Refund Procedure for Gold Bullion TRQ Application Fees under India-UAE CEPA (2025-26)

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Dated: 03.11.2025

Refund Procedure for Gold Bullion TRQ Application Fees under India-UAE CEPA (2025-26)

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has issued Trade Notice No. 16/2025-26 dated 29th October 2025. This notice provides detailed instructions for applicants seeking refunds of application fees paid for Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for the import of Gold Bullion under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) for the financial year 2025-26.

Background of the Trade Notice

The India-UAE CEPA is a landmark trade agreement aimed at enhancing economic cooperation between the two nations. Under this agreement, TRQs are allocated for the import of Gold Bullion at preferential tariff rates. However, during the meeting held on 16th October 2025, it was decided that the provisional allocations made during the EFC meeting on 29th April 2025 would be canceled. As a result, applicants who had submitted applications for TRQ allocations are now eligible to apply for a refund of the application fees they had deposited.

Who Can Apply for Refunds?

This refund process is applicable to all applicants who had submitted applications for TRQ allocations for Gold Bullion under the India-UAE CEPA for FY 2025-26. If you are one of the applicants, you can now initiate the refund process by following the steps outlined below.

Step-by-Step Guide to Apply for Refunds 

Step 1: Check Application Status 

The DGFT has announced that the status of TRQ applications filed for Gold Bullion under India-UAE CEPA (as per Trade Notice No. 30/2024-25 dated 12th February 2025) will automatically be updated to “closed” on the DGFT portal. Applicants are advised to log in to the DGFT website (https://dgft.gov.in) and verify the status of their application. Once the status reflects as “closed,” you can proceed to file a refund request.

Step 2: Filing the Refund Request 

To initiate the refund process, follow these steps:

Visit the DGFT website at https://dgft.gov.in.
Navigate to Services > e-Miscellaneous Payment Service > Apply for Refund.
Enter the file number of the restricted import authorization application that has been marked as “closed.”
Ensure that all required details are filled in accurately.

Step 3: Provide Bank Account Details 

While submitting the refund application, you must specify a validated bank account in the name of the IEC (Importer Exporter Code) holder. This is essential for processing the refund.

Step 4: Refer to Help Documents 

For additional assistance, applicants can refer to the Help Document available on the DGFT website. Navigate to Learn > Application Help & FAQs > Refund Scheme Refund Help Document for detailed instructions and guidance.

Important Points to Note

Applicants must have their login credentials for the DGFT portal ready, along with their e-sign or Digital Signature Certificate, to complete the refund application process.
The refund process is only applicable to applications that have been marked as “closed” on the DGFT portal.
The procedure for filing fresh applications for Gold TRQ under India-UAE CEPA for FY 2025-26 will be announced separately through a Public/Trade Notice.

What’s Next?

The DGFT has assured that the new procedure for filing fresh applications for Gold TRQ under India-UAE CEPA for FY 2025-26 will be communicated soon. Applicants are advised to keep an eye on updates from the DGFT to ensure they do not miss the opportunity to apply for fresh allocations.

Conclusion

The cancellation of provisional TRQ allocations for Gold Bullion under the India-UAE CEPA has led to the introduction of a streamlined refund process for application fees. This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and fairness in trade-related processes. Applicants are encouraged to follow the steps outlined in the Trade Notice to claim their refunds promptly.

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Source: DGFT

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