Q1. How to subscribe to online service of a trade document in Trade Single Window (TSW)?
Registered Users of the TSW can subscribe to the online services by logging into his/her TSW account, clicking the “Subscribe now” under the “Subscription” tab and following the instructions therein.
Q2. How long does it take to subscribe to online service of a trade document in Trade Single Window (TSW)?
Depending on the requirement of individual trade document, the required time for subscription varies –
For those trade documents which have no pre-requisite for subscription, the subscription shall take immediate effect and you may make online submission immediately after subscription.
For the others, the subscription shall take effect after the relevant Participating Government Agencies have verified and/or approved the required information and/or supporting documents.
Please note that the verification process may require about one to two working days. You may click here for details on the processing time of subscription to online services of individual trade documents.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
| Trade Documents (Available for Online Submission) | Verification Time required for Subscription |
|---|---|
| Combined application (for transhipment of pesticides) - (a) Import Licence for Pesticides; and (b) Export Licence for Pesticides | No verification is required |
| Combined application for (a) Licence to Export / Re-export for Endangered Species; and (b) Re-export Certificate for Species of non-CITES or not yet Controlled under Cap.586 | No verification is required |
| Export Licence for Pesticides | No verification is required |
| Import Licence for Pesticides | Within 1 working day |
| Import Permit (For Importation of Non-food mammals from the Chinese Mainland) | No verification is required |
| Import Permit (For the Importation of Animal Products) | No verification is required |
| Import Permit (For the Importation of Breeding Pigs from Chinese Mainland) | Within 2 working days |
| Import Permit (For the Importation of Pigs, Cattle, Sheep and Goats for Slaughter) | Within 2 working days |
| Licence to Export / Re-export for Endangered Species | No verification is required |
| Licence to Import for Endangered Species | No verification is required |
| Plant Import Licence | No verification is required |
| Re-export Certificate for Species of non-Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) or not yet Controlled under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) | No verification is required |
| Special Permit (For the Importation of Breeding Pigs from Overseas Countries/Places other than Chinese Mainland) | Within 2 working days |
| Special Permit (For the Importation/Transit/Transhipment of Animals & Birds) | No verification is required |
| Special Permit (For the Importation/Transit/Transhipment of Dogs and Cats from Overseas) | No verification is required |
| Special Permit (For the Importation/Transit/Transhipment of Food/Pet Reptiles) | No verification is required |
| Special Permit (For the Importation/Transit/Transhipment of Horses) | Within 2 working days |
| Toothfish Export Licence | No verification is required |
| Toothfish Import Licence | No verification is required |
| Toothfish Re-export Licence | No verification is required |
Civil Engineering and Development Department
| Trade Documents (Available for Online Submission) | Verification Time required for Subscription |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong Natural Sand Final User Certificate | No verification is required |
| Sand Removal Permit | No verification is required |
Customs and Excise Department
| Trade Documents (Available for Online Submission) | Verification Time required for Subscription |
|---|---|
| Authorization to Export Controlled Chemicals Note: Some controlled chemicals also require Export Licence issued by the Department of Health. Please refer to the Combined Application (for Import/Export of Pharmaceutical Raw Materials) - (a) Authorization to Import/Export Controlled Chemicals; and (b) Import/Export Licence for Pharmaceutical Products and Medicines for details. | Within 1 working day |
| Authorization to Import Controlled Chemicals Note: Some controlled chemicals also require Import Licence issued by the Department of Health. Please refer to the Combined Application (for Import/Export of Pharmaceutical Raw Materials) - (a) Authorization to Import/Export Controlled Chemicals; and (b) Import/Export Licence for Pharmaceutical Products and Medicines for details. | Within 1 working day |
| Certificate of Non-manipulation under Free Trade Agreement Transhipment Facilitation Scheme | No verification is required |
| Certification of Non-U.S. Frozen Chicken Products Transhipped to the Chinese Mainland through Hong Kong | No verification is required |
| Combined Application (for Export of Pharmaceutical Raw Materials) - (a) Authorization to Export Controlled Chemicals; and (b) Export Licence for Pharmaceutical Products and Medicines | Within 2 working days |
| Combined Application (for Import of Pharmaceutical Raw Materials) - (a) Authorization to Import Controlled Chemicals; and (b) Import Licence for Pharmaceutical Products and Medicines | Within 2 working days |
| Combined application for (a) TRA 187 (Form 3) Import Licence; and (b) CED 372 Application for Import Licence for Optical Disc Mastering and Replication Equipment | No verification is required |
| Combined application for (a) TRA 394 (Form 6) Export Licence; and (b) CED 373 Application for Export Licence for Optical Disc Mastering and Replication Equipment | No verification is required |
| Declaration Form for Cross-boundary Transportation of Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments (CBNIs) | No verification is required |
| Import and Export Statements for Dutiable Commodities | No verification is required |
| Permit to Remove Controlled Chemicals in Transhipment | No verification is required |
| Transhipment Notification for Optical Disc Mastering and Replication Equipment | No verification is required |
Department of Health
| Trade Documents (Available for Online Submission) | Verification Time required for Subscription |
|---|---|
| Authorization to Export Controlled Chemicals Note: Some controlled chemicals also require Export Licence issued by the Department of Health. Please refer to the Combined Application (for Import/Export of Pharmaceutical Raw Materials) - (a) Authorization to Import/Export Controlled Chemicals; and (b) Import/Export Licence for Pharmaceutical Products and Medicines for details. | Within 1 working day |
| Authorization to Import Controlled Chemicals Note: Some controlled chemicals also require Import Licence issued by the Department of Health. Please refer to the Combined Application (for Import/Export of Pharmaceutical Raw Materials) - (a) Authorization to Import/Export Controlled Chemicals; and (b) Import/Export Licence for Pharmaceutical Products and Medicines for details. | Within 1 working day |
| Combined Application (for Export of Pharmaceutical Raw Materials) - (a) Authorization to Export Controlled Chemicals; and (b) Export Licence for Pharmaceutical Products and Medicines | Within 2 working days |
| Combined Application (for Import of Pharmaceutical Raw Materials) - (a) Authorization to Import Controlled Chemicals; and (b) Import Licence for Pharmaceutical Products and Medicines | Within 2 working days |
| Diversion Licence for Dangerous Drugs | No verification is required |
| Import Licence for Radioactive Substances and Irradiating Apparatus | One clear working day |
| Import/Export Licence and Import Certificate for Dangerous Drugs | No verification is required |
| Import/Export Licence for Pharmaceutical Products and Medicines | No verification is required |
| Import/Export Licence of Chinese Herbal Medicines | *Automatic verification |
| Import/Export Licence of Proprietary Chinese Medicines | *Automatic verification |
| Import/Transhipment Permit for Biological Materials | No verification is required |
| Removal Licence for Dangerous Drugs | No verification is required |
*Certain applications of subscription would be verified by the Department of Health within two working days.
Environmental Protection Department
| Trade Documents (Available for Online Submission) | Verification Time required for Subscription |
|---|---|
| Combined Application (for Import of Methyl Bromide) - (a) Import Licence (Ozone Depleting Substances and Hydrofluorocarbons); and (b) Import Licence for Pesticides (for Methyl Bromide) | Within 2 working days |
| Combined Application (for Transhipment of Methyl Bromide) - (a) Import and Export Licence (for Transhipment of Ozone Depleting Substances and Hydrofluorocarbons); (b) Import Licence for Pesticides (for Methyl Bromide); and (c) Export Licence for Pesticides (for Methyl Bromide) | Within 2 working days |
| Export Licence (Ozone Depleting Substances and Hydrofluorocarbons) | Within 2 working days |
| Export Licence for Scheduled Chemicals | Within 2 working days |
| Import Licence (Ozone Depleting Substances and Hydrofluorocarbons) | Within 2 working days |
| Import Licence for Scheduled Chemicals | Within 2 working days |
| Import and Export Licence (for Transhipment of Ozone Depleting Substances and Hydrofluorocarbons) | Within 2 working days |
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
| Trade Documents (Available for Online Submission) | Verification Time required for Subscription |
|---|---|
| Food Inspection Certificate | No verification is required |
| Health Certificate for Foods of Animal Origin | No verification is required |
| Import Licence for Frozen/Chilled Meat or Poultry | No verification is required |
| Import Permission for Milk and Milk Beverages/Cream/Frozen Confections | No verification is required |
| Import Permission for Raw Milk | No verification is required |
| Permission for Import of Eggs | No verification is required |
| Permission for Import of Game | No verification is required |
| Permission for Import of Meat (including Prohibited Meat) (Applicable to holding with Export Declaration issued by eligible EU member state/United Kingdom) | No verification is required |
| Permission for Import of Meat or Poultry (Applicable to import for re-export to the Chinese Mainland/Macau) | No verification is required |
| Permission for Import of Prohibited Meat (Applicable to holding Health Certificate issued by eligible country/place) | No verification is required |
Office of the Communications Authority
| Trade Documents (Available for Online Submission) | Verification Time required for Subscription |
|---|---|
| Export Permit for Radiocommunications Transmitting Apparatus | No verification is required |
| Import Permit for Radiocommunications Transmitting Apparatus | No verification is required |
| Transhipment Notification for Radiocommunications Transmitting Apparatus | No verification is required |
Trade and Industry Department
| Trade Documents (Available for Online Submission) | Verification Time required for Subscription |
|---|---|
| Import/Export Licence for Rice | No verification is required |
| Kimberley Process Certificate (Import/Export) | Within 1 working day |
| Strategic Commodities Import/Export Licence | Registered E-Account users: No verification is required Non E-Account users: 2.5 working days[1] |
[1] Complicated cases may take longer time to process.
Q3. Do I need to provide any supporting documents for subscription in Trade Single Window?
Please click here to see the required supporting documents for subscription for Licence/Permit
Please click here to see the required supporting documents for subscription for bundling.
Supporting document is not required for subsciption of Advanced Cargo Information.
Q4. Why Registered Users of the Trade Single Window could not subscribe services?
There are few possible reasons:
- You have modified your user profile account information (with symbol #) which verification is required. During the verification period, subscription to some online services will be suspended.
- Your company/organisation administrator has modified company/organisation profile account information (with symbol #) which verification is required. During the verification period, subscription to some online services will be suspended.
Q5. What is the meaning of different status of subscription?
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Subscribed | You are subscribing the service. |
| Processing | The subscription request is under processing. |
| Pending | The subscription request is waiting for your action (e.g. account link-up). |
| Not granted | The subscription request is rejected. |
| Unsubscribed | You have cancelled the subscription of the service. |