With maximum take-off weight more than 7 kg but not more than 25 kg

Unmanned aircraft (drones) 7 kg to 25 kg maximum take-off weight

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 8806 93 00 (unmanned aircraft with maximum take-off weight above 7 kg and up to 25 kg) is subject to a Prohibited import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under Revised Policy Condition No. 03 of Chapter 88. Import of drones in Completely-Built-Up (CBU), Semi-Knocked-Down (SKD), or Completely-Knocked-Down (CKD) form is prohibited for commercial importers, with narrow exceptions requiring DGFT import authorisation issued in consultation with concerned line ministries.

What this is

HSN code

8806 93 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
Entity eligibility declaration to CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Confirm importer eligibility before filing a bill of entry: only Government entities, central- or state-government-recognised educational institutions, government-recognised R&D entities, drone manufacturers importing for R&D, and defence and security importers qualify for the exemption. Commercial importers outside these categories face a Prohibited-import bar and cannot obtain clearance regardless of value or quantity.
DGFT Notification 54/2015-20 dated 09-02-2022 · Revised Policy Condition No. 03 of Chapter 88
2
Obtain a DGFT import authorisation issued in consultation with the concerned line ministry before shipment. The authorisation must specify the purpose (R&D or defence/security), the form of import (CBU, SKD, or CKD), and the importing entity category. File this authorisation at the bill-of-entry stage as the primary DGFT clearance document.
DGFT Notification 54/2015-20 dated 09-02-2022 · Revised Policy Condition No. 03 of Chapter 88

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is confusing the free-import status of drone components with the Prohibited status of assembled or knocked-down drone units. Policy Condition No. 03 draws the line at the drone as a unit — CBU, SKD, and CKD forms are all Prohibited without prior DGFT authorisation — while standalone drone components remain free. Importing a CKD kit without prior authorisation and attempting to classify the shipment as components exposes the consignment to confiscation and the importer to monetary penalty under the Customs Act, 1962.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8806 93 00 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers unmanned aircraft in this weight category. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) Prohibited-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Revised Policy Condition No. 03 of Chapter 88, with a narrow DGFT import-authorisation pathway for eligible entities.

Are drone components also prohibited under this policy condition?

No. Revised Policy Condition No. 03 of Chapter 88, per DGFT Notification 54/2015-20 dated 09-02-2022, explicitly designates drone component imports as Free; only import of complete drones in CBU, SKD, or CKD form is Prohibited without prior authorisation.

What happens if a commercial importer ships a drone in this weight class without DGFT authorisation?

The consignment is liable to detention and confiscation as a Prohibited-import under the Customs Act, 1962; no out-of-charge will be granted, and the importer faces monetary penalty and potential prosecution under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.

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