Other

Unmanned aircraft (drones), other than payload-carrying

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 8806 29 00 (unmanned aircraft, other) is subject to a near-absolute import Prohibition administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under Revised Policy Condition No. 03 of Chapter 88, ITC (HS). Import of drones in Completely-Built-Up (CBU), Semi-Knocked-Down (SKD), or Completely-Knocked-Down (CKD) form is Prohibited, with narrow exceptions requiring a DGFT import authorisation issued in consultation with concerned line ministries.

What this is

HSN code

8806 29 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
End-use declaration to CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Confirm the consignment qualifies for one of the enumerated exceptions — import by a government entity, a central or state government-recognised educational institution, a government-recognised R&D entity, or a drone manufacturer for R&D purposes, or import for defence and security purposes. Any CBU, SKD, or CKD drone consignment outside these categories is Prohibited and will be confiscated at the port of entry.
DGFT Notification 54/2015-20 dated 09-02-2022 · Revised Policy Condition No. 03, Chapter 88, ITC (HS)
2
Obtain a DGFT import authorisation before shipment. The authorisation is issued by DGFT in consultation with the concerned line ministries; apply with documentary proof of institutional status (government entity, recognised educational or R&D body, drone manufacturer, or defence and security end-user). File the authorisation at the bill of entry stage.
DGFT Notification 54/2015-20 dated 09-02-2022 · Revised Policy Condition No. 03, Chapter 88, ITC (HS)

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is conflating the Prohibition on CBU/SKD/CKD drone imports with the Free status of drone components: importers attempting to bring in substantially complete drones packaged as component kits face confiscation and prosecution under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, as the Prohibition applies to any form — built-up, semi-knocked-down, or completely knocked-down — not merely finished goods. The DGFT import authorisation must be in hand before vessel departure; no ex-post regularisation path exists for Prohibited-category goods.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8806 29 00 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers this unmanned aircraft tariff line. Import is governed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Revised Policy Condition No. 03 of Chapter 88, ITC (HS), which imposes a Prohibition on CBU, SKD, and CKD drone imports subject to narrow DGFT-authorisation exceptions.

Is the import of drone components also Prohibited under this policy?

No. Revised Policy Condition No. 03 of Chapter 88 explicitly classifies import of drone components as Free; the Prohibition applies only to drones in CBU, SKD, or CKD form under HSN 8806 29 00.

Can a private drone manufacturer import drones in CKD form for R&D without a government affiliation?

Yes, provided the manufacturer obtains a DGFT import authorisation issued in consultation with the concerned line ministries; the exception covers drone manufacturers explicitly, but the authorisation is mandatory and must precede shipment.

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