What is SEPC Registration?
SEPC registration refers to the process by which Indian service-exporting businesses register with the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC).
The SEPC is an apex export-promotion body set up by Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Government of India) to support, promote, and facilitate service-exporting companies from India.
Through SEPC registration, service exporters obtain a “Registration-cum-Membership Certificate” (RCMC), which validates that the business is formally recognized as a service exporter under SEPC’s purview.
SEPC’s mandate is broad — covering a wide range of service sectors including IT & IT-enabled services (IT/ITES), consulting, hospitality & tourism, healthcare, legal, engineering/architectural services, environmental services, and many others.
In short: SEPC registration gives your services-exporting business formal recognition, making it eligible for benefits, incentives, and support schemes aimed at promoting service exports from India.
Key Features of SEPC Registration
Official Recognition & Export Legitimacy
By registering with SEPC and obtaining the RCMC, your company becomes an officially recognized service exporter. This helps in establishing legitimacy in the eyes of clients, foreign partners, government authorities, and financial institutions. SEPC acts as a bridge between service exporters and the government — making it easier for exporters to comply with regulatory norms and access support.
Access to Incentives & Export Schemes
SEPC-registered exporters become eligible for schemes and incentives under the national export framework. For example, under the Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS), having a valid SEPC RCMC is often mandatory for services exporters to claim benefits or duty-credit scrips for net foreign exchange earned from services.
Market Access & Global Exposure
SEPC facilitates export promotion and global outreach. Registered members gain better visibility in international markets, can showcase their services to overseas buyers, participate in trade fairs or buyer-seller meets, and benefit from SEPC’s promotional and networking initiatives.
Trade Intelligence & Policy Advocacy
Beyond facilitating exports, SEPC acts as an interface between service-industry players and the government. It provides trade intelligence, market research, regulatory updates, and pushes for policies that benefit service exporters. This helps exporters stay informed about global demand trends, compliance updates, and evolving trade norms.
Business-Growth Support — Networking, Exhibitions & Export Promotion Activities
SEPC membership can give your firm exposure through international exhibitions, trade fairs, and promotional events. It can also help in connecting with overseas clients, foreign partners, and other service exporters — an important advantage especially for small/medium enterprises or emerging exporters.
In summary: SEPC registration is more than a certificate — it’s a gateway to legitimacy, support, incentives, and global business opportunities for Indian service exporters.
Benefits of SEPC Registration
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of benefits and advantages for businesses once they complete SEPC registration:
Eligibility for Export Incentives (e.g. SEIS / Duty-Credit Scrips)
One of the main advantages is eligibility to claim incentives under schemes like SEIS — which reward service exporters based on their net foreign-exchange earnings. Having a valid SEPC RCMC is often mandatory for such claims.
These incentives (duty-credit scrips, benefits under export incentive schemes) can significantly improve competitiveness and profitability for service exporters.
Market Access, Global Visibility & Business Networking
With SEPC membership, exporters can:
- List their company profile on SEPC’s portal under “My SEPC,” making them visible to overseas buyers looking for Indian service providers.
- Participate in trade fairs, exhibitions, buyer-seller meets (both in India and abroad), promotional events — often under “India Pavilion” or SEPC-backed displays.
- Access trade-intelligence reports, export-market insights, policy updates — which can guide business strategy and expansion.
- Get support through government liaisons, embassy contacts abroad, export facilitation, and visa/business travel support under certain schemes.
This exposure and networking help especially smaller firms, startups, or newer exporters gain global traction without establishing overseas offices.
Credibility & Trust with International Clients and Banks
Being SEPC-registered provides a mark of credibility and compliance — showing you are a legitimate, recognized service-exporter. This helps when negotiating contracts with foreign clients, ensures smoother banking procedures for foreign remittances, and simplifies documentation for audit or compliance.
Simplified Compliance — One Certificate Covering Many Services
Because SEPC covers a broad set of service sectors — from IT to education, healthcare to hospitality, logistics to consultancy — once registered, a business can offer multiple services under one umbrella, without needing separate certifications for each service line (provided they fall under SEPC’s notified sectors).
This reduces administrative burden and allows flexibility if your company diversifies services over time.
How to Register with SEPC — Step-by-Step Process & Requirements (RCMC)
Here’s a detailed walkthrough of how a business can obtain SEPC registration (i.e. the RCMC — Registration-cum-Membership Certificate):
Prepare Required Documents
Typical documents required for SEPC registration include:
- Import-Export Code (IEC) certificate of the company.
- Certificate of incorporation/company registration (for Pvt Ltd / Public Ltd / LLP) or partnership deed / proprietorship registration documents (as applicable).
- GST registration certificate.
- Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of the authorized signatory (class-2 or class-3 DSC issued by CCA-approved agency, or Aadhaar-linked e-sign in case of proprietorship/firm) — needed for online submission.
- Bank account details / cancelled cheque (for financial verification and correspondence).
- For office verification: address proof / registered office address proof / ownership or rental proof / rent agreement (if applicable).
- Recent audited or self-certified export turnover / foreign-exchange earnings certificate (especially if you intend to show prior export performance). This may be required to validate turnover eligibility slabs.
Eligibility & Export Turnover Criteria
Depending on your business type, there are minimum foreign-exchange earnings thresholds to qualify for SEPC registration (or to avail benefits). For example:
- For companies: Some sources mention minimum export turnover (in foreign exchange) of USD 15,000 (or equivalent) per annum.
- For proprietorship / partnership firms: Lower threshold (e.g. USD 10,000) — but this may vary depending on scheme and SEPC guidelines.
- New exporters or startups (with no previous exports) can also apply for SEPC membership; eligibility for incentives would depend on future exports.
Note: Even if you don’t meet the earnings threshold yet, registering early allows you to get RCMC — ready for when you begin exports.
Online Application via DGFT e-RCMC Portal
SEPC RCMC applications are handled through the official Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) digital portal — the common platform for all export promotion councils.
Steps include:
- Register or login on DGFT portal, link your IEC to profile.
- Navigate to “e-RCMC” section and choose SEPC as the EPC (Export Promotion Council).
- Fill in company details, type of services provided (select appropriate sector/service categories), contact details, business structure (Pvt Ltd, LLP, Proprietorship, etc.).
- Upload required documents (as listed above), including DSC-signed application.
- Pay the requisite fees (admission + membership + applicable GST) online or via NEFT/RTGS (depending on DGFT instructions).
Fee Structure & Validity
SEPC charges a fee for RCMC membership which varies by business type (individual/proprietorship vs institutional/corporate). For reference:
- For proprietorship/partnership/LLP (ordinary members): A typical structure is a one-time admission fee + annual membership fee + GST. For example: ₹ 5,000 admission + ₹ 7,500 annual + 18% GST (on fees) — total around ₹ 14,750.
- For corporate/institutional members (Pvt Ltd / Public Ltd / institutions etc.): Admission fee + higher annual fee + GST — e.g. ₹ 15,000 admission + ₹ 20,000 annual + 18% GST — total around ₹ 41,300.
As per SEPC/DGFT, once issued, RCMC is valid for a period (commonly 1 year, though may vary by notification). Renewal is required to maintain active status.
Approval & Certificate Issuance
After submission, DGFT (in coordination with SEPC) reviews your application, verifies documents and details. Once approved, the e-RCMC (digital RCMC certificate) is issued — which you can download from DGFT portal.
After that, your organization is officially listed as a member under SEPC, eligible for benefits, promotional activities, and export-support schemes.
Recent Updates & What Exporters Should Know (2025)
As of recent DGFT/SEPC notifications (e.g. trade notices), there have been changes in how service-exporters can leverage SEPC membership for global outreach.
“Source from India” e-Platform & SEPC Membership
One recent update (dated November 2025) relates to the “Source from India” service of the Trade Connect ePlatform. Exporters with valid IECs and meeting certain minimum export-realization criteria are now eligible to create micro nets or microsites on the platform — enhancing visibility to international buyers.
This move aims to give more exporters (even those not “status-holders”) access to a global buyer-search platform — increasing chances of orders and partnerships. As a registered SEPC member, you are well positioned to leverage this benefit once eligible.
Broader Sector Coverage & Ease of Registration
Over time, SEPC has expanded its list of covered service sectors — making almost all exportable services eligible (not just the original 14 sectors).
Also, the move to an online, common digital platform (DGFT e-RCMC) has simplified the registration/renewal process — making it more accessible for small and medium enterprises.
Thus, 2025 onwards appears to be a favorable time for service-exporters to get SEPC-registered and leverage government-backed export promotion tools.
Step-by-Step Checklist for Businesses Considering SEPC Registration
If you are evaluating SEPC registration for your company, here’s a practical checklist summarizing what to do:
Check if your business qualifies
Are you exporting services (IT, consultancy, healthcare, tourism, logistics, education, etc.) rather than physical goods?
Is your business structure (Pvt Ltd / LLP / Proprietorship / Partnership) properly registered and has valid IEC & GST (if applicable)?
Gather required documents
IEC certificate, company registration/incorporation deed, GST certificate, address proof/rental/ownership proof, bank account details, etc.
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of authorized signatory.
If you have prior export earnings: audited export turnover certificate / foreign-exchange earnings certificate by CA.
Register on DGFT portal & apply for e-RCMC
Link your IEC, login, go to “e-RCMC”, select SEPC, fill application, upload docs, pay fees.
Pay fees and submit application
Admission fee + membership fee + GST (as per business type).
Keep proof of payment.
Wait for approval & download RCMC
Once approved, download your digital RCMC certificate — this serves as your SEPC membership proof.
Use RCMC to avail benefits
Apply for export incentive schemes (SEIS/duty-credit, etc.).
List on SEPC portal, apply for trade facilitation services, participate in export-promotion events.
For global visibility, once eligible, register on “Source from India” Trade Connect platform.
Maintain compliance & renew membership
Keep records of export earnings, foreign exchange remittances, GST/financial compliance.
Renew RCMC as per validity (typically annually).
Evaluate broader benefits
Use SEPC membership to boost credibility, marketing, export networking, and competitive bidding for international contracts.
Who Should Consider SEPC Registration — Ideal Use Cases
SEPC registration is particularly useful for:
IT & ITES companies exporting software development, BPO, remote IT services, offshore development — needing export-compliance and legitimacy.
Consultancy, legal, accounting, or professional-services firms offering services to overseas clients (e.g. auditing, legal advisory, environmental consultancy, architecture/engineering services, etc.).
Healthcare or medical value-travel firms providing medical services, telemedicine, paramedical support, or medical-tourism services to foreign clients or patients.
Tourism, hospitality and travel-related service providers exporting services to foreign clients, or facilitating inbound/outbound related operations.
Startups or small / medium enterprises in services, especially those new to exports — SEPC registration helps them get recognized, visible, and eligible for schemes without heavy infrastructure.
Businesses diversifying service offerings: SEPC’s broad coverage allows multi-service firms to register under one umbrella and expand as needed.
If your business aligns with any of the above — SEPC registration can provide a strong foundation for formal export operations, compliance & growth.
Why Some Firms Choose Expert Help — The Role of Service-Providers for SEPC Registration
Despite a fairly straightforward registration process, many firms (especially SMEs, startups, or first-time exporters) opt to outsource SEPC registration — or get professional help. The reasons include:
- Documentation complexity: Compiling all required docs (incorporation, GST, IEC, address proof, turnover certificates, signatures) can be time-consuming.
- Understanding eligibility & compliance: Some services may have ambiguous classification — ensuring correct service-category selection needs expertise.
- Timely application & accurate submission: Mistakes in application, missing docs, incorrect DSCs can delay approval or lead to rejection.
- Managing renewals and incentive claims: Keeping track of membership validity, foreign-exchange earnings, incentive eligibility (e.g. under SEIS) requires ongoing attention.
- Leveraging benefits and export opportunities: Consultants can help exporters maximize benefits — e.g. market-access initiatives, export-promotion events, global outreach, documentation for incentives.
Therefore, for many service-exporters, especially those focused on operations rather than compliance, professional help ensures smooth and efficient SEPC registration and utilization.
Why Choose Us for SEPC Registration?
Our expert team understands the complexities of the SEPC registration process. We provide tailored solutions that cater to your specific business needs, ensuring a seamless registration experience. Here’s why you should choose us:
- Expertise: Our professionals are well-versed in the nuances of SEPC registration and can guide you effectively.
- Time-Saving: We handle all aspects of the registration process, allowing you to focus on your core business operations.
- Comprehensive Support: From documentation to submission, we offer end-to-end services to ensure your registration is successful.
- Client-Centric Approach: Your success is our priority. We work closely with you to understand your goals and deliver solutions that align with them.
Get Started Today!
Ready to take your service exports to the next level? Contact us today for expert assistance with SEPC registration. Let us help you navigate the process smoothly and unlock the potential of your business in the international market.
Conclusion — SEPC Registration: What You Should Know
SEPC registration represents a critical enabler for Indian service-exporting companies — offering legitimacy, access to export-incentive schemes, global visibility, networking opportunities, and policy support. It provides a structured way for service providers of all sizes — from startups to established firms — to integrate into global trade frameworks under formal, government-backed mechanisms.
For businesses in IT/ITES, consultancy, healthcare, tourism, logistics, or other service sectors planning to export to international clients, SEPC registration should be considered a foundational step. While not mandatory in all cases, it significantly improves credibility, compliance readiness, and chances of leveraging governmental support and international market exposure.