Documents Checklist

1. Common Documents for Both Air and Sea Shipments and applicable for all Commodities:

1. Bill of Lading (Sea) / Airway Bill (Air):

Proof of contract between the shipper and carrier.

For sea shipments, the Bill of Lading is issued by the shipping line.

For air shipments, the Airway Bill is issued by the airline.

2. Commercial Invoice:

Issued by the exporter/seller, detailing the value, description, and quantity of goods.

3. Packing List:

Provides details of the packaging, weight, dimensions, and contents of the shipment.

4. Import-Export Code (IEC):

Mandatory for any business involved in import/export activities in India.

5. Bill of Entry (Import) / Shipping Bill (Export):

Filed with Indian Customs for clearance of goods.

6. Certificate of Origin:

Required to claim preferential duty rates under trade agreements (e.g., FTA).

7. Insurance Certificate:

Proof of insurance coverage for the shipment.

8. GST Identification Number (GSTIN):

Required for tax purposes.

9. Letter of Credit (if applicable):

For payment assurance in international trade.

10. Customs Bond (if applicable):

For goods cleared under bond or for deferred duty payment.

11. Security Declaration:

Required for certain high-risk or sensitive goods.

12. Dangerous Goods Declaration (if applicable):

For hazardous materials or dangerous goods.

13. Phytosanitary Certificate (if applicable):

For agricultural or plant-based products.

14 Health Certificate (if applicable):

For food, pharmaceuticals, or medical goods.

15. Manifest(Sea)

A detailed list of all cargo on the vessel.

16. Port Trust Charges Receipt(Sea)

Proof of payment of port handling charges.

17. Dock Receipt(Sea)

Acknowledgment of goods received at the port.

18. Marine Insurance Certificate(Sea)

Specific to sea shipments.

2. Item/Commodity-Specific Documents:

a. Food and Agricultural Products:

Phytosanitary Certificate: For plant-based products.

FSSAI License/Registration: Mandatory for food imports.

Health Certificate: For meat, dairy, or processed foods.

b. Pharmaceuticals and Medical Goods:

Import License: Issued by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).

Certificate of Analysis (CoA): For quality assurance.

No Objection Certificate (NOC): From the Ministry of Health.

c. Electronics and IT Hardware:

BIS Certification: For compliance with Bureau of Indian Standards.

WPC License: For wireless devices.

d. Chemicals and Hazardous Goods:

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS): For hazardous materials.

Dangerous Goods Declaration: For air and sea shipments.

DGFT License: For restricted chemicals.

e. Textiles and Apparel:

Textile Committee Certificate: For quality compliance.

Testing Reports: For fabric or garment quality.

f. Machinery and Equipment:

Technical Write-up: Detailed specifications of the machinery.

Test Certificate: For compliance with Indian standards.

g. Vehicles and Automotive Parts:

Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) Certificate: For vehicles.

Type Approval Certificate: For automotive parts.

h. Jewelry and Precious Metals:

Assay Report: For purity certification.

Import License: From the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

i. Used Goods/Second-Hand Products:

Certificate of Inspection: For used machinery or equipment.

DGFT License: For restricted second-hand goods.

j. Defense and Strategic Goods:

Special Import License: From the Ministry of Defence.

End-User Certificate (EUC): For controlled items.

K. Books, Media, and Publications:

NOC from Ministry of Information and Broadcasting: For restricted content.

Copyright Clearance: For copyrighted materials.

L. Wildlife and Animal Products:

CITES Certificate: For goods containing protected species (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).

Wildlife Department Clearance: For animal-based products.

M. Industrial Raw Materials:

Test Certificate: For quality assurance.

DGFT License: For restricted materials.

Customs Valuation Report: For high-value goods.

N. Cosmetics and Personal Care Products:

Import License: From the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).

Product Ingredient List: For compliance with Indian regulations.

Safety Test Reports: For consumer safety.

O. Toys and Children’s Products:

BIS Certification: For compliance with safety standards.

Safety Test Reports: For child safety.

NOC from Ministry of Commerce: For restricted toys.

3. Regulatory Compliance Documents:

Depending on the commodity, additional regulatory approvals may be required from:

DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade): For restricted or prohibited items.

Wildlife Department: For goods containing animal products.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC): For environmentally sensitive goods.

Customs Valuation: For high-value goods to determine accurate duty.

4. Special Considerations:

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange): Most customs processes in India are now digitized, and documents must be submitted electronically through the ICEGATE portal.

Customs Duty Exemptions: Certain goods may require additional documentation to claim exemptions or concessions.