Binders (other than book covers), folders and file covers
Binders, folders and file covers of paper or paperboard
HSN 4820 30 00 (Binders, folders and file covers) 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 submission of import details and payment of a ₹500 registration fee to obtain an automatic Registration Number before the consignment arrives.
- PIMS Registration Number from DGFT
- Registration expiry date on Bill of Entry
- ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT
Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
- 1Register on the PIMS portal at https://imports.gov.in between the 75th day and 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 validity period.DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022 · ITC (HS) 2022 Chapter 48 policy condition
- 2Enter the PIMS Registration Number and its expiry date in the bill of entry at the time of filing. Customs will not grant clearance of the consignment unless these fields are correctly populated; a missing or expired Registration Number results in consignment detention.DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022
- 3If importing into an SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU, register under PIMS at the point of entry into that unit. A DTA unit clearing unprocessed goods from the SEZ/FTWZ/EOU does not require a fresh PIMS registration, but any processed goods that have undergone an 8-digit HS code change and fall within a PIMS-covered tariff line require a separate DTA-level registration.DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020 dated 05-07-2022 · DGFT Policy Circular 45/2015-20 dated 23-01-2023
The most common error on this tariff line is applying for PIMS registration too late — submissions are only accepted from the 75th day and no later than the 5th day before the expected arrival date; an application outside this window cannot be processed, and the consignment will be detained at port pending a valid Registration Number. The 75-day validity window also catches importers who split a large order across shipments: if the second vessel arrives after the Registration Number has expired, a fresh registration covering the remaining quantity must be obtained before that bill of entry is filed.