Trade License Application in Bangladesh: New License Guide

This page is for people filing a trade license application for the first time: a new proprietorship, a newly incorporated company, a partnership firm, or an existing business opening at a new address in another local authority area. If you already hold a license and need to renew or change it, see our trade licence renewal and amendment page instead.

In Dhaka, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) accept applications through their online trade license systems, and other City Corporations and Pourashavas are increasingly online too. The form itself is short; what causes delays is a premises document that does not match, a wrong business category, or missing company papers.

Who should file a new trade license application

Any person or entity starting a trade, profession or business in a local authority area needs its own license for that premises. Branches in a different City Corporation or Pourashava usually need separate licenses.

• New sole proprietors opening a shop, office, agency or online business with a physical address
• Newly incorporated private and public limited companies after receiving the RJSC certificate
• Partnership firms, with or without RJSC registration of the partnership deed
• Foreign-owned companies, branch or liaison offices setting up their Bangladesh office
• Existing businesses opening a new branch, warehouse or factory in another jurisdiction

Documents for a trade license application

Requirements vary slightly between authorities and business categories, so treat this as the typical core set. Additional items may be requested for factories, food businesses, clinics or other regulated activities.

• National ID of the proprietor, partners or managing director, and recent passport-size photographs
• Rent or lease agreement for the premises, or ownership papers if self-owned
• Latest holding tax receipt for the property, from the owner if rented
• For companies: Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum and Articles of Association, and a board resolution where required
• For partnerships: the partnership deed, and the registration certificate if registered with RJSC
• e-TIN certificate where the authority requests it, and sector permits for regulated activities
• For factories: layout or site documents and, where applicable, fire and environmental papers

Choosing the right business type and category

Each authority classifies businesses under a schedule of business types, and the license fee follows that classification, the size of the business and sometimes the location. Choosing a category that is too narrow can leave part of your activity uncovered; choosing one that is too broad can raise the fee or trigger extra documents.

Describe the business in the same words you will use on your BIN, e-TIN and bank account. Consistency matters because banks and CCI&E compare these documents line by line when you later apply for an account or an IRC.

Fees and charges

The license fee is set by the authority's tax schedule for each business type. On top of the fee, applicants typically pay signboard charges where applicable, VAT on the fee, and sometimes an income tax component collected at source. We do not quote fixed figures because each authority revises its schedule, but we confirm the amount from the current schedule before you pay.

Mistakes that get a new application returned

• Rent agreement in a different name from the applicant, or expired
• Holding tax receipt missing or for a different holding number
• Company name on the application not matching the RJSC certificate exactly
• Residential address used for a business category that the authority does not permit there
• Photographs or NID scans unreadable in the online upload
• Paying the fee before the application is verified, then needing a correction

How the process works

1. Confirm the jurisdictionWe check which City Corporation ward, Pourashava or Union Parishad covers the premises, since the application goes to that authority.
2. Select business typeWe map your activity to the authority's business classification and confirm the applicable fee and charges.
3. Prepare documentsWe collect and check NID, photographs, premises papers and company or partnership documents for consistency.
4. Submit the applicationWe file online where available, or in person at the zonal or ward office, and record the application reference.
5. Verification and paymentThe authority verifies the details, sometimes with a field visit; once approved, the fee is paid through the designated channel.
6. Collect the licenseThe trade license is issued, usually printable from the portal, and we check every detail on it before you use it.

Typical timeline: Where documents are complete, a new trade license is often issued within a few working days to a couple of weeks, but it can take longer if a field inspection or category clarification is needed, depending on the authority's processing.

How Tax & VAT Associates helps

• Jurisdiction check and business category selection before you file
• Document review so that names, addresses and activities match your RJSC, TIN and BIN records
• Online application filing with DNCC, DSCC and other authorities, or in-person submission
• Follow-up on verification and inspection queries
• Next-step support for e-TIN, BIN and bank account opening once the license is issued

Frequently asked questions

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Last reviewed: 6 October 2026. Bangladesh tax and regulatory rules change with each Finance Act, SRO and authority circular. This page is general guidance; confirm current requirements for your case before filing.