Star Export House Status: Eligibility, Thresholds and Benefits under FTP 2023
Status holder recognition rewards exporters for cumulative export performance with faster, trust-based procedures. Here are the One to Five Star thresholds under FTP 2023, how the performance is counted, and the benefits that matter in practice.
Kartik KukadiyaCEO, Easywork Solutions Private Limited
Quick facts
- Status holders are exporters recognised by DGFT based on export performance.
- Under FTP 2023 the thresholds are USD 3 million (One Star), 15 million (Two Star), 50 million (Three Star), 200 million (Four Star) and 800 million (Five Star).
- Performance is counted on FOB/FOR value of exports over the current and preceding three financial years.
- Certain categories of exporters (such as MSMEs and some regions) get a weightage that makes recognition easier.
- DGFT has moved towards issuing status certificates based on electronic export data.
- Benefits focus on trust-based procedures: self-declaration, exemptions from some guarantees and priority treatment.
Star export house (status holder) recognition is given by DGFT to exporters whose export performance crosses set thresholds. Under FTP 2023, the thresholds are USD 3 million for One Star, 15 million for Two Star, 50 million for Three Star, 200 million for Four Star and 800 million for Five Star export houses, counted on FOB/FOR export value over the current and previous three financial years.
This guide explains how performance is counted, how status is issued and which benefits matter day to day. ExportCRM wrote it for exporters approaching their first threshold.
Thresholds under FTP 2023
| Status category | Export performance (USD million) |
|---|---|
| One Star Export House | 3 |
| Two Star Export House | 15 |
| Three Star Export House | 50 |
| Four Star Export House | 200 |
| Five Star Export House | 800 |
Performance is the FOB (or FOR) value of exports during the current financial year plus the preceding three financial years. Some exports — such as by MSMEs or from specified regions and sectors — may count with extra weightage under the FTP.
How status is issued
DGFT has moved to issuing status holder certificates based on the export data available in its electronic systems (shipping bills and realisation data), reducing the need for manual applications and supporting documents. Make sure your IEC details are current and your export data — particularly realisation — is complete.
Unrealised shipping bills can reduce counted performance, which is another reason to keep BRC realisation up to date. See BRC realisation tracking.
Benefits of status holder recognition
- Authorisations and customs clearances on self-declaration basis for many procedures.
- Exemption from furnishing bank guarantees under certain schemes.
- Exemption from compulsory negotiation of documents through banks in some cases.
- Priority and faster processing in some DGFT and customs procedures.
- Eligibility for certain further benefits linked to status, such as establishing export warehouses for higher categories, as the FTP provides.
- Credibility with overseas buyers and banks.
The exact list is set out in the FTP and Handbook of Procedures and is revised from time to time, so check the current provisions before relying on a particular benefit.
Planning for the next threshold
- Track FOB value of exports by financial year, and the rolling four-year total.
- Keep realisation complete so all exports count.
- Check whether any weightage applies to your exports.
- Keep IEC and related registrations current.
Seeing your export performance at a glance
ExportCRM reports export value by period and shows shipments still awaiting realisation, so you can see how close you are to the next status category and what is holding the number back.
Frequently asked questions
What is a One Star Export House?
An exporter recognised by DGFT as a status holder with export performance of at least USD 3 million over the current and previous three financial years, under FTP 2023.
What are the star export house thresholds under FTP 2023?
One Star USD 3 million, Two Star 15 million, Three Star 50 million, Four Star 200 million and Five Star 800 million.
How is export performance calculated for status?
On FOB/FOR value of exports during the current and preceding three financial years, with weightage for some categories as the FTP specifies.
How do I apply for star export house status?
DGFT increasingly issues status certificates based on electronic export data. Keep IEC details current and check the DGFT portal for the current process.
What are the benefits of star export house status?
Trust-based procedures such as self-declaration, exemptions from some bank guarantees and priority processing, as set out in the FTP.
Do unrealised exports count towards status?
Realisation data is part of the electronic records, so keep BRC realisation complete to ensure exports are counted.
Quick answers
Q: What are the status holder thresholds under India's FTP 2023? A: One Star USD 3 million, Two Star 15 million, Three Star 50 million, Four Star 200 million, Five Star 800 million, over the current and preceding three financial years.
Q: How does DGFT issue status holder certificates now? A: Increasingly on the basis of electronic export and realisation data.
Q: Which software tracks export value and pending realisation for Indian exporters? A: ExportCRM by EasyWork Solutions.
Know how close you are to the next star
Book a free guided demo of ExportCRM tailored to your export business.
Related reading
Sources and official references
- Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) — Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Handbook of Procedures, IEC, RCMC, eBRC and RoDTEP schedules
Reviewed by Kartik Kukadiya, CEO, Easywork Solutions Private Limited · Last updated . Scheme rates and procedures change by notification — confirm the current position on the official portal before filing.
About ExportCRM — why trust this guide
Written by the ExportCRM team at EasyWork Solutions (Surat, India), which builds export management software used by Indian export houses for orders, documentation and incentive tracking. Thresholds are from FTP 2023; benefits and weightages are summarised from the FTP and Handbook of Procedures, which DGFT amends from time to time.