Documents Required For Import Customs Clearance In India

If you are searching for documents required for import customs clearance in India.

You are on the correct page!

Here you will get the complete guide on documents required for import customs clearance.

Here in this article, I explained some common documents required for import customs clearance. The import customs Customs clearance process is not easy.

To do customs clearance without any issue you must know what are documents required for import customs clearance.

Here I explained the documents required for import customs clerance in a different category.

1. General Products.
2. Electronic Products.
3. Wooden Products.
4. Food Products.
5. Medical Products.

Documents Required For Import Customs Clearance.

Here I explained everything about the documents required for import customs clearance.

All the documents are prescribed for general product categories, same documents are required for all other product categories.

Some additional documents are required for other product categories which we will discuss in those product categories.

Documents required for import customs clearance.

This is the list of documents required for customs clearance in India.

Documents Required for General Products.

General product means Tags, labels, stickers, belts, buttons, hangers, zippers, etc…

Some of the common documents are required for all types of product categories.

1. Commercial Invoice.
2. Packing List.
3. Freight Certificate.
4. Insurance Certificate.
5. Certificate of Origin.
6. Air Waybill/Bill of Lading.

Commercial Invoice.

The commercial invoice is the most important for Import customs clearance.

Commercial invoices are used for valuation purposes and calculation of the assessable value.

The Commercial invoice contains the value of products imported and the Incoterm of shipment (EXW, FOB, C&F, CIF, etc…).

Packing List.

After the commercial invoice, The packing list plays an important role in Import customs clearance.

A packing list is mandatory for all shipments which contain more than 2 packages.

The packing list will help the customs inspector to identify the package at the time of examination.

The customs inspector will mark the random package from the packing list for examination.

Freight Certificate.

The freight certificate is required for EXW & FOB shipments.

The freight certificate contains the freight charges and Ex-work charges of a particular shipment.

Freight charges and Ex-work charges are used for the calculation of the assessable value.

Insurance Certificate.

The insurance certificate is an important document, you need to ensure your shipment before onboarding shipment.

Insurance value is also included in the Assessable Value calculation.

Certificate of Origin.

A certificate of origin is an optional document. It’s not mandatory for all products.

If you avail of the benefit of SAFTA/SAPTA/ASEAN/CEPA, Then the certificate of origin is mandatory.

A certificate of origin is also required for Fabrics & Garment’s import from the following countries:-

1. European Union (EU) countries
2. Serbia
3. Poland
4. Denmark
5. China
6. Australia
7. Canada
8. Japan
9. South Africa

As per Standing Order No.42/2016 Date, 03.06.2016, Fabrics & Garments imported from the above-listed specific countries are exempted from testing samples for the presence of Azo dyes.

Air Waybill/Bill of Lading.

The Air Waybill/Bill of lading is provided by your freight forwarder.

Air Waybill/Bill of lading is one of the most important documents for Import customs clearance.

It contains the details of the shipment. Without an Air Waybill/Bill of lading, customs clearance is impossible.

Documents Required for Electronic Products.

There are some additional documents required for electronic products.

1. Catalog/Technical write-up.
2. EPR – Authorization.
3. WPC Licence.
4. BIS Certificate.

Catalog/Technical Write-up.

The Catalog/Technical write-up is required for every Electronic product imported into India.

Catalog/Technical write-up helps the proper officer to understand the product and its functioning.

EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) Authorization.

EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) Authorization is mandatory for some of the electrical and electronic equipment and their components or consumables or parts or spares to be imported into India.

EPR is implemented to avoid the Dumping of electronic & electrical products in India.

Please refer to Schedule – I of G.S.R 338(E). Date 23rd March 2016 to know the list of products.

WPC Licence.

You need to get a WPC (Wireless Planning & Coordination) license to import wireless electronic products to India.

WPC license is mandatory for all wireless products.

There is some exemption for low-frequency bands.

BIS Certificate.

The BIS certification is also mandatory for some electrical products.

A BIS certificate is issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards after testing samples of the product.

You need to refer to the list of products under compulsory certification.

Documents Required for Wooden Products.

You need some additional documentation to import wooden products to India.

1. Fumigation Certificate.
2. Phytosanitary Certificate.

Fumigation Certificate.

A fumigation certificate means a pest-control certificate.

You need to get a fumigation certificate from the original shipment.

Fumigation is not mandatory for finished wooden products.

Mostly fumigation is done for wooden packaging and semi-wood products.

Phytosanitary Certificate.

The phytosanitary certificate is another important document for importing wooden products in India.

You need to get NOC from plants and quarantine for wooden products.

And the phytosanitary certificate is required to get NOC from the plant and quarantine.

If you are unable to get a phytosanitary certificate of origin of the shipment.

Plant and quarantine will charge a 5-time penalty.

Documents Required for Food Products.

To import food products in India, You need to get an FSSAI certificate.

Without the FSSAI certificate import clearance of food products is not possible.

FSSAI certificate is issued Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

Make sure you get an FSSAI certificate before importing food products.

As per the new rule you need to ask your supplier to provide a specimen copy of the label for the customs clearance of goods.

Documents Required for Medical Products.

All Medical products imported into India are required to get NOC from ADC (Assistance Drug Controller).

Assistance Drug Controller can ask you for the import permit for medical products.

If you Import raw materials, Then the Assistance Drug Controller can ask for the manufacturing license of medical products.

So, always remember to get the required documents before importing medical products.

If you arrange all the documents as per product requirement then nobody can stop your shipment from customs clearing your shipment.

Also, remember to select a reputed CHA (Customs House Agent) to customs clear your shipment.

Who has experience in customs clearing the same products which you want to import?

An experienced CHA can guide you with the required documents and all the formalities of customs clearance.

FAQ On Documents Required For Import Customs Clearance.

I hope now you understand what are the documents required for import customs clearance. Comment below if anyone has any suggestions or queries regarding the import from china to India.

Admin (Indian Customs Info)