Letter cards, plain postcards and correspondence cards

Letter cards, plain postcards and correspondence cards of paper

PIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 4817 20 00 (Letter cards, plain postcards and correspondence cards) is subject to compulsory registration under the Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS), administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), as a policy condition under Chapter 48 of the ITC (HS) 2022. Import is otherwise Free under Schedule-I, but the PIMS registration number and its expiry date must be entered on every bill of entry before customs clearance is granted.

What this is

HSN code

4817 20 00

Chapter

48 · Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

PIMS Registration Number from DGFT
Bill of Entry declaration to CBIC
ITC (HS) policy compliance 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
Register on the PIMS online portal 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 remains 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
2
Enter the PIMS Registration Number and its expiry date on the bill of entry at the time of filing. Customs clearance — including out-of-charge — will not be granted unless these fields are correctly populated; a missing or expired registration number renders the consignment liable to detention.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022 · ITC (HS) Chapter 48 policy condition
3
If importing into an SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU, obtain PIMS registration at the point of entry into the zone. A subsequent clearance from the SEZ/FTWZ/EOU to the Domestic Tariff Area does not require fresh PIMS registration provided no processing has occurred; if processing results in a change of 8-digit HS code to another PIMS-covered tariff line, the DTA importer must register independently.
DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020 dated 05-07-2022 · DGFT Policy Circular 45/2015-2020 dated 23-01-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is applying for PIMS registration too close to the vessel's arrival date. The 5-day pre-arrival cut-off is a hard deadline; an application filed after that window cannot generate a valid Registration Number in time, and the consignment will be detained at port accumulating demurrage and ground rent while the importer seeks a corrective registration. Plan registration on the 60th-to-30th day before expected arrival to preserve a buffer against shipping schedule changes.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4817 20 00 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers letter cards, plain postcards or correspondence cards of paper. Import is governed by the compulsory PIMS registration requirement under the ITC (HS) Chapter 48 policy condition administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

How long is the PIMS Registration Number valid, and can it cover more than one shipment?

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

Does an EOU or SEZ unit need PIMS registration for this tariff line?

Yes. PIMS registration is required at the point of import into an SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU; per DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020, the exemption from fresh registration on DTA clearance applies only where no processing has taken place and there is no change in 8-digit HS code.

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