In the form of booklets or tubes

Cigarette paper in booklets or tubes

PIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 4813 10 00 (Cigarette paper in booklets or tubes) 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. Import policy is Free subject to PIMS registration, which requires advance online submission and payment of a ₹500 registration fee to obtain an automatic Registration Number valid for 75 days.

What this is

HSN code

4813 10 00

Chapter

48 · Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

PIMS Registration Number from DGFT
Bill of Entry with PIMS expiry date
Registration fee receipt from imports.gov.in

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
Register under PIMS at https://imports.gov.in no earlier than the 75th day and no later than the 5th day before the expected date of arrival. Pay the ₹500 registration fee to obtain the automatic Registration Number, which is valid for 75 days and covers multiple bills of entry for the permitted quantity within that 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 before filing. Customs clearance of the consignment is conditional on the Registration Number being quoted and remaining valid at the time of out-of-charge; a missing or expired number blocks clearance.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022 · DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020 dated 05-07-2022
3
If importing into an SEZ, FTWZ, or as an EOU, register under PIMS at the point of entry into the zone. A DTA unit clearing unprocessed paper from an SEZ/FTWZ/EOU that was already PIMS-registered at zone entry does not require fresh registration — but if processing has resulted in an 8-digit HS code change and the processed item falls under a PIMS-covered tariff line, the DTA importer must register independently.
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 75-day registration window: importers who apply on or after the 5th day before expected arrival have no valid Registration Number at the bill-of-entry stage, causing consignment detention and accumulating demurrage until a fresh registration cycle is completed. The registration window is strict — neither DGFT nor Customs has a post-arrival condonation mechanism for a missed PIMS window — so the application date must be pegged to the vessel's ETA, not to the date of shipment.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4813 10 00 require BIS certification?

No, cigarette paper in booklets or tubes is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the compulsory registration requirement under the Paper Import Monitoring System administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020.

Can one PIMS Registration Number cover multiple bills of entry for the same consignment?

Yes. Multiple bills of entry are permitted under the same Registration Number within its 75-day validity period, provided the total quantity does not exceed the quantity for which the registration was obtained.

Does an SEZ or EOU unit importing cigarette paper under this HSN need PIMS registration?

Yes, PIMS registration is required at the point of import into the SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU; however, a DTA unit clearing unprocessed paper that was already PIMS-registered at zone entry is exempt from re-registration, per DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020.

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