New licensing rules issued for C&F agents
Thursday, 15 January 2026
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued the Customs Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) Agent Licensing Regulations, 2026, aiming to improve service quality for importers and exporters by fostering a more competitive and transparent customs brokerage environment, reports UNB.
The new regulations were promulgated through a gazette notification on January 8, 2026 (SRO No. 04-Ain/2026/Customs), repealing the Customs Agent Licensing Regulations, 2020, in line with the Customs Act, 2023.
Until now, there was no standalone set of rules specifically governing the licensing of C&F agents. Licences had been issued under the broader Customs Agent Licensing Regulations, 2020.
According to the NBR, the introduction of a separate and updated regulatory framework is intended to modernise operations, simplify procedures, and better reflect the evolving needs of customs clearance and forwarding activities.