Freight forwarding and representation in customs proceedings

An unqualified (free) trade (field no. 53) for freight forwarding (forwarding) services and representing clients in customs proceedings. It does not require any professional qualification - the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act are enough, and the authorisation arises on the day of notification.

Examples of activities

• forwarding and organising the transport of goods
• freight forwarding (concluding transport contracts in one's own name on the principal's account)
• drawing up and submitting a customs declaration
• direct and indirect representation in customs proceedings
• arranging the loading, unloading and transhipment of consignments
• arranging consignment insurance and handling transport documents
• consultancy in the area of international transport and customs clearance
• communicating with the customs office on behalf of an importer or exporter

What this trade is and what it is for

The trade "Freight forwarding and representation in customs proceedings" is field no. 53 within the single unqualified (free) trade (Annex 4 to the Trade Licensing Act, Act No. 455/1991 Coll.). It covers two interconnected areas.

The first is freight forwarding (forwarding) - in your own name and on your principal's account, you arrange the transport of goods from place to place. As a rule you do not drive the freight vehicle yourself; you are the organiser who arranges the transport through carriers, draws up the route and arranges loading, insurance and documents. The forwarding contract is governed by the Civil Code (Section 2471 et seq. of Act No. 89/2012 Coll.).

The second area is representation in customs proceedings. On behalf of the importer or exporter, you deal with the customs office, fill in and submit customs declarations and handle the formalities for the import, export and transit of goods.

The authorisation arises on the very day of notification at the Trade Licensing Office (Section 10(1) of the Trade Licensing Act), so you can start doing business practically immediately.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

Field no. 53 typically covers:

• organising and arranging the transport of goods (forwarding), both domestic and international,
• concluding transport contracts in the name of the forwarder on the principal's account,
• drawing up and electronically submitting a customs declaration,
• direct and indirect representation of the client in customs proceedings,
• arranging the loading, unloading, transhipment and temporary storage of consignments,
• arranging consignment insurance and handling transport documentation.

Where the boundaries are. If you want to physically transport goods yourself by lorries over 3.5 tonnes by road, this is no longer this unqualified trade but licensed (concession) road motor transport (a separate authorisation with professional qualification). Warehousing and packaging of goods as a separate service falls under the neighbouring field no. 52 (Warehousing, packaging of goods, cargo handling and technical activities in transport). And the rules on who may act as a customs representative, and how, follow from customs regulations (the Customs Act and the Union Customs Code) - these are assessed alongside the trade licence, not instead of it.

Conditions for obtaining it under the law

Because this is an unqualified (free) trade, qualification is not documented. You do not need an apprenticeship certificate, a diploma or experience in the field. It is enough to meet only the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act:

• full legal capacity - Section 6(1)(a) (usually reaching the age of 18; a court may grant it to a minor),
• a clean criminal record - Section 6(1)(b); the Office obtains the extract from the Criminal Records Register itself under Section 6(3).

The law stipulates no further professional prerequisites for this trade - that is the main advantage of an unqualified trade.

Responsible representative. If you do business as a legal person or operate the trade through another person, a responsible representative is appointed under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act. They are responsible for the proper operation of the trade and must themselves meet the general conditions under Section 6. One person may at the same time be a responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

1. Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF). In the object of business you choose the unqualified trade and select field no. 53. In the same form you can notify other fields of the unqualified trade at once - for a single administrative fee (Section 45a of the Trade Licensing Act).
2. Submit the notification under Section 45 of the Trade Licensing Act. The options are: in person at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or via a Czech POINT contact point.
3. Submit the required information. Identity, and where applicable a document on the appointment of the responsible representative and consent to the location of the registered office. The Office verifies the clean criminal record itself.
4. Pay the fee. Notifying the trade costs CZK 1,000, or only CZK 800 for electronic filing.
5. Wait for the registration. The Trade Licensing Office enters you in the Trade Register within 5 working days of receiving the notification and issues an extract (Section 47(1)).

You can find the detailed general procedure in the guide Jak založit živnost.

Documents and fees

• Documents: identity document; for a responsible representative, a document on their appointment; a document proving the right to use the premises stated as the registered office.
• Professional qualification: not documented (an unqualified trade).
• Fee for notification: CZK 1,000, electronically CZK 800 (the schedule of fees - Act No. 634/2004 Coll.).
• Extension by a further field of the unqualified trade: CZK 0 (free of charge).
• Registration deadline: within 5 working days of notification.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to document education or experience for this trade?

No. This is an unqualified (free) trade for which professional qualification is not required. It is enough to meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act - full legal capacity and a clean criminal record.

Can I deliver goods by lorry myself under this trade?

Not within this trade. Transporting goods by lorries over 3.5 tonnes on its own is licensed (concession) road motor transport. This trade covers the organisation of transport (forwarding) and representation in customs proceedings, not own road transport by heavy vehicles.

Does this trade entitle me to be a customs representative?

The trade licence is the basis, but the rules of customs regulations (the Customs Act and the Union Customs Code) also apply to performing customs representation. Verify the specific conditions for dealing with the customs office with the competent customs office.

How much does it cost to add a further field of the unqualified trade?

Nothing. According to the schedule of administrative fees, extending the unqualified trade by a further field is free of charge (CZK 0). You just notify the change to the Trade Licensing Office.

When can I start doing business?

With an unqualified trade the authorisation arises on the very day of notification. The Office issues the extract from the Trade Register within 5 working days.

Sources

• Act No. 455/1991 Coll., on Trade Licensing (the Trade Licensing Act)
• Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT)