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How to import goods into India

How to import goods into India

Step-by-step guide to import into India: IEC, HS code and import policy, BIS, FSSAI, CDSCO and Legal Metrology approvals, supplier and payment, Bill of Entry on ICEGATE, customs duty and IGST, and out of charge.

Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026

Follow these steps in order. Each step names the official page and the fee, and says when a fee is still To confirm. The steps follow DGFT's customs procedures guide and the Handbook of Procedures.

Step 1: Check the import policy for your product

Find the 8-digit ITC (HS) code and read the policy in Schedule 1. Imports are free unless the schedule says prohibited, restricted or STE. Restricted items need an import licence from DGFT. Imported goods must also follow domestic laws, technical standards and safety rules.

Chapter-by-chapter guide DGFT licence guide DGFT policy search

Fee at this step	Amount
Licence for a restricted item	₹1 per ₹1,000 of CIF value, minimum ₹500, maximum ₹1 lakhChecked on official page Source

Step 2: Check product approvals before you order

Several regulators clear specific products. Food needs FSSAI clearance. Electronics and many manufactured goods can need BIS. Medicines, medical devices and cosmetics need CDSCO. Packaged goods need Legal Metrology registration. Wireless devices need WPC approval. Plants and animal products need quarantine permits.

FSSAI BIS CDSCO Legal Metrology WPC Plant quarantine Animal quarantine

Fee at this step	Amount
FSSAI importer licence, initial payment	₹1,000 + GSTChecked on official page Source
CDSCO Form 10, one drug	₹1,000Official document, older edition: To confirm Source

Step 3: Get your IEC

Every commercial importer needs an IEC. Banks ask for it when you send money abroad for the import and Customs asks for it to clear the goods.

IEC code guide DGFT portal

Fee at this step	Amount
IEC application	₹500Checked on official page Source

Step 4: Register on ICEGATE and register your bank's AD code

ICEGATE is the Customs portal for filing the Bill of Entry. Register on it with your IEC and register the AD code of your bank.

AD code guide ICEGATE

Fee at this step	Amount
ICEGATE registration	No fee shownTo confirm Source

Step 5: Register for GST

Importers pay IGST at the border. If you are registered for GST, you can usually claim it as input credit, but check the GST rules for your case. Register on the GST portal.

GST registration guide GST portal

Fee at this step	Amount
GST registration	No government fee shownTo confirm Source

Step 6: Find a supplier and agree the terms

Agree the product specification, price, Incoterm, payment term and delivery date in a contract. Ask the supplier for the documents your regulators need, such as a BIS registration number, a health certificate or a certificate of analysis.

Incoterms 2020 table

Step 7: Pay the supplier through your bank

Pay through an authorised dealer bank. The bank asks for the IEC when an importer sends money to another country.

DGFT: How to Export

Fee at this step	Amount
Bank remittance charges	Set by your bankTo confirm Source

Step 8: Arrange shipping and insurance

The supplier or you book the freight, depending on the Incoterm. You receive a bill of lading or airway bill, the commercial invoice cum packing list and, where needed, a certificate of origin and an inspection certificate.

DGFT customs procedures guide

Step 9: File the Bill of Entry on ICEGATE

You file the import declaration in the Bill of Entry, with your PAN-based Business Identification Number, as section 46 of the Customs Act, 1962 requires. Customs' risk system may refer the Bill of Entry to FSSAI, the plant or animal quarantine authority or another agency for clearance.

ICEGATE FSSAI food import clearance

Fee at this step	Amount
Bill of Entry filing	Charges set by Customs and the portTo confirm Source

Step 10: Pay customs duty and IGST

India levies basic customs duty under the first schedule of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, plus goods-specific duties such as anti-dumping or safeguard duty, the social welfare surcharge and integrated GST (IGST). Rates depend on the HS classification, so use the current Customs Tariff on the CBIC website.

CBIC

Fee at this step	Amount
Customs duty and IGST	Depends on HS codeTo confirm Source

Step 11: Examination, assessment and out of charge

Customs officers examine and assess the goods against the Bill of Entry. If everything matches, they issue a pass out order, which is the out of charge order that lets the goods leave the port. Regulators such as FSSAI may inspect and sample first.

DGFT customs procedures guide

Fee at this step	Amount
FSSAI visual inspection, food only	₹2,000Official document, older edition: To confirm Source

Step 12: Delivery and records

Collect the goods through your customs broker, pay port and terminal charges, and keep the Bill of Entry, invoice and payment records. If you imported under a scheme, file the returns the scheme requires.

CBIC

Fee at this step	Amount
Port and transport charges	Set by the port and carrierTo confirm Source

Fees on this page

Amounts marked To confirm could not be checked on an official page. "Older edition" means the amount comes from an official document that is old or undated. Always confirm the fee on the portal before you pay.

Common questions

What do I need to import goods into India?

An IEC, a check of the product's import policy, any product approval that applies, a Bill of Entry on ICEGATE and payment of customs duty and IGST.

How much is customs duty?

It depends on the HS code. India levies basic customs duty, goods-specific duties such as anti-dumping or safeguard duty, the social welfare surcharge and IGST. Check the current tariff on the CBIC website.

Who files the Bill of Entry?

The importer or the customs broker, on ICEGATE, with the importer's PAN-based Business Identification Number.

Do I need an import licence?

Only if DGFT's schedule says the item is restricted. The application fee is ₹1 per ₹1,000 of CIF value, with a minimum of ₹500 and a maximum of ₹1 lakh.

Is Govt License a government website?

No. Govt License is an independent guide. We link to the official government portals where you apply and pay. Always confirm the fee on the portal before paying.