Unbleached

Unbleached uncoated kraft paper and paperboard, in rolls or sheets

PIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 4804 31 00 (Unbleached uncoated kraft paper and paperboard) is subject to compulsory registration under the Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), operative from 1 October 2022 under DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25 May 2022. The import policy remains Free subject to PIMS registration, and importers must obtain an automatic Registration Number before the consignment arrives.

What this is

HSN code

4804 31 00

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 with Registration Number and expiry date
ITC (HS) policy compliance declaration

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 online 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 to obtain the automatic Registration Number, which is valid for 75 days and permits multiple bills of entry for the permitted quantity within that validity period.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022 · ITC (HS) 2022 Chapter 48 policy condition
2
Enter the PIMS Registration Number and its expiry date in the bill of entry at the time of filing. Customs clearance of the consignment is conditional on this entry; a bill of entry filed without a valid Registration Number will not be cleared.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022
3
If importing into an SEZ, FTWZ, or as an EOU, obtain PIMS registration at the point of import into the special zone. A DTA unit taking clearance from an SEZ/FTWZ/EOU does not require a fresh PIMS registration unless processing in the zone has resulted in an 8-digit HS code change to another PIMS-covered tariff line.
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 misreading the application window: registration cannot be applied for earlier than 75 days before expected arrival, and an application filed after the 5th day before arrival is non-compliant. An expired or missing Registration Number at the bill-of-entry stage leads to consignment detention and demurrage, as customs will not grant out-of-charge without a valid PIMS Registration Number and expiry date entered in the bill of entry. The 75-day validity clock starts from Registration Number grant, not from the application date.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4804 31 00 require BIS certification?

No, unbleached uncoated kraft paper and paperboard is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Paper Import Monitoring System under DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020, with the import policy classified as Free subject to compulsory PIMS registration.

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

The Registration Number is valid for 75 days from the date of grant; multiple bills of entry are permitted under the same Registration Number within the validity period, provided the total imported quantity does not exceed the registered quantity.

Is PIMS registration required when a DTA unit clears paper from an SEZ or EOU?

Not automatically — if no processing has occurred in the SEZ/FTWZ/EOU and the 8-digit HS code is unchanged from the original PIMS-registered import, no fresh registration is required. If processing has changed the 8-digit code to another PIMS-covered tariff line, the DTA importer must register under PIMS before clearance.

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