Poster paper

Uncoated poster paper in rolls, PIMS registration required

PIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 4802 61 20 (Poster paper) is subject to compulsory registration under the Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022, as a condition of the otherwise Free import policy under Chapter 48 of ITC (HS) 2022. Importers must obtain an automatic PIMS Registration Number before the expected date of arrival and declare it on the bill of entry to obtain customs clearance.

What this is

HSN code

4802 61 20

Chapter

48 · Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp

Primary regulator

PIMS · ITC (HS) Free policy subject to compulsory PIMS registration, Chapter 48

Customs documentation

PIMS Registration Number from DGFT
Bill of entry declaration to CBIC
Registration expiry date from DGFT

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

PIMSPIMS·Paper Import Monitoring System

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Apply for PIMS registration at https://imports.gov.in no earlier than the 75th day and no later than the 5th day before the expected date of arrival of the consignment. Pay the registration fee of ₹500; the automatic Registration Number is valid for 75 days and covers multiple bills of entry for the permitted quantity within that validity period.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022
2
Enter the PIMS Registration Number and its expiry date in the bill of entry before filing at customs. Failure to quote a valid, current Registration Number prevents out-of-charge and renders the consignment liable to detention until a compliant registration is produced.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022
3
If the consignment is imported into an SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU, obtain PIMS registration at the point of import into that unit. A DTA clearance from the SEZ/FTWZ/EOU requires fresh PIMS registration only if processing has changed the HS code at the 8-digit level to another PIMS-covered tariff line; unprocessed paper cleared to DTA does not require a second registration.
DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020 dated 05-07-2022 · DGFT Policy Circular 45/2015-20 dated 23-01-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is applying for PIMS registration too late — the 5-day pre-arrival cut-off is a hard deadline, not an administrative guideline, and an application filed after that window cannot be processed in time to produce a valid Registration Number for the bill of entry. A consignment arriving without a live Registration Number faces detention and accumulating demurrage while a retrospective registration is sought; the 75-day validity window also means that early registrations expire before arrival if the vessel is delayed.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4802 61 20 require BIS certification?

No, poster paper in rolls is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this product family. Import is governed by the compulsory PIMS registration condition administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020, with the import policy otherwise classified as Free under Chapter 48 of ITC (HS) 2022.

How long is a PIMS Registration Number valid, and can it cover multiple shipments?

The Registration Number is valid for 75 days from issuance. Multiple bills of entry are permitted under the same Registration Number within that validity period, provided the imported quantity does not exceed the quantity for which registration was obtained.

Does an EOU or SEZ unit need a separate PIMS registration when clearing poster paper into the DTA?

Only if processing in the SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU has resulted in a change of HS code at the 8-digit level to another PIMS-covered tariff line; if the paper remains unprocessed, no second PIMS registration is required for the DTA clearance, per DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: PIMS / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.