Cigarette paper in bulk, or in sheets

Cigarette paper in bulk or in sheets

PIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 4813 90 10 (Cigarette paper in bulk, or in sheets) 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, but no bill of entry may be filed without a valid PIMS Registration Number obtained in advance through the online portal at imports.gov.in.

What this is

HSN code

4813 90 10

Chapter

48 · Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

PIMS Registration Number from DGFT
Bill of entry with PIMS 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 at imports.gov.in not earlier than the 75th day and not later than the 5th day before the expected date of arrival. Pay the registration fee of ₹500; the automatic Registration Number issued is valid for 75 days, and multiple bills of entry for the permitted quantity may be filed against the same registration within that validity window.
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 out-of-charge will not be granted where the Registration Number is absent, expired, or the consignment quantity exceeds the registered quantity.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022
3
If importing into an SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU, register under PIMS at the point of import into that unit. A DTA unit clearing from an SEZ/FTWZ/EOU without processing need not re-register, but if the paper has been processed with a change in 8-digit HS code and the resultant tariff line falls within the PIMS-covered list, a fresh PIMS registration is required.
DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020 dated 05-07-2022 · DGFT Policy Circular 45/2015-2020 dated 23-01-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is misreading the 75-day application window as a maximum lead time when it is in fact the outer boundary — applications submitted more than 75 days before expected arrival are rejected by the portal, and applications filed after the 5-day pre-arrival cutoff leave the importer without a valid Registration Number at the bill-of-entry stage, triggering detention and demurrage. The 75-day validity of the Registration Number also runs from grant date, not from the bill-of-entry date, so consignments subject to shipping delays may arrive with an expired registration.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4813 90 10 require BIS certification?

No, cigarette paper in bulk or in sheets is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed solely by the Paper Import Monitoring System registration requirement under DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020, with import policy classified as Free subject to that compulsory registration.

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

The Registration Number is valid for 75 days from the date of grant; multiple bills of entry for the permitted quantity may be filed against the same registration within that validity period per DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020.

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

Yes. PIMS registration is required at the point of import by an SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU unit; a downstream DTA clearance without processing does not require re-registration, but a DTA unit receiving processed paper with an 8-digit HS code change must register independently if the resultant tariff line is on the PIMS-covered list, per DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020.

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