Importing goods and customs clearance in India

If you want to ship your goods to India then you have to get them through customs and formally import them. This article describes a number of important aspects.

Please note that if you need help, there are various parties available to support you.

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Shipping your products

If you sell physical products, you need to get them delivered into India. Depending on the country you are in, this may be a challenge.

First of all you may have to pay import duties or settle VAT. There are certain thresholds for both of these charges, e.g. while importing in the EU you don’t have to pay import duties on any shipment worth less than € 150.

There may also be non-financial bariers, like certifications or approvals to be obtained. Especially for food, cosmetics or medicine this may be the case. Check this in advance, even before you invest in your marketing.

Convince potential distributors

A local consultant can find possible business partners, or you have identified them yourself. But how to convince them to market and sell your products or services?

For this you need an export plan with a clear strategy and sufficient financial details.

Importing goods into India

Importing goods into India involves following regulations set by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), under the Ministry of Finance. The CBIC’s official website provides detailed guidance on duties, procedures, and regulations: Indian Customs – English.

General Import Process

Customs Declaration
- Submit an Import Declaration electronically through the ICEGATE system (ICEGATE Portal).
- Documents required include a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and Import Export Code (IEC) registration.
Import Duties and GST
- Duties are based on the product’s HS code. The Indian Customs Tariff can help determine applicable rates.
- GST (Goods and Services Tax) rates are:
  - Standard rate: 18%.
  - Lower rates (5% or 12%) apply to specific categories such as food, books, and essential goods.
Additional Non-Financial Requirements
- Specific goods may require licenses or clearances from regulatory bodies like the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
- Use the Access2Markets portal (Access2Markets) for detailed requirements by product category.
Inspection and Clearance
- Customs may inspect goods for compliance. Processing time is typically 2-4 days if documents are complete.
Release of Goods
- Once cleared, goods are released for delivery to their destination.

Service Providers for Assistance

DHL India – dhl.com
Blue Dart Express – bluedart.com
Schenker India – dbschenker.com
Allcargo Logistics – allcargologistics.com
Jeena & Co. – jeena.com

Importing Small Parcels

For small parcels, major couriers like DHL, FedEx, UPS, and India Post provide services. Shipping costs for a 2kg parcel typically are:

From the USA: ₹2,000-₹4,000 (€25-€50) for economy services.
From China: ₹1,500-₹3,000 (€18-€38) for economy services.

Express options (2-5 days) are available at higher rates. Confirm pricing directly with service providers based on weight and urgency.

Get funding from banks & investors

Entering a new market is an investment. Finding partners, contracts, translations and marketing costs money and you may need additional working capital.

Only with a good plan with enough financial data you can convince banks and investors to fund you. We help you with the complete business case and documentation.

Frequently asked questions

How to find an importer in India for your product?

The best way to find an importer in India is to understand the sales channel for your product, and what parties are involved. Then find the right importers or wholesalers at the beginning of that chain. Before starting to push your product, approach a number of them to ask what they need. This way you can position your product better before you reach out to a broader group.

How to find a web shop for your product in India?

First check whether your product normally is sold through web shops in India or that other distribution structures are more common. Then determine the characteristics of your ideal web shop, and find a number of these, or outsource this search. When you approach the first few, you will learn what they find important and who your competitors are.

How to convince an importer in India to work with you?

As in any country, convincing an importer or wholesaler to put your product in his assortment is difficult. Importers in India look at the rotation of the product, how easy and often they can sell it, and multiply this with the margin they can make on it. The result should be higher than they earn now from any competing product. Only if you have proper sales data, for example from other countries, they will engage in a discussion with you.