MAVENS’ Planet your sourcing partner in India guides all his vendors and buyers steps for importing goods from India.

Import means bring (goods or services) into  a country from abroad for sale.

The buyer of such goods and services is  referred to an importer who is based in the  country of import whereas the overseas  based seller is referred to as an exporter.

Thus an import is any good (e.g.garments) or  service brought in from one country to  another country in a legitimate fashion,  typically for use in trade

Direct Import

Direct-import refers to a type of business  importation involving a major retailer (e.g. Wal-  Mart) and an overseas manufacturer. A retailer  typically purchases products designed by local  companies that can be manufactured overseas.

Indirect Import

In a direct-import program, the retailer bypasses  the local supplier (colloquial middle-man) and  buys the final product directly from the  manufacturer, possibly saving in added costs. This  type of business is fairly recent and follows the  trends of the global economy.



If company importing goods from India for first time, it has to check  whether  the item is allowed or not( using  RED(BLUE) Book).

  Get list of local manufacturers and Ask for  Quotations from them.

  If local manufacturers are unable to supply get a  written statement from them.

Submit the statement to  Government to get  Clearance for Import.

Government will might suggest names of suppliers  or could write themselves to suppliers and clear  the item for Import.

After Import Clearance is obtained a company has  to go through following stages:-

  • Locating Foreign Source of Supply 
  • Procurement of the item 
  • Documentation

Documents Required For IMPORTING GOODS FROM INDIA :-

1.Bill of Lading / Airway bill :

Bill of lading under sea shipment or Airway bill  under air shipment is carrier’s document required to be  submitted with customs for import customs clearance

purpose. Bill of lading or Airway bill issued by carrier provides  the details of cargo with terms of delivery.

2.Invoice: Invoice is required for import customs clearance for  value appraisal by concerned customs official. Assessable  value is calculated on the basis of terms of delivery of goods  mentioned in commercial invoice. The concerned officer  verifies the value mentioned in commercial invoice matches  with the actual market value of same goods. This method of  inspection by officer of customs prevents fraudulent activities  of importer or exporter by over invoicing or under invoicing

3.Bill of Entry:

Bill of entry is one of the major import document for import  customs clearance. As explained previously, Bill of Entry is the legal  document to be filed by CHA or Importer duly signed. Bill of Entry is  one of the indicators of ‘total outward remittance of country’  regulated by Reserve Bank and Customs department. Bill of entry  must be filed within thirty days of arrival of goods at a customs  location.

4.Import License

Import license may be required as one of the documents for  import customs clearance procedures and formalities under specific  products. This license may be mandatory for importing specific  goods as per guide lines provided by government. Import of such  specific products may have been being regulated by government  time to time. So government insist an import license as one of the  documents required for import customs clearance to bring those  materials from foreign countries.

5.Insurance certificate

Insurance certificate is a supporting document  against importer’s declaration on terms of delivery.

Insurance certificate under import shipment helps

customs authorities to verify, whether selling price  includes insurance or not. This is required to find  assessable value which determines import duty amount.

6.Purchase order/Letter of Credit

A purchase order reflects almost all terms and  conditions of sale contract which enables the customs  official to confirm on value assessment. If an import  consignment is under letter of credit basis, the importer  can submit a copy of Letter of Credit along with the  documents for import clearance.

7.Industrial License if any

An industrial license copy may be required under specific  goods importing. If Importer claims any import benefit as per  guidelines of government, such Industrial License can be  produced to avail the benefit. In such case, Industrial license  copy can be submitted with customs authorities as one of the  import clearance documents.

8.DEEC/DEPB /ECGC or any other documents for duty benefits  If importer avails any duty exemptions against imported

goods under different schemes like DEEC/DEPB/ECGC etc.,  such license is produced along with other import clearance  documents.

9.Central excise document if any

If importer avails any central excise benefit under  importing goods from India, the documents pertaining to the same need  to be produced along with other import customs clearance  documents

10.GATT/DGFT declaration.

As per the guidelines of Government of India, every  importer needs to file GATT declaration and DGFT declaration  along with other import customs clearance documents with  customs. GATT declaration has to be filed by Importer as per  the terms of General Agreement on Tariff and Trade.

The Government of India has been taking various steps towards boosting its trade and we as India’s trusted buying agency assists our buyers in importing goods from India at every step.

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