Import Export Licenses

Import and export licenses are government authorizations required before certain goods can cross international borders. On the export side, US export licenses are issued by BIS for EAR-controlled items and by State/DDTC for ITAR-controlled items. On the import side, licenses are required for firearms, certain agricultural commodities, alcohol, tobacco, and goods subject to quota. The license requirement is separate from the duty obligation — a shipment can clear customs duty-free under a trade agreement while still requiring an import license for the product category. Export license applications to BIS are submitted through SNAP-R and typically take 30–90 days for non-sensitive applications; applications for sensitive destinations or end users take longer and may be referred to interagency review. We cover license types, application requirements, and processing timelines by agency.