Export documents & transit times

The Indian exporter's 10-character DGFT registration. No goods can be exported from India without one, and it goes on the shipping bill.

Held by the factory or merchant exporter — overseas buyers don't need one.

Registration-cum-Membership Certificate. The exporter needs it to claim Foreign Trade Policy authorisations and benefits.

Issued by the council for the product's category (e.g. EPCH for handicrafts, AEPC for apparel, CLE for leather, EEPC for engineering).

Solid-wood pallets, crates and dunnage must be heat-treated or fumigated and stamped with the IPPC mark by an accredited agency. Plywood, MDF and plastic pallets are exempt.

Only if the shipment uses solid-wood packaging.

Proves the goods were made in India. Issued on DGFT's eCoO platform (or by an authorised council or chamber) when the buyer, the bank or destination customs asks for one.

There is no India–US free trade agreement in force, so it doesn't lower the duty.

For ocean shipments to the US the importer (or its broker) files the ISF at least 24 hours before the container is loaded in India. Late or missing filings can be penalised.

The supplier provides the manufacturer, seller, container stuffing location and consolidator details.

The seller's invoice: buyer and seller, HS codes, quantities, unit prices, currency, Incoterm and country of origin. Customs at both ends use it to value the goods.

State the Incoterm and place on the invoice, e.g. "FOB Nhava Sheva, Incoterms® 2020".

Carton-by-carton contents, net and gross weights, dimensions and shipping marks. It must match the invoice and the goods exactly.

The customs broker (CHA) files the export declaration on ICEGATE for the exporter; Indian customs then gives the Let Export Order so the goods can be loaded.

Issued by the shipping line or forwarder once the container is loaded. An original bill of lading is a title document — use a sea waybill or telex release when no bank is involved.

Under FOB the buyer's nominated forwarder books the main carriage and issues this.

The importer of record, usually through a licensed customs broker, files the entry in CBP's ACE system (with a customs bond for formal entries) and pays duty.