Customs declaration requirements for India
Customs Declare produces the completed Bill of Entry (Import Goods Declaration), filed electronically via the Indian Customs Electronic Gateway (ICEGATE) for India’s own customs authority, in English, from your invoice and supporting documents. You or your broker review and submit it -- nothing leaves your workspace automatically.
Declaration form
Confirmed against the authority’s own published source- Form
- Bill of Entry (Import Goods Declaration), filed electronically via the Indian Customs Electronic Gateway (ICEGATE)
- Issuing authority
- Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)
- Primary language
- English
- Accepted languages
- English
- Required supporting documents
- Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, certificate of origin, import export code iec, insurance certificate, import license where applicable
- Last verified
- Aug 30, 2026
Import requirements & restrictions
Import licensing required
Over 400 product categories (electronics/electrical equipment, steel, chemicals, food, textiles, toys, helmets, cement, furniture, and more, as of 2026) require Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification or registration -- via a Quality Control Order (QCO) license or the BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) -- before import, and the physical product must carry the BIS mark (ISI mark or CRS R-number). The list is added to periodically (e.g. furniture became mandatory Feb 2026) -- verify current QCO/CRS coverage for a specific product before relying on this.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Duty & tax
- VAT (default rate)
- 18%
- MFN duty rate data
- Available
- Preferential rate
- Available under an applicable trade agreement
- Free duty calculator
- Check a duty rate for India
Quick answers
What customs declaration form does India require?
India’s import declaration is the Bill of Entry (Import Goods Declaration), filed electronically via the Indian Customs Electronic Gateway (ICEGATE), issued by Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
Which languages does India accept on a customs declaration?
English
What supporting documents are required to import into India?
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, certificate of origin, import export code iec, insurance certificate, import license where applicable
What is the VAT rate on imports into India?
The default VAT rate on record for India is 18%.