Everything you need to know — transit times, customs rules, import duties, carrier options and shipping tips for India.
| Carrier | Economy | Express |
|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | — | 2–4 days |
| FedEx | 5–8 days | 2–4 days |
| UPS | 6–10 days | 3–5 days |
| DPD | — | — |
| GLS | — | — |
Business days. Customs clearance time not included — allow 1–5 extra days depending on the goods.
Every shipment to India must include the correct documentation or it will be held at customs.
Must include HS code, declared value in EUR or INR, country of origin, detailed product description, quantity, unit price and total. Indian customs requires extensive detail.
Itemised content list required for all commercial imports — must match the commercial invoice exactly.
Filed electronically by the Indian customs broker/importer via ICEGATE (Indian Customs Electronic Gateway). Your Indian customer's customs broker files this on their behalf.
10-digit code issued by DGFT — mandatory for all commercial importers in India. Your Indian customer must provide their IEC number. Include it on the commercial invoice.
Import duties and taxes apply to all shipments to India. Duty-free de minimis threshold: INR 10,000 (~€110) duty-free for personal imports. Commercial imports: no de minimis — all shipments require full customs entry regardless of value.. VAT/local tax: 18% IGST (Integrated Goods and Services Tax) standard rate on most goods — applied on top of Basic Customs Duty (BCD). Reduced IGST: 12%, 5%, 0% for essential goods..
| Product Category | Typical Duty Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Customs Duty (BCD) — manufactured goods | 10–20% | Most manufactured goods: 10% BCD. Electronics: 0–20%. Textiles: 20%. Machinery: 7.5–10%. |
| Social Welfare Surcharge | 10% of BCD | 10% surcharge on the BCD amount — adds to the effective rate |
| IGST (standard) | 18% | Applied on the assessable value (CIF + BCD + SWS). Reclaimable as input credit by GST-registered Indian importers |
| Medicines and medical equipment | 0% BCD + 5% IGST | Pharmaceuticals and medical devices face lower effective rates |
| Total effective rate (example: 10% BCD) | ~32% | Example: 10% BCD + 1% SWS + 18% IGST on aggregate = ~32% total effective import cost |
Duty rates are indicative. Actual rates depend on the HS code classification of your goods. Consult a customs broker for high-value or complex shipments.
The following items have import restrictions or are prohibited in India. Check carrier guidelines before shipping.
Obtain your Indian customer's IEC number before placing the booking — without it, clearance cannot proceed. Also collect their GSTIN (GST Identification Number) for B2B invoices.
DHL Express is the most reliable carrier for India — strong Mumbai (BOM) and Delhi (DEL) hub operations with dedicated Indian customs clearance teams.
Indian customs clearance can take 3–10 days for examined shipments. Even express shipments should be planned with a 5-day buffer for total delivery time.
Declare accurate HS codes — Indian Customs cross-references declared HS codes against product descriptions and may reclassify goods. Reclassification causes delays and potential duty recalculations.
IGST paid on commercial imports is reclaimable as input credit by GST-registered Indian importers — this makes the effective import cost lower for B2B importers than the headline rates suggest.
Portuguese exporters to India: machinery, chemicals, cork products and pharmaceutical ingredients are established Portuguese export categories. The EU-India BTIA FTA (when concluded) will significantly improve competitiveness.
India applies Basic Customs Duty (BCD) at 0–20% depending on HS code, plus 10% Social Welfare Surcharge on the BCD, plus IGST at 18% (standard) on the total assessable value. The combined effective import cost for most manufactured goods is 28–42%. There is no EU-India FTA, so EU goods face full MFN rates. Medicines and medical equipment face lower rates (0% BCD + 5% IGST).
IEC (Import Export Code) is India's mandatory 10-digit registration code for all commercial importers and exporters, issued by DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade). Every commercial import into India requires the Indian importer to have an IEC. Without it, customs clearance cannot proceed. Always collect your Indian buyer's IEC before shipping — include it on the commercial invoice.
Indian customs (CBIC) uses a risk-based system. 'Green channel' shipments (low-risk, trusted importers): same-day clearance. 'Yellow channel' (document check only): 1–3 days. 'Red channel' (physical examination): 3–10 days. Most commercial first-time imports go through Yellow or Red channel. Always build 3–7 extra days buffer for India beyond express transit time.
All food imports require the Indian importer to hold a FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) import licence for their business. Labels must comply with FSSAI standards — in English or Hindi, with specific information including nutritional facts, FSSAI licence number of the importer, country of origin and best before date. Some food additives permitted in the EU are restricted in India — check FSSAI positive lists for your product.
Not yet — EU-India BTIA (Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement) negotiations were relaunched in June 2022 after a decade-long pause. Progress is ongoing across goods, services, investment, intellectual property and sustainable development chapters. Until the BTIA is concluded, EU goods face India's full MFN tariff rates — making India a more expensive import destination than Japan (EPA 0%) or Canada (CETA 0%).
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