Paintings, drawings and pastels

Hand-executed paintings, drawings and pastels

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 9701 91 00 (Paintings, drawings and pastels) is subject to the ITC (HS) Free-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with no licence or permit required at the Indian border. Importers must, however, comply with the export laws and rules of the country of origin governing the outward movement of such works.

What this is

HSN code

9701 91 00

Chapter

97 · Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Bill of entry from CBIC
Origin compliance declaration from exporter

Compliance steps

1
Verify at the purchase stage that the exporting country's own export laws and rules permit the outward movement of the specific painting, drawing, or pastel. Works subject to national heritage-export restrictions, cultural-property bans, or export licence requirements in the country of origin cannot be lawfully imported into India regardless of the Free import status under the ITC (HS) policy.
ITC (HS) Import Policy, Chapter 97 — general condition on compliance with origin-country export laws
2
File the bill of entry under CTI 9701 91 00 with a declaration confirming origin-country export compliance. Retain export-permit documentation, cultural-property clearances, or equivalent certificates issued by the origin country's competent authority as supporting evidence at the bill of entry stage.
ITC (HS) Import Policy, Chapter 97 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The Free import status of this tariff line leads importers to overlook the origin-country export-law condition, which is not a formality. Several major art-exporting jurisdictions — including the EU, United Kingdom, and United States — impose export licences or cultural-property certificates on works above specified age or value thresholds; a consignment arriving without such documentation is treated as unlawfully exported at source, exposing the Indian importer to confiscation proceedings under Section 111 of the Customs Act, 1962, even though the Indian side imposes no licence.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 9701 91 00 require BIS certification?

No. Hand-executed paintings, drawings and pastels are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) Free import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, subject only to the condition that the importer abides by the export laws of the country of origin.

Is any import licence or DGFT permission required to import paintings under this tariff line?

No Indian import licence is required; the ITC (HS) policy for CTI 9701 91 00 is Free. The operative compliance obligation falls on the export side: the importer must ensure the consignment was lawfully exported from the country of origin under that country's applicable rules.

What happens if the origin country's export rules were not complied with?

A consignment imported in breach of the origin country's export laws is liable to confiscation under the Customs Act, 1962, on grounds that the goods were unlawfully removed from the exporting country, irrespective of the Free status on the Indian import side.

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