya Revenue Authority issues new licences.
KRA says renewal depends on applicants having no outstanding transactions or related issues. Bonded warehouses, MUB facilities and transit godowns must demonstrate clean compliance records completely.
License Renewal Directive Affects Over 59,000 Active Domestic Importers Operating Nationwide Substantially
This directive will affect more than 59,000 active domestic importers operating nationwide substantially. These importers range from large industrial conglomerates to small-scale businesses serving retail markets.
These importers facilitate cross-border trade through over 2.09 million recorded shipments annually regularly. China remains the leading import source, followed by the United Arab Emirates suppliers.
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