Other

Gold unwrought forms other than bars, ingots or coins

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 7108 12 90 (gold in other unwrought forms) is subject to a Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), permitting import only through nominated agencies notified by the Reserve Bank of India or DGFT, Qualified Jewellers via the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX), or refineries holding an Import Licence with actual-user condition for gold doré. Valid India-UAE TRQ holders notified by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) may import through IIBX and take physical delivery via IFSCA-registered vaults in SEZs.

What this is

HSN code

7108 12 90

Chapter

71 · Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles thereof

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 71

Customs documentation

Import Licence from DGFT
Nominated agency authorisation from RBI or DGFT
TRQ or IIBX trade documentation from IFSCA

Compliance steps

1
Verify that the importer falls within one of the three permitted categories: a nominated agency notified by the Reserve Bank of India or DGFT, a Qualified Jeweller accessing IIBX as notified by IFSCA, or a refinery holding an Import Licence with actual-user condition for gold doré. Import outside these categories is not permissible under the Restricted-import policy.
DGFT Notification 8/2025-26 dated 19-05-2025
2
Ensure compliance with the authorised-bank list updated in Appendix 4B of the Handbook of Procedures 2023. For FY 2025-26 (effective 01-04-2025 through 31-03-2026), banks authorised by RBI to import gold include Indian Overseas Bank, Union Bank of India, and SBER Bank; SBER Bank's authorisation is limited to domestic consumption only and is valid from 25-06-2025 to 31-03-2026.
DGFT Public Notice 40/2025-26 dated 19-12-2025
3
Ensure compliance with DGFT Public Notice 31/2025-26 for any additional procedural or channel-specific requirements applicable to this tariff line at the time of filing the bill of entry.
DGFT Public Notice 31/2025-26 dated 29-10-2025

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that any bank with a general RBI foreign-exchange authorisation qualifies as a nominated agency for gold import. The RBI-nominated list is updated annually and institution-specific: SBER Bank's current authorisation, for instance, is restricted to domestic consumption only and lapses on 31 March 2026. Importers must verify the operative authorisation for their specific entity — and its scope conditions — before the purchase contract is signed, not at bill-of-entry stage.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7108 12 90 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers this product family. Import of gold in other unwrought forms is governed exclusively by the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, permitting import only through nominated agencies, Qualified Jewellers via IIBX, or refineries under an actual-user Import Licence.

Can India-UAE TRQ holders import gold under HSN 7108 12 90 and take physical delivery outside an SEZ?

No. Valid India-UAE TRQ holders notified by IFSCA may import gold through IIBX, but physical delivery is restricted to IFSCA-registered vaults located in SEZs as per IFSCA-prescribed guidelines, per DGFT Notification 8/2025-26.

Is gold doré importable under HSN 7108 12 90 by any refinery?

No. Gold doré may be imported only by refineries that hold a DGFT Import Licence with an actual-user condition; an Import Licence without the actual-user condition does not satisfy the requirement under DGFT Notification 8/2025-26.

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