The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has given businesses operating in the customs sector until October 31, 2026, to apply for renewal of licences that will expire at the end of the year.
The deadline affects operators of bonded warehouses, Manufacture Under Bond (MUB) facilities, transit godowns, licensed customs agents and transit shed operators.
KRA said applications for the 2027 licences must be submitted through the Customs Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS) on or before October 31.
“Applications for Renewals will be submitted through the Customs iCMS system on or before 31st October, 2026,” KRA stated.
Businesses operating bonded warehouses, MUB facilities and transit godowns will be required to submit their valid 2026 licences, CB6 security bonds and current company CR12 documents.
They will also need valid title or lease documents, Tax Compliance Certificates for the company and its directors, 2025 audited accounts and a completed C18 form.
Customs agents, meanwhile, will apply through the iCMS platform using Form C20.
Their applications must include their 2026 CR12 or CR13, company Tax Compliance Certificate, bond and debt clearance, previous C21 licence and a KIFWA Clearance Certificate for the year of application.
Transit shed operators applying for licences covering 2027 to 2029 will also have to provide their 2024, 2025 and 2026 licences.
Other requirements include a security bond, company registration certificate, Gazette Notice authorising the business to operate, title or lease documents and a current CR12.
The operators will also be required to submit Tax Compliance Certificates for the company and its directors, 2025 audited accounts and a completed C18 form.
Successful transit shed applicants will pay a licence fee of Ksh1.3 million ($10,000).
KRA said renewal of licences for bonded warehouses, MUB facilities and transit godowns will depend on applicants having no outstanding transactions or unresolved issues with any of its departments.
The authority also warned that submitting the required documents does not automatically guarantee renewal.
Applicants will undergo further vetting before the licences are issued.
The renewal exercise comes as thousands of businesses involved in importing and moving goods through Kenya’s borders continue to rely on customs facilities and services to facilitate trade.
KRA data cited in the notices indicates that more than 59,000 active domestic importers operate across the country.
The importers handle more than 2.09 million recorded shipments, with China listed as the leading source of imports, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
