Paintings, drawings and pastels

Hand-executed paintings, drawings and pastels

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 9701 21 00 (Paintings, drawings and pastels) carries a Free import policy under the ITC (HS) Schedule administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), meaning no import licence is required at the bill-of-entry stage. Importers are nonetheless bound by the export-control laws and rules of the country of origin, and compliance with those foreign-law conditions is a prerequisite for lawful clearance in India.

What this is

HSN code

9701 21 00

Chapter

97 · Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Free import policy, Chapter 97

Customs documentation

Origin export-compliance declaration from exporter
Commercial invoice from exporter

Compliance steps

1
Confirm that the consignment is accompanied by documentation establishing that the exporting country's laws and rules governing the export of paintings, drawings and pastels have been complied with. Failure to produce such evidence at the bill of entry may result in detention pending clarification.
ITC (HS) Import Policy, Chapter 97 — Free-import condition requiring compliance with origin-country export laws
2
File the bill of entry under CTI 9701 21 00 and confirm the Free-policy status with Customs. No DGFT import licence or PGA NOC is required, but the proper officer may call for the origin-country export authorisation as a condition of out-of-charge.
ITC (HS) Import Policy, Chapter 97 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the Free-import status as unconditional. The ITC (HS) policy explicitly requires the importer to abide by the export laws of the country of origin — and for hand-executed artworks, many jurisdictions impose cultural-property export certificates or heritage-export clearances. A consignment that lacks evidence of origin-country export compliance is liable to detention or confiscation even though India's own import policy is unrestricted.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 9701 21 00 require BIS certification?

No, hand-executed paintings, drawings and pastels fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed solely by the ITC (HS) Free-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, subject to compliance with the export laws of the country of origin.

What documentation from the exporting country is required at the bill of entry?

The ITC (HS) policy condition requires evidence that the origin-country's export laws and rules have been satisfied; this typically takes the form of an export permit, cultural-property certificate, or equivalent government-issued authorisation from the exporting country's competent authority.

Does the Free-import policy mean no restrictions apply once the goods reach India?

The Free status means no Indian import licence is required, but it does not override the origin-country export-compliance condition; consignments without that evidence remain subject to detention, confiscation, or re-export under the Customs Act, 1962.

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