This is one of the important articles in export and import trade –What are the documents required for Import clearance? One of frequently asked questions is ‘documents required for import clearance’
Unlike other articles, I can not provide a ‘capsule’ solution on this article about documents required for import customs clearance. I will explain reason behind it. First of all, let me clarify: the documents required for import clearance under all products are not same. However, we can discuss about the common documents required for import customs clearance in importing countries. I will provide you a some general information on documentation of import customs clearance from which you can have a common idea on the subject. I hope, this information helps you a lot to know about documents required for import clearance generally.
Since various types of commodities are imported from different countries, a complete list of documents for import customs clearance procedures can not be provided. More over, different countries have their own policies in turn different procedures and formalities for import clearance. Each product under import and export is classified under a code number accepted globally which is called ITC number.
There may have bilateral import export agreements between governments of different countries. Imports and exports from such countries may have exemptions on documentation for export and import clearance.
However there are legal documents, common documents and specific documents on commodity basis required to complete import customs procedures.
Let us discuss some of the common documents required for import customs clearance procedures and formalities in some of the importing countries.
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.
Once after filing bill of entry along with necessary import customs clearance documents, assessment and examination of goods are carried out by concerned customs official. After completion of import customs formalities, a ‘pass out order’ is issued under such bill of entry. Once an importer or his authorized customs house agent obtains ‘pass out order’ from concerned customs official, the imported goods can be moved out of customs. After paying necessary import charges if any to carrier Documents required for import customs clearance of goods and custodian of cargo, the goods can be taken out of customs area to importer’s place. For further read: How to file Bill of Entry online? How to file Bill of Entry manually? Can Bill of Entry be filed before arrival of goods at destination?
Commercial Invoice.
Invoice is the prime document in any business transactions. Invoice is one of the documents 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 produced by importer at customs location. I have explained about the method of calculation of assessable value in another article in same web blog. The concerned appraising officer verifies the value mentioned in commercial invoice matches with the actual market value of same goods. This method of inspection by appraising officer of customs prevents fraudulent activities of importer or exporter by over invoicing or under invoicing. So Invoice plays a pivotal role in value assessment in import customs clearance procedures. Read more: How to prepare Commercial Invoice? Contents of Commercial Invoice. Difference between proforma Invoice and Commercial Invoice. Howmany types of Bills of Entry in India?
Bill of Lading / Airway bill :
BL/AWB is one of the documents required for import customs clearance.
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. I have discussed in detail about Bill of Lading and Airway bill separately in this website. You can go through those articles to have a deep knowledge about documents required for import customs clearance.
Import License:
As I have mentioned above, 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.
Insurance certificate
Insurance certificate is one of the documents required for import customs clearance procedures. 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.
Purchase order/Letter of Credit
Purchase order is one of the documents required for import customs clearance. 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.
Technical write up, literature etc. for specific goods if any
Technical write up, literature of imported goods or any other similar documents may be required as one of the documents for import clearance under some specific goods. For example, if a machinery is imported, a technical write up or literature explaining it’s function can be attached along with importing documents. This document helps customs official to derive exact market value of such imported machinery in turn helps for value assessment.
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.
RCMC. Registration cum Membership Certificate if any
For the purpose of availing import duty exemption from government agencies under specific goods, production of RCMC with customs authorities is one of the requirements for import clearance. In such cases importer needs to submit Registration Cum Membership Certificate along with import customs clearance documents.
Test report if any
The customs officials may not be able to identify the quality of goods imported. In order to assess the value of such goods, customs official may draw sample of such imported goods and arranges to send for testing to government authorized laboratories. The concerned customs officer can complete appraisement of such goods only after obtaining such test report. So test report is one of the documents under import customs clearance and formalities under some of specific goods.
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.
documents required for import clearance
Central excise document if any
If importer avails any central excise benefit under imported goods, the documents pertaining to the same need to be produced along with other import customs clearance documents.
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.
Any other specific documents other than the above mentioned
Apart from the above mentioned documents, importer has to file additional documents if any required as per the guidelines of government / customs department under import of specific goods.
I hope, I could explain you a general idea on documents required for import customs clearance procedures and formalities.
Unlike other articles, I can not provide a ‘capsule’ solution on this article about documents required for import customs clearance. I will explain reason behind it. First of all, let me clarify: the documents required for import clearance under all products are not same. However, we can discuss about the common documents required for import customs clearance in importing countries. I will provide you a some general information on documentation of import customs clearance from which you can have a common idea on the subject. I hope, this information helps you a lot to know about documents required for import clearance generally.
Since various types of commodities are imported from different countries, a complete list of documents for import customs clearance procedures can not be provided. More over, different countries have their own policies in turn different procedures and formalities for import clearance. Each product under import and export is classified under a code number accepted globally which is called ITC number.
There may have bilateral import export agreements between governments of different countries. Imports and exports from such countries may have exemptions on documentation for export and import clearance.
However there are legal documents, common documents and specific documents on commodity basis required to complete import customs procedures.
Let us discuss some of the common documents required for import customs clearance procedures and formalities in some of the importing countries.
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.
Once after filing bill of entry along with necessary import customs clearance documents, assessment and examination of goods are carried out by concerned customs official. After completion of import customs formalities, a ‘pass out order’ is issued under such bill of entry. Once an importer or his authorized customs house agent obtains ‘pass out order’ from concerned customs official, the imported goods can be moved out of customs. After paying necessary import charges if any to carrier Documents required for import customs clearance of goods and custodian of cargo, the goods can be taken out of customs area to importer’s place. For further read: How to file Bill of Entry online? How to file Bill of Entry manually? Can Bill of Entry be filed before arrival of goods at destination?
Commercial Invoice.
Invoice is the prime document in any business transactions. Invoice is one of the documents 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 produced by importer at customs location. I have explained about the method of calculation of assessable value in another article in same web blog. The concerned appraising officer verifies the value mentioned in commercial invoice matches with the actual market value of same goods. This method of inspection by appraising officer of customs prevents fraudulent activities of importer or exporter by over invoicing or under invoicing. So Invoice plays a pivotal role in value assessment in import customs clearance procedures. Read more: How to prepare Commercial Invoice? Contents of Commercial Invoice. Difference between proforma Invoice and Commercial Invoice. Howmany types of Bills of Entry in India?
Bill of Lading / Airway bill :
BL/AWB is one of the documents required for import customs clearance.
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. I have discussed in detail about Bill of Lading and Airway bill separately in this website. You can go through those articles to have a deep knowledge about documents required for import customs clearance.
Import License:
As I have mentioned above, 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.
Insurance certificate
Insurance certificate is one of the documents required for import customs clearance procedures. 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.
Purchase order/Letter of Credit
Purchase order is one of the documents required for import customs clearance. 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.
Technical write up, literature etc. for specific goods if any
Technical write up, literature of imported goods or any other similar documents may be required as one of the documents for import clearance under some specific goods. For example, if a machinery is imported, a technical write up or literature explaining it’s function can be attached along with importing documents. This document helps customs official to derive exact market value of such imported machinery in turn helps for value assessment.
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.
RCMC. Registration cum Membership Certificate if any
For the purpose of availing import duty exemption from government agencies under specific goods, production of RCMC with customs authorities is one of the requirements for import clearance. In such cases importer needs to submit Registration Cum Membership Certificate along with import customs clearance documents.
Test report if any
The customs officials may not be able to identify the quality of goods imported. In order to assess the value of such goods, customs official may draw sample of such imported goods and arranges to send for testing to government authorized laboratories. The concerned customs officer can complete appraisement of such goods only after obtaining such test report. So test report is one of the documents under import customs clearance and formalities under some of specific goods.
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.
documents required for import clearance
Central excise document if any
If importer avails any central excise benefit under imported goods, the documents pertaining to the same need to be produced along with other import customs clearance documents.
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.
Any other specific documents other than the above mentioned
Apart from the above mentioned documents, importer has to file additional documents if any required as per the guidelines of government / customs department under import of specific goods.
I hope, I could explain you a general idea on documents required for import customs clearance procedures and formalities.
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