India

India

Sending a parcel to India is a quick and easy process, especially if all the customs paperwork and necessary documents are provided correctly. In this post we have penned out a few points to make your FAQ's about shipping to India a little less stressful and easier to understand.

Sending a shipment overseas is an easy process as long as you follow a few guidelines and follow the shipping regulations.

 

What items are prohibited in India?

Each country maintains its own list of prohibited and restricted items, and India is no exception. This means you need to check your item isn’t on either list – so check with the Indian Central Board of Excise and Customs, or for a more complete list.

To brief things up, some of the prohibited items include:

  • Ivory

  • Ponographic and obscene materials

  • Second hand goods and personal items

Exporting to countries like India can be problematic due to their tight restrictions and bureaucratic delays which is why the second most important addition to your shipment is the customs paperwork, which is automatically provided when you book with us. This has to be completed very clearly and accurately. If this information is found to be insufficent as per the Indian customs standards, your package could either get delayed in transit incurring you additional charges and sometimes leading to return or disposal of it as well. We highly encourage customers to complete all shipping documents with accurate information to ensure minimal delay.

The customs document should list the packaged items you are sending and their total value. This information is then used by the customs authority to apply the correct tax and duty. This fee is not applied by the courier, but by the customs authority receiving your shipment.

 

What food items can I send?

Foods must be in the original manufacturer’s packaging.

  • Food packaging must be sealed and not tampered with in any way.

  • Food label must list all ingredients.

  • Foods must have a shelf life of longer than 6 months from the date of shipping.

  • All foods that have a shelf life of less than 6 months will be classed as perishables, and cannot be sent via courier, even if store bought.

Sending Gifts and Personal Shipments:

Personal effects cannot be sent via courier to India and are subjected to a formal process.

Sending gifts has always remained a favourite to our loved and dear ones to show that they are still in our thoughts regardless of where they are. The biggest difference between sending a parcel to India versus other countries is that you need much more personal documentation from the receiver to get it through customs.

If the paperwork is not provided by the recipient via email or otherwise; the shipment will get sent back to sender.

The good news is that this is standard practice for gifts or other parcels shipped to India so it shouldn’t be a great surprise to the person you’re sending the gift to – especially if they are used to receiving international parcels. You CAN provide these by email and once provided, delivery is usually very quick.

Specifically you are going to need “Know your Customer” or KYC documents as follows:

  • If you are sending a gift to an individual, they will need to show proof of either:

  • (i) Aadhaar Card – Unique Identification
    (ii) Passport
    (iii) Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card or the Income Tax Number
    (iv)Voter’s Identity card
    (v) Driving license
    (vi) Bank account statement
    (vii) Ration Card

Commercial Shipments:

All commercial shipments require a TIN # (Tax Payer's Identification Number) of the consignee.

Check with the consignee to ensure the proper documents are included with your international shipment to India. Formal customs clearance into India can be very demanding.

Here is a list of common requirements:

  • Signed Commercial Invoice

  • Price list of the commodities in shipment

  • Signed Packing List

  • Purchase Order

  • Authority letter from Consignee

  • Copy of IEC/BIN Number required from importer

Related information:

How to send excess baggage to India

Tips for winning business in India

Why is India an important business market

Send a parcel to India from UK

 

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