With maximum take-off weight not more than 250 g

Unmanned aircraft (drones) with maximum take-off weight up to 250 g

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 8806 21 00 (unmanned aircraft with maximum take-off weight not more than 250 g) is governed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under a Prohibited import policy for drones in Completely-Built-Up, Semi-Knocked-Down, or Completely-Knocked-Down form, per Revised Policy Condition No. 03 of Chapter 88. Narrow exceptions permit import by government entities, recognised educational and R&D institutions, drone manufacturers for R&D, and defence and security agencies, each subject to a DGFT import authorisation issued in consultation with the concerned line ministry.

What this is

HSN code

8806 21 00

Chapter

88 · Aircraft, spacecraft and parts thereof

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Prohibited import policy, Revised Policy Condition No. 03, Chapter 88

Customs documentation

Import authorisation from DGFT
Line ministry concurrence from DGFT
Policy condition declaration to CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Verify at the outset that the importer falls within one of the permitted categories — government entity, central or state government-recognised educational institution, government-recognised R&D entity, drone manufacturer for R&D, or defence and security agency. Import of drones in CBU, SKD, or CKD form outside these categories is Prohibited and liable to confiscation at the bill of entry.
Revised Policy Condition No. 03 of Chapter 88 · DGFT Notification 54/2015-20 dated 09-02-2022
2
Obtain a DGFT import authorisation issued in consultation with the concerned line ministry before shipment. The authorisation must be presented at the bill of entry; consignments arriving without a valid authorisation are detained and subject to re-export or confiscation.
Revised Policy Condition No. 03 of Chapter 88 · DGFT Notification 54/2015-20 dated 09-02-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is conflating the Prohibited status of the assembled drone with the Free status of drone components: while import of drone components under HSN 8806 21 00 is Free, import of the same product in CBU, SKD, or CKD form without a DGFT import authorisation constitutes a Prohibited-goods contravention regardless of the drone's weight class. Shipments declared as components but containing a functional or near-functional drone assembly are routinely re-assessed as CBU imports, resulting in confiscation and monetary penalty.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8806 21 00 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers unmanned aircraft in this weight class. Import is governed instead by the ITC (HS) Prohibited import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Revised Policy Condition No. 03 of Chapter 88, which mandates a DGFT import authorisation for all CBU, SKD, and CKD drone imports outside the specified exempt categories.

Are drone components also Prohibited under this tariff line?

No. Import of drone components is Free under the Revised Policy Condition No. 03 of Chapter 88; the Prohibited status applies only to drones imported in Completely-Built-Up, Semi-Knocked-Down, or Completely-Knocked-Down form.

Can a private drone manufacturer import CBU drones under the R&D exception?

Yes, but only if the manufacturer is importing for R&D purposes and has obtained a DGFT import authorisation issued in consultation with the concerned line ministry; commercial import or import without the authorisation remains Prohibited regardless of the importer's manufacturing status.

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