No License Required to Be An Importer
Good news! In the United States, you generally don’t need any special license or training certification to become an importer or start an importing business.
As you complete the paperwork to clear products through customs, you will be asked to provide your “importer number” which will be either your business Federal Tax ID number or your Social Security Number if you don’t have a Federal Tax ID. If you don’t have a Social Security Number, you can apply for an importer number through the local port authority where you will be entering your goods. This importer number is used to identify all your trade activities in the U.S.
Special Licenses or Permits Required for Some Products
Some specific items imported do require a special license or permit from various government agencies; these items include food products; alcohol; plant, animal, and dairy products; prescription medications; trademarked items such as name-brand shoes, handbags, luggage, golf clubs, and toys; and copyrighted items such as CDs, DVDs and tapes.
Contact your customs broker to discuss the product you are expecting to import, and he can easily outline any special licenses or permits which will be required. You can also visit the U.S. Customs & Border Protection website for further information on the types of licenses or permits needed for specific product categories.
