WhatsApp quoteGoldenKey handles Import / Export Code for the companies we form and for businesses that come to us later, so the process is routine for our tax team. Getting Import / Export Code right at the start avoids penalties that are easy to trigger and tedious to appeal. Put simply, printing & Packaging in Import / Export Code means commercial printing, signage, labels and packaging production, and it is licensed as an industrial activity. Typical examples of this activity include digital printing, signage, label printing and packaging manufacturing, which can usually sit together on one Import / Export Code licence.
Why Import / Export Code
As a rule, the steps for Import / Export Code are: apply on the Dubai Trade or relevant customs portal, upload licence and authorised signatory documents, pay the registration fee and then link the code to your freight forwarder. GoldenKey prepares the EmaraTax submission for Import / Export Code, uploads the documents and follows up with the FTA until the certificate is released. For printing & packaging, Import / Export Code offers the office options such a business actually needs and a visa quota that can grow with the team.
How Import / Export Code works with GoldenKey
Step 1Assessment
GoldenKey checks your position against the thresholds for Import / Export Code and advises when to register.
Step 2EmaraTax setup
GoldenKey opens or accesses your EmaraTax account and links the licence, signatory and bank details needed for Import / Export Code. Your portal shows the status of this step for import / export code for a printing and packaging company in real time.
Step 3Application
GoldenKey fills the FTA submission for Import / Export Code and uploads the licence, IDs and turnover evidence.
Step 4Certificate and compliance calendar
The FTA issues your registration certificate and we add the filing and payment dates to your compliance calendar. This is also the point at which we answer any question specific to import / export code for a printing and packaging company.
Documents required
From day one, for import / export code for a printing and packaging company the authority asks for the following documents, and we tell you exactly how each must be formatted.
- Trade licence and certificate of incorporation
- Memorandum of association showing shareholders
- Passport and Emirates ID of the authorised signatory
- Customs code and import records where applicable
- Turnover evidence such as invoices, contracts or financial statements
- Bank account letter or IBAN certificate
Pricing
Pricing for import / export code for a printing and packaging company depends on the package you choose; every option below includes GoldenKey's service and the government fees stated. On the ground, all prices for import / export code for a printing and packaging company are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing ahead of payment.
| GoldenKey service fee | AED 2,000 |
|---|
Dubai Customs or respective emirate customs code for trade activity
Request this servicePrices are indicative, in AED, exclusive of 5% VAT where applicable, and confirmed in writing before payment. Last updated 2026-10-05.
Why the UAE
There are no restrictions on repatriating profits or capital, so earnings from import / export code for a printing and packaging company can be moved to your home country or reinvested freely. English is the working language of business, contracts are routinely drafted in English, and government portals are bilingual, which simplifies import / export code for a printing and packaging company for international entrepreneurs.
Why GoldenKey
Our quotations for import / export code for a printing and packaging company list every government fee and our service fee on one page, in writing, before you pay anything. GoldenKey's consultants have handled import / export code for a printing and packaging company for traders, consultants, tech founders and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves quickly. Just as important, we will tell you plainly if Import / Export Code is not the right choice for your plan and point you to a better option, even when that option costs less.
Prefer to visit? Our Ajman office welcomes walk-ins during working hours, and we can also meet you in Dubai or Sharjah by appointment to discuss import / export code for a printing and packaging company.
Frequently asked questions
Can GoldenKey act as my tax agent?
Yes. GoldenKey can prepare and submit filings on your behalf and handle FTA correspondence, so you have one point of contact for licence, visa and tax matters.
Is Import / Export Code mandatory for a free zone company?
Yes. Free zone traders need a customs code to move goods in and out of the zone, and a separate mainland importer code if they sell into the UAE market.
Does Import / Export Code apply to a new company with no revenue yet?
As a rule, the customs code is needed before the first shipment, so new traders apply as soon as the licence is granted.
Is printing & packaging allowed in Import / Export Code?
Day to day, import / Export Code applies to a printing and packaging company businesses on the same basis as any other UAE company: any company that physically imports or exports goods, whether mainland or free zone.
Can I combine printing & packaging with other activities?
As we tell every client, in most cases yes. Related activities can share one licence, while unrelated ones may need a general trading licence or a second licence.
