2022_stc07.html

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Ref :	TL 443
	TRA CR 1015/35

20 June 2022

(Main text and Annex A updated on 30 April 2025)

Strategic Trade Controls Circular No. 7/2022

Application for International Import Certificate ( IIC )

This circular informs the trade of the latest application procedures for International Import Certificate, and supersedes the previous Strategic Trade Controls Circular No. 6/2015.

The Strategic Trade Control System

2. The legal basis for strategic trade control in Hong Kong is the Import and Export Ordinance, ( Cap. 60, Laws of Hong Kong ) ( "the Ordinance" ). The Ordinance requires strategic commodities to be covered by import or export licences issued by the Trade and Industry Department ( "TID" ) before they are imported into or exported from Hong Kong. Under the Ordinance, no person shall import or export strategic commodities, i.e. any article specified in the four Schedules to the Import and Export ( Strategic Commodities ) Regulations ( Cap. 60 Laws of Hong Kong ) unless there is a valid licence issued by the Director-General of Trade and Industry.

What is an IIC?

3. For the purpose of controlling the exports of specific types of strategic commodities, export licensing authorities may ask their exporters who, in turn, request Hong Kong importers to obtain an International Import Certificate ( “IIC” ). On the IIC, the Hong Kong importer undertakes that the goods concerned will be imported into Hong Kong and will not be diverted, transhipped or re-exported except under the authority of an export licence issued by the TID. An approved IIC issued by the TID is valid for twelve months from the date of issue.

How to apply for an IIC?

4. Applications for IIC should be made on a designated form [SC040] ( Annex A ) (fillable pdf format). This form is available at the Integrated Customer Service Centre ( “ICSC” ) at Room 1324, 13/F, Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon City, Hong Kong. It can also be downloaded from the Strategic Commodities Control System Website ( "SC Website" ) at https://www.stc.tid.gov.hk .

5. IIC application should always be lodged together with a related import licence application [ TID 501 ] (fillable pdf format). Having completed both the IIC and the import licence application forms, applicants should hand in the forms to the ICSC. A numbered receipt will be issued for each pair of import licence and IIC applications.

6. Companies can also apply for IICs and the related import licences electronically through Trade Single Window (TSW) (Note 1) or companies' E-Accounts on the SC Website (Note 2). After logging-in, application should be made under the option of "Apply for Import Licence and International Import Certificate" provided in the “E-Applications” menu ( at https://www.stc.tid.gov.hk > Login Your E-Account > E-Applications > Import Licence Applications ( under Part ( I ) Licence Application ) > Apply for Import Licence and International Import Certificate ). Same as paper applications, IIC and import licence applications made electronically should come in a pair. E-Applicants should complete the IIC Application and submit together with the related E-Import Licence Application.

7. Online payment via credit card or Faster Payment System (FPS) is acceptable for IIC applications submitted electronically as mentioned in paragraph 6 above. Before submitting the electronic application, E-applicants will be required to select the payment method ( in-person or online payment ) and issue format of the IIC ( paper or electronic certificate ). Please be reminded that the payment method and issue format cannot be changed once the application is submitted. As for all E-Applications, E-applicant should follow the instructions to print out by themselves the numbered receipts for record and/or future collection of the approved IICs and import licences.

8. To submit E-Applications, companies are required to register an E-Account on the SC Website or become “Linked-up” TSW users.

9. Irrespective of the mode of applications, applicants of the IIC should ensure that shipment information provided in the IIC Application Form tally exactly with those in the related import licence application. They should also note that an IIC will normally not be issued to cover goods intended to be further re-exported or diverted to other destination after import. Therefore, a declaration to the effect that the goods under application will be imported into Hong Kong and will not be diverted, transhipped or re-exported to any destination except under the authority of an export licence issued by the Director-General of Trade and Industry will need to be made on the IIC Application Form.

Issue of IIC

10. A processing fee will be charged for the issue of an IIC. Please check the fee table at the website of the TID for the updated processing fee ( https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/fee/fee/html ). Before collection, applicants are advised to check the application processing status on the SC website ( https://www.stc.tid.gov.hk/english/applytips/how_check.html ).

11. For paper application or electronic application with in-person payment, the applicant must pay the fee in cash, cheque, through Easy Pay System ( EPS ) or FPS and collect the payment receipt at the Shroff and Form Sales Counter of the TID at Room 1309, 13/F, Trade and Industry Tower. The applicant can then collect the relevant approved IIC in paper format by showing the payment receipt and the numbered receipt ( i.e. the receipt of application mentioned in paragraphs 5 and 7 above ). Please note that the TID will retain the numbered receipt after issuance of IIC. The payment receipt, however, will be returned to the applicant after verification.

12. For electronic application with online payment via the TID’s e-Payment Platform Portal, upon confirmation of successful payment, the E-applicant can –

obtain and print out the approved IIC (Note 3) online from the E-Accounts on the SC Website; or
collect the approved IIC in paper format at the ICSC by presenting the receipt printed out from their E-Accounts.

13. TSW users subscribed and linked up “Strategic Commodities Import/Export Licence” service (“Linked-up Users”) can obtain and print the IIC from their E-accounts on the SC website or through the Trade Single Window, or collect the approved IIC in paper format at the ICSC by presenting the receipt printed out from their E-Accounts regardless of whether they pay in person or online.

14. Regardless of the issue format, two copies will be issued to the applicant: ( i ) the original ( i.e. foreign exporter's copy ); and ( ii ) the duplicate ( i.e. importer's copy ). The IIC also has a triplicate which the TID will send directly to the licensing authority in the exporting country / place of the goods. Specimen of an approved IIC is at Annex B.

Use of the IIC

15. The IIC holder ( i.e. Hong Kong importer ) should keep the IIC duplicate for record purpose and send the original to the foreign exporter for the latter to apply for export licence or authorisation from the control authority of the exporting country / place. Once the foreign export licence or authorisation is issued, the IIC holder should request a copy of it from its foreign exporter and then forward it to the TID for record and processing of the corresponding import licence application. If the foreign export licence is in language other than English or Chinese, a translated version ( either in English or Chinese ) should be provided.

16. Traders should note that the IIC is not equivalent to and hence cannot be used as a substitution for strategic commodities licence. They should ensure that there is a valid licence issued by the Director-General of Trade and Industry to cover an import shipment of strategic commodities as required under the Import and Export Ordinance ( Cap. 60, Laws of Hong Kong ).

Reminders

17. Traders should ensure that all particulars provided in the IIC application and the related import licence application are true and correct. The TID works closely with the Customs and Excise Department to ensure that applications for strategic commodities licences comply with the provisions of the Ordinance and its subsidiary Regulations by means of consignment checks at either the pre-licence or post-licence stage. Breach of the provisions of the Ordinance and its subsidiary Regulations is an offence. Any person who imports or exports any article specified in the Schedules to the Import and Export ( Strategic Commodities ) Regulations ( Cap. 60G, Laws of Hong Kong ) not under and in accordance with a licence issued by the TID commits an offence and is liable :

( a ) on summary conviction to a fine of HK$500,000 and to imprisonment for 2 years; and

( b ) on conviction on indictment to an unlimited fine and to imprisonment for seven years.

In addition to prosecution, the TID may impose administrative actions against such a person.

Enquiries

18. Enquiries on the content of this circular and other licensing matters can be made to the Strategic Trade Controls Branch at 2398 5575, or by email to stc@tid.gov.hk.

Strategic Trade Controls Branch
Trade and Industry Department

Note 1 :	Details of TSW can be found in Strategic Trade Controls Circular No. 2/2024 < https://www.stc.tid.gov.hk/english/circular_pub/2024_stc02.html >.
Note 2 :	Details of E-Accounts can be found on the SC Website: https://www.stc.tid.gov.hk/english/eaccount/how_open.html.
Note 3 :	For authenticity verification sake, a QR code is inserted at the lower right-hand corner of the approved document. By scanning the QR code, the departmental copy of the IIC will be retrieved and shown. If any irregularity is found, traders should notify the TID as soon as possible.