Non-Automatic License

Non-Automatic License refers to a license that the government of an importing country requires importers to apply for and obtain approval from a designated authority before importing certain specific goods. Unlike automatic licenses, non-automatic licenses are not issued automatically but are approved on grounds such as quantitative restrictions, import quotas, technical standards, or national security, and therefore serve to restrict imports. Application scenarios mainly include: import control of sensitive goods (such as weapons, pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, and textiles), or temporary restrictions imposed to protect domestic industries. Points to note: enterprises need to understand the license requirements of the target market in advance, allow sufficient time for application, and ensure that application materials are authentic and complete; otherwise, they may face risks such as cargo detention, fines, or return shipment. The difference from automatic licenses is that automatic licenses are used only for statistical monitoring and are approved upon application, whereas non-automatic licenses require substantive review and may be rejected. In addition, non-automatic licenses are often used in conjunction with quota management and license bidding. Enterprises should pay attention to policy changes to avoid trade disruption caused by license issues.