If you want to legally import goods into the Philippines or export products abroad, you cannot just show up at the port with your shipment — the Bureau of Customs (BOC) requires every trader to first register and get accredited. This guide breaks down, in plain language, exactly what CPRS and AMO accreditation are, how much they cost, what documents you need, and how long the whole process takes, so first-time importers and exporters don't get stuck at the port or lose money to unnecessary delays.
This guide covers What Is BOC Accreditation and Why Every Trader Needs It and Step 1: Register with the Client Profile Registration System (CPRS), with the full details below.
- Exporters register with the Client Profile Registration System (CPRS); importers also need Accounts Management Office (AMO) accreditation
- CPRS registration costs a one-time ₱1,000, while importer accreditation costs ₱5,050 under CAO 01-2026
- You need a notarized application form, SEC/DTI papers, BIR Certificate of Registration, and valid IDs of signatories
- Government agencies are exempt from AMO accreditation but must still register in CPRS
- Accreditation must be renewed annually or your CPRS status can be deactivated
What Is BOC Accreditation and Why Every Trader Needs It
Before the Bureau of Customs will process any shipment under your company's name, you must first exist in their system as a verified trader. This is done through two related but separate steps: registering in the Client Profile Registration System (CPRS), which is BOC's master database of all businesses and individuals who transact with Customs, and — if you plan to import — getting accreditation from the Accounts Management Office (AMO). Think of CPRS as your basic account, and AMO accreditation as the extra permission slip specifically for bringing goods INTO the country. You can read the official rules directly from BOC here: BOC Guidelines on Importation and BOC Guidelines on Exportation.
Skipping this step means your shipment can be held at the port indefinitely, and you may be forced to pay demurrage (storage) fees while you scramble to register — so it is always cheaper and faster to register before your first shipment arrives.
Step 1: Register with the Client Profile Registration System (CPRS)
Every importer and exporter, including government agencies, must first create a CPRS profile. You do this online through the BOC's CPRS portal, where you upload your business documents and wait for verification by BOC personnel. Once approved, your CPRS status will show as "STORED," which means you now officially exist in BOC's trader database.
- CPRS registration is a one-time fee of ₱1,000
- Barangay Micro Business Enterprise (BMBE)-accredited exporters get a ₱1,000 discount on the export CPRS fee
- You must keep your CPRS profile updated annually, or it can lapse
Step 2: Apply for AMO Accreditation If You Are Importing
If your business will bring goods into the Philippines, CPRS registration alone is not enough — you also need accreditation from the Accounts Management Office (AMO), a separate BOC unit that specifically vets importers. This involves submitting a notarized application with an undertaking to submit annual reports and to immediately report any change in your business circumstances (change of address, ownership, line of business, etc). See the official accreditation page here: BOC Accreditation.
Under Customs Administrative Order (CAO) 01-2026, the processing fee for importer accreditation is ₱5,050. Government agencies are exempt from this AMO accreditation requirement, but they must still register in CPRS.
Documents You Need to Prepare
- SEC Certificate of Registration (for corporations/partnerships) or DTI Certificate of Business Name Registration (for sole proprietors)
- BIR Certificate of Registration (BIR Form 2303) showing your registered line of business
- Mayor's/Business Permit from your city or municipality
- Notarized application form with an undertaking to submit annual reportorial compliance
- Valid government-issued IDs of the company's authorized signatories
- Board Resolution or Secretary's Certificate naming your authorized representative (for corporations)
- Printed copy of your CPRS profile showing "STORED" status
Fees You Should Budget For
Plan your budget around these BOC-related costs so you are not caught off guard:
- CPRS registration: ₱1,000 one-time (₱1,000 discount available for BMBE-accredited exporters)
- Importer AMO accreditation: ₱5,050 under CAO 01-2026
- Notarization of your application form and undertaking: typically ₱150–₱500 depending on your notary public
- Courier or printing costs for submitting hard copies to your servicing BOC office
These fees are separate from the duties, taxes, and Value Added Tax (VAT) you will pay per actual shipment once you start importing or exporting.
Step 3: Submit, Wait for Verification, and Get Approved
After submitting your CPRS registration and (if applicable) your AMO accreditation application, BOC personnel will review your documents. If anything is incomplete or inconsistent — for example, your BIR-registered address doesn't match your Mayor's Permit address — expect delays while you're asked to submit corrections. Once everything checks out, your CPRS status is marked "STORED" and, for importers, your AMO accreditation is issued. From this point, you (or your licensed customs broker) can start filing import/export declarations under your company's name.
Renewing and Keeping Your Accreditation Active
CPRS registration and AMO accreditation are not "forever" approvals — BOC requires annual updates to keep your profile active. If you change your business address, add a new line of business, change your authorized signatory, or your ownership structure changes, you are required to report this to BOC immediately, not just at renewal time. Failing to update your profile can cause your CPRS status to lapse, which means your shipments can be held at the port until you fix your registration.
Common Mistakes That Delay Import/Export Approval
- Submitting a CPRS or AMO application with a business address that doesn't match your BIR or Mayor's Permit records
- Forgetting to notarize the application form and undertaking before submission
- Not updating CPRS after a change in company officers or business address
- Assuming exporters don't need any BOC registration at all — exporters still need CPRS even though they skip AMO accreditation
- Waiting until a shipment has already arrived at the port to start the registration process
After You're Accredited: Working With a Licensed Customs Broker
Once your CPRS and AMO accreditation are active, most businesses still work with a licensed customs broker to file their import/export declarations, compute duties and taxes, and coordinate with the port. Your accreditation is what allows the broker to file under your company's name — it does not replace the need for a broker unless you are trained and licensed yourself. Many first-time traders underestimate this step and are surprised that accreditation alone doesn't automatically clear their goods through customs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Every entity that transacts with the Bureau of Customs, whether importing or exporting, must register in the Client Profile Registration System (CPRS). Exporters are only exempt from the additional AMO accreditation required specifically for importers — they still need a CPRS profile marked "STORED" before BOC will process their export declarations.
Budget at least ₱6,050 in direct government fees: ₱1,000 for one-time CPRS registration plus ₱5,050 for AMO importer accreditation under CAO 01-2026. On top of that, add notarization fees (roughly ₱150–₱500) and any courier costs for submitting documents to your servicing BOC office. These fees do not include the actual duties and taxes you'll pay per shipment.
No. Government agencies are exempted from the AMO accreditation requirement imposed on private importers, but they are still required to register in CPRS so their transactions are recorded in BOC's trader database. This exemption does not extend to government-owned or -controlled corporations engaged in commercial importation, which are generally treated like private importers.
There's no single fixed number of days published by BOC, since processing time depends on how complete your documents are and the current workload of your servicing office. Applications with complete, consistent documents (matching addresses across your SEC/DTI, BIR, and Mayor's Permit) are approved much faster than incomplete ones, which get bounced back for correction — so double-check every document before submitting.
Sole proprietors can register. Instead of an SEC Certificate of Registration, a sole proprietor submits a DTI Certificate of Business Name Registration along with their BIR Certificate of Registration, Mayor's/Business Permit, and valid ID. The process and fees are the same regardless of business structure — what changes is which registration document (SEC vs. DTI) you present.
Your shipment can be held at the port and will not be released until you complete registration, and you may incur demurrage (storage) charges for every extra day your container sits uncollected. In practice, this means unregistered importers often end up paying more in penalties and storage fees than they would have spent simply registering before their goods arrived.
Yes, BOC requires annual updates to keep your CPRS profile active, and any change in your business circumstances — new address, new authorized signatory, change in business line — must be reported as soon as it happens, not just at renewal time. Letting your profile lapse can cause delays the next time you try to import or export.
You can complete CPRS registration and AMO accreditation yourself as the business owner or an authorized representative — a customs broker is not required for the registration step itself. However, most businesses still hire a licensed customs broker afterward to actually file import or export declarations and compute duties, since that part of the process requires specialized knowledge of tariff classification and customs procedures.
Conclusion
Getting your BOC import or export accreditation right the first time saves you from costly port delays and demurrage fees later on. Register early in CPRS, gather your SEC/DTI, BIR, and Mayor's Permit documents in advance, budget for the ₱1,000 CPRS and ₱5,050 AMO fees if you're importing, and keep your profile updated every year so your business stays cleared to trade.
