The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued the Customs Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) Agent Licensing Rules, 2026, aiming to modernise and streamline the licensing framework for customs agents and improve service quality for importers and exporters.
The information was disclosed in an NBR press release issued on Wednesday.
According to the press release, the new rules were framed under the Customs Act, 2023, repealing the Customs Agent Licensing Rules, 2020, to foster a more competitive environment and enhance efficiency in customs clearance services.
The NBR issued a gazette notification to this effect on January 8, 2026 (SRO No-04-Ain/2026/Customs).
Previously, there was no separate and dedicated set of regulations for issuing C&F agent licenses. License were issued under the Customs Agent Licensing Rules, 2020.
To make the operations of customs clearing and forwarding agents easier, more transparent and time-relevant, the NBR has now introduced a standalone regulatory framework through the C&F Agent Licensing Rules, 2026, the release said.
One of the key features of the new rules is that prior approval from the NBR will no longer be required to determine the number of C&F agent licences at a particular customs station. All candidates who qualify by passing the prescribed examination will be eligible to obtain a licence.
The licensing process will be conducted through regular examinations, which will be completed within a fixed time frame each year to ensure predictability and efficiency.
