2026 FMC OTI License Renewal: July 31 Deadline and Bond Compliance Checklist

Release time：07.21.2026

2026 FMC OTI License Renewal: July 31 Deadline and Bond Compliance Checklist

Updated July 21, 2026

Certain licensed Ocean Transportation Intermediaries may have an FMC license renewal deadline of July 31, 2026.

Under the Federal Maritime Commission’s renewal schedule, licensed NVOCCs and ocean freight forwarders whose license numbers have:

• A second-to-last digit of 1, 2, or 3; and
• A final digit of 7

are generally scheduled for renewal by the last day of July 2026.

Each company should confirm its exact deadline through the FMC’s official OTI List rather than relying only on the number pattern.

Quick Answer

FMC-issued OTI licenses must be renewed periodically.

After the initial renewal period, subsequent renewals are generally due every three years. The renewal year is determined by the second-to-last digit of the license number, while the renewal month is determined by the final digit.

For 2026:

• Second-to-last digit 1, 2, or 3 indicates a 2026 renewal year.
• Final digit 7 indicates a July deadline.
• The scheduled filing date is the last day of July.

The FMC states that there is no fee for an OTI license renewal.

Who Should Check for a July 31, 2026 Deadline?

The July schedule applies to licensed Ocean Transportation Intermediaries, including:

• Licensed Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carriers
• Licensed ocean freight forwarders
• Foreign-based NVOCCs that have obtained an FMC-issued license

It does not apply in exactly the same way to foreign-based NVOCCs operating only under an FMC registration.

A foreign-based unlicensed registered NVOCC generally renews its registration every three years through the Form FMC-65 renewal process and should verify the date shown in the FMC OTI List.

How the FMC License Renewal Schedule Works

The FMC uses the final two digits of the license number to organize renewal deadlines.

Renewal Month

Final digit	Renewal month
1	January
2	February
3	March
4	April
5	May
6	June
7	July
8	August
9	September
0	October

Renewal Year

Second-to-last digit	Scheduled renewal years
1, 2, or 3	2026, 2029, 2032, 2035
4, 5, or 6	2027, 2030, 2033, 2036
7, 8, 9, or 0	2028, 2031, 2034, 2037

The initial renewal period may differ because it can fall between 12 and 48 months after the initial effective date. For that reason, the OTI List and the FMC renewal notice should be treated as the primary references for the company’s actual deadline.

What Should an OTI Expect Before Renewal?

The FMC states that license renewal notices are generally sent by email approximately 100 days before the deadline.

The notice should contain:

• A username
• A password
• A link to the license renewal system

The licensee may complete the renewal directly or assign the process to a third party, such as an attorney or FMC practitioner.

The renewal system presents pre-populated company information that the licensee must confirm or update.

If the company did not receive a notice, it should check whether the FMC has a current email address on file and verify the deadline through the official OTI List.

FMC License Renewal and FMC Bond Compliance Are Separate

License renewal and bond compliance are related, but they are not the same task.

Completing an OTI license renewal does not eliminate the requirement to maintain continuous proof of financial responsibility.

Licensed ocean freight forwarders generally need $50,000 in financial responsibility.

U.S.-based licensed NVOCCs and licensed foreign-based NVOCCs generally need $75,000.

Foreign-based registered NVOCCs operating without an FMC-issued license generally need $150,000.

Before submitting a renewal, the company should confirm that its bond remains active and that the bond information matches the FMC records.

2026 FMC Renewal and Bond Checklist

1. Confirm the Exact Renewal Deadline

Search the FMC OTI List using:

• Legal company name
• Trade name
• FMC organization number
• OTI license number

Confirm whether the company is shown as active and review the listed renewal date.

2. Review the FMC Renewal Email

Locate the renewal notice and confirm that the login credentials and renewal link work.

Do not assume that the company has no renewal requirement simply because the email was not received. Spam filters, outdated contact information, and employee changes may prevent the notice from reaching the correct person.

3. Verify the Exact Legal Name

Compare the legal name across:

• FMC license records
• Bond documents
• Corporate registration documents
• Form FMC-1 records
• Published tariff
• Customer contracts
• Bills of lading
• Bank and payment records

Even minor differences in punctuation, abbreviations, or suffixes may create questions during a compliance review.

4. Confirm All Trade Names

Review any trade name, assumed name, brand name, or “doing business as” name used in U.S. ocean transportation activities.

A trade name used on shipping documents or customer-facing materials should be consistent with the company’s regulatory records.

5. Check the Business Address

If the company’s address has changed, the FMC may require updated records.

The FMC’s current guidance states that an address change should be supported by a bond rider submitted by the surety company.

The company should coordinate the address update with the surety rather than changing only the address shown in its internal records.

6. Review the Qualifying Individual

Licensed OTIs should confirm that the qualifying individual information remains accurate.

Changes involving a qualifying individual may require Form FMC-18 and should not be handled only through a routine contact information update.

7. Review the Business Structure

Changes involving a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, ownership structure, merger, conversion, or other corporate reorganization may affect the license and bond.

The FMC identifies changes to the qualifying individual, company name, business structure, and licensed authority as matters that may require Form FMC-18.

8. Confirm the Bond Is Active

Contact the broker, surety provider, or compliance administrator and verify:

• Bond number
• Principal’s legal name
• Trade names
• Bond amount
• Effective date
• Business address
• Surety company
• FMC filing status
• Any applicable riders
• Whether a cancellation notice has been issued

Do not rely solely on an internal invoice or payment record. Confirm that the financial responsibility filing remains acceptable to the FMC.

9. Review Form FMC-1 and Tariff Information

NVOCCs operating in U.S. trades generally need an active tariff and accurate Form FMC-1 information.

Confirm that:

• The tariff publication location is current
• The legal name matches FMC records
• Trade names are correctly shown
• The tariff remains accessible
• Rates, charges, rules, and practices are maintained as required

The FMC’s public OTI information distinguishes licensing and financial responsibility status from tariff filing status, so both areas should be reviewed.

10. Preserve Confirmation Records

After completing the renewal, save:

• Submission confirmation
• Updated license record
• Renewal correspondence
• Bond confirmation
• Bond riders
• Tariff confirmation
• Internal approval records
• Copies of submitted company information

These documents can support future audits, account onboarding, carrier verification, and compliance reviews.

What Happens if an FMC Bond Is Cancelled?

An FMC bond may be cancelled by the surety or the OTI.

According to the FMC, cancellation generally becomes effective 30 days after the Commission receives the cancellation notice.

A licensed OTI cannot maintain its license without acceptable active proof of financial responsibility. If a replacement bond or other acceptable financial responsibility is not put in place, the license may be revoked after the 30-day period.

The OTI may also be removed from the Commission’s active OTI List. An NVOCC may be removed from the Form FMC-1 listing and prohibited from performing OTI services in the U.S. trades.

This is why bond continuity should be checked before the license renewal deadline—not after a cancellation or compliance problem occurs.

Company Changes Must Be Reported Promptly

The FMC states that licensed or registered NVOCCs and ocean freight forwarders must generally report changes to information submitted in their most recent application within 30 days.

Depending on the change, the company may need:

• Form FMC-18
• Form FMC-65
• A bond rider
• Updated tariff information
• Updated contact information
• Additional supporting corporate documents

Changes that should be reviewed include:

• Legal company name
• Trade names
• Address
• Qualifying individual
• Business structure
• NVOCC or ocean freight forwarder authority
• Contact person
• Email address
• U.S. branch details
• Legal agent for service of process

The correct filing method depends on whether the company is licensed or registered and on the type of information being changed.

Common Renewal Mistakes

Waiting Until July 31

A renewal may require time to verify records, resolve login issues, obtain corporate information, or coordinate a bond rider.

Assuming the Bond and License Renew Together

The license renewal system and the bond filing address different compliance obligations.

Using an Outdated Email Address

The FMC relies on the email address on file to send renewal information.

Updating the Address Without a Bond Rider

Changing the address in one system may not update the bond record.

Ignoring Trade Names

The company’s operating and marketing names should be reviewed alongside its legal name.

Confusing Registration With Licensing

Foreign-based registered NVOCCs use a different renewal process from FMC-licensed OTIs.

Failing to Check the Public OTI List

The public list is an important way to confirm whether the company appears active and whether the displayed records are accurate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has an FMC license renewal deadline in July 2026?

Licensed OTIs whose license numbers have a second-to-last digit of 1, 2, or 3 and a final digit of 7 are generally scheduled for renewal by July 31, 2026. The exact deadline should be confirmed in the FMC OTI List.

How often must an FMC OTI license be renewed?

After the initial renewal period, subsequent FMC license renewals are generally required every three years.

Is there an FMC license renewal fee?

The FMC’s current guidance states that there is no fee for an OTI license renewal.

Does renewing an FMC license automatically update the bond?

No. License renewal and proof of financial responsibility are separate compliance matters. The company should independently confirm that its bond remains active and accurate.

Does an address change require a new FMC bond?

Not necessarily. However, the FMC states that an address change should be reported through a bond rider submitted by the surety company.

What happens if the FMC bond is cancelled?

Cancellation generally becomes effective 30 days after the FMC receives notice. A licensed OTI may lose its license if acceptable financial responsibility is not restored.

Do foreign registered NVOCCs follow the same license renewal schedule?

No. A foreign-based unlicensed NVOCC generally renews its registration every three years through the Form FMC-65 process and should follow the renewal date shown in the OTI List.

What should a company do if it did not receive a renewal email?

The company should verify its renewal date in the OTI List, confirm that the FMC has a current email address, and contact the appropriate FMC licensing office when necessary.

Prepare Before the July Deadline

Companies potentially facing a July 31, 2026 renewal deadline should review their OTI records immediately.

A complete review should cover the license, legal name, trade names, qualifying individual, address, business structure, bond, tariff, Form FMC-1 information, and contact email.

Navigator International supports freight forwarders and logistics companies with coordinated FMC qualification processing, NVOCC bond handling, FMC filings, tariff-related setup, and ongoing U.S. shipping compliance assistance.