Issuance of Bulk Licenses (Unit 01) for the Year 2026
With the full digitalization of the Department of Imports and Exports Control and in line with trade facilitation efforts, the process for issuing bulk import control licenses has been further simplified. In addition to the usual facility of obtaining a bulk license, arrangements have also been made to extend the validity period of the Bulk Licenses obtained in 2025 to cover the year
2026.
Accordingly, the following activities will be carried out on the specified dates:
1. Obtaining a Bulk license for the First Time
2. Obtaining a New Bulk license for the Year 2026
3. Extension of the validity period of Bulk Licenses obtained for the year 2025 to cover 2026.
(01) Obtaining a Bulk license for the First Time
(a) Applicants who wish to obtain a bulk license for the first time must fulfill the following basic qualifications:
- Must have continuously obtained unit licenses for last three (03) years.
- Must have obtained between 15 to 20 unit licenses within the previous year.
- Must have complied with license conditions, as well as imports and exports control laws and regulations during the previous year.
(b) Conditions:
- Only importers applying for a bulk license for the first time for the year 2026, and who have fulfilled the above qualifications, may submit their applications online from 06 November 2025.Upon verification of qualifications, licenses will be issued on 31 December 2025.
- License Fee Calculation: The annual license fee shall be Rs. 100,000.00, and in addition, the license fee will be calculated based on the value of imports requested by the applicant, in accordance with Extraordinary Gazette No. 1953/28 dated 11 February 2016.
(02) Obtaining a Bulk License for the Year 2026 by Applicants Who Have Already Obtained a Bulk License for the Year 2025
Applications for obtaining a bulk license for the year 2026 may be submitted in accordance with the following procedure.
- Obtaining a New Bulk License for the Year 2026
Qualified importers who wish to obtain a new Bulk License for the year 2026 may apply online from 06 November 2025. Licenses will be issued on 31 December 2025. Please note that goods cannot be shipped or air-freighted using the new 2026 Bulk licenses on or before 31 December 2025. - Extension of the Validity Period of 2025 Bulk licenses up to 2026
Bulk licenses expiring on 31 December 2025 may be extended up to 31 December 2026.
Applications for such extensions may be submitted online from 06 November 2025.
The annual license fee shall be Rs. 100,000.00, and in addition, the license fee will be calculated based on the increased value of the license, in accordance with Extraordinary Gazette No. 1953/28 dated 11 February 2016.
(03) Issuance of Debit Notes under Bulk licenses Not Extended
All imports under bulk licenses that are not extended must have the vessel or aircraft departure date on or before 31 December 2025. If goods shipped/air freighted under such licenses arrive in Sri Lanka on or after 01 January 2026, the importer must submit a written request (hard copy) to this Department. Upon receipt of such request, the Department will permit the importer to submit the relevant Customs Declaration (CUSDEC) through the Department’s IT system, and thereafter submit the relevant debit application online to issue debit note.
Controller General of Imports and Exports
Department of Import and Export Control
Date: 06 th November 2025
