Overview of Customs Authorized Economic Operator (AEO)
A) Privileges:
| Sl No | Category | AEO-T1 | AEO-T2 | AEO-T3 |
| 01 | Benefits | - | Higher level of facilitation > AEO -T1 | Highest level of facilitation > AEO-T2 |
| 02 | Shorter Cargo Release time | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 03 | Direct Port Delivery/ Direct Port Entry (depends on the volume/no of containers) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 04 | In case DPD / DPE not opted, seal verification / scrutiny of Documents will be waived | No | Yes | Yes |
| 05 | Scanning of Containers | - | High Priority | NA for scanning (if selected on any specific intelligence, will be given highest priority) |
| 06 | Facility of deferred payment of duty will be provided, from a date to be notified | No | Yes | Yes |
| 07 | Faster disbursal of drawback amount within 72 hours of EGM submission, from a date to be notified | No | Yes | Yes |
| 08 | The BEs/SBs selected for Assessment and/or Examination will be processed on priority by the Customs officers. | No | Yes | Yes |
| 09 | Facility of self -sealing of export goods would be allowed without the requirement to seek case to case base permission from the authorities | No | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | Faster completion of Special Valuation Branch (‘SVB’) proceedings in case of related party imports and monitoring of such cases for time bound disposal in terms of new guidelines | No | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | Bank Guarantee (Not applicable for release of Seized goods) | 50 % of actual amount without AEO | 25 % of actual amount without AEO | Not Applicable |
| 12 | Facility to paste MRP stickers in their premises. | No | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | Regular Transactional PCA (Post Clearance Audit) | Once in 2 years | Once in 3 years | on request |
| 14 | Access to Import/ Export Data from ICEGATE | No | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | Facility for submission of paperless declarations | No | Yes | Yes |
| 16 | Dedicated Client Relationship Manager at the level of Deputy / Assistant Commissioner, for quick resolution of operational issues | No | Yes | Yes |
| 17 | The refund/Rebate of Customs/Central Excise duty and Service Tax on will be granted within | regular timeline | 45 days | 30 days |
| 18 | Will get trade facilitation by a foreign Customs administration with whom India enters into a Mutual Recognition Agreement/Arrangement. | No | Yes | Yes |
| 19 | Hassel free entry to Customs Houses, CFSs and ICDs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 20 | Separate space earmarked in Custodian's premise | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 21 | Investigation time with respect to Customs, Central Excise and Service tax cases | 6 to 9 months | Higher Priority | Highest Priority |
| 22 | Dispute Resolution time at level of adjudicating authority | 6 months | Higher Priority | Highest Priority |
| 23 | Email notifications regarding arrival / departure of the vessel carrying their consignments | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24 | 24/7 clearances on request at all seaports and airports | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 25 | No Merchant Overtime fee (MOT) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 26 | The assessing/examining custom officer will rely on the self-certified copies of documents submitted by them without insisting upon original documents. | No | No | Yes |
| 27 | An approach based on Risk based interventions, in case of requirements originating from the Acts administered by other Government. Agencies/Departments, will be adopted for providing better facilitation in imports and export of their consignments. | No | No | Yes |
| 28 | Advance Authorisation under this scheme on self-declaration and self-ratification basis | Yes | Yes | Yes |
B) Primary Eligibility Criteria:
| Sl No | Category | AEO-T1 | AEO-T2 | AEO-T3 |
| 01 | Granted to | Exporter or Importer | Exporter or Importer | Exporter or Importer |
| 02 | Involved in international supply chain that undertakes Customs activity in India | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 03 | Business activities should have for at least three financial years preceding to the date of application * | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 04 | Business entity should have handled at least 25 shipments either Bill of Entries or Shipping Bills during the last financial year | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05 | Should not be no Show Cause Notice issued during the last three financial years involving fraud, forgery, outright smuggling, clandestine removal of excisable goods or cases where Service Tax has been collected from customers but not deposited to the Govt. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
*Exceptional cases may allow new established business entity.
C) Post Certification Provisions:
| Sl No | Category | AEO-T1 | AEO-T2 | AEO-T3 |
| 01 | Validity | 3 years | 3 years | 5 years |
| 02 | Renewal (Maximum by) | within 30 days of lapse of validity | within 60 days of lapse of validity | within 90 days of lapse of validity |
| 03 |
Revisions/ Corrections (maximum by)
|
Intimated to AEO Programme Team within 14 days of change taking place | ||
| 04 | If the legal entity changed by the AEO holder | Need to obtain fresh certificate | Need to obtain fresh certificate | Need to obtain fresh certificate |
| 05 | Review of AEO Status by AEO Programme team | for every 2 years | for every 3 years | for every 5 years |
| 06 |
Suspension or downgrading of AEO Status:
|
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sl No | Benifits | Logistics Service Providers | Custodians or Terminal Operators | Customs Agents | Warehouse Operators |
| 01 | Exemption from Furnishing Bank Guarantee | Yes (in case of Trans-shipment of Goods) | Yes | Yes | No |
| 02 | Facility of Execution of Running Bond | Yes | No | No | No |
| 03 | Exemption from case-to-case permission for transit of Goods where no segregation of cargo is done | Yes | No | No | No |
| 04 | Extension of approval | No | for 10 years, under “Handling of cargo in Customs Area Regulation 2009”. | No | No |
| 05 | Extended Validity | No | No | Till AEO status is valid | No |
| 06 | Renewal Fee Waiver | No | No | Yes | No |
| 07 |
Faster Approval for New warehouses Within 7 days from submission of Documents Waiver of antecedent verification for grant of License for warehouse Waiver from Solvency Certificate requirement Waiver of security for obtaining extension of warehousing period Waiver of security for warehousing of sensitive goods |
No | No | No | Yes |