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Booklet for Saudi Nationals visiting India

Chapter No. V.

Deals with Custom clearance of Consignments

PROCEDURE FOR CUSTOMS CLEARANCE OF GOODS ADMISSIBLE FOR DUTY FREE IMPORT

The routine import of household goods/personal effects of the Diplomat/Official on first arrival

are allowed to be cleared {on forms No.7 (Annexure VI) & Form 8 (Annexure VII)}. Indeed, Prior

Approval is needed in case a Diplomatic mission/Diplomatic agent is intending to import electrical,

electronic, computers, and motor vehicles for official use /personal use after the first arrival.

A. EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE 1. An Exemption Certificate (EC) duly attested by the Protocol Special Section of the Ministry

of External Affairs, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, New Delhi, enables the Diplomats/Officials

located in Delhi and their privileged Members to clear Personal Effects/Household

goods/Official Goods/motor vehicles etc. by availing of Exemption from payment of Customs

Duty. The members of the Foreign Representations and their members functioning in

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different states of India can avail their Exemption Certificates from the Protocol Department

of the State Govt. concerned.

2. The EC will be submitted in prescribed Forms {No.7 (Annexure VI), Form 8 (annexure VII),

Form 9(Annexure VIII)} in quadruplicate with a Note Verbale, with all the relevant

documents duly signed by the Diplomat/Official and authenticated by the Head of the

Mission concerned. The quadruplicate copies – each will be market, ‘original, ‘duplicate,

triplicate, and quadruplicate.’ The Protocol Special Division of MEA will return the original

and duplicate copies of the EC duly attested to the Embassy/Mission to be submitted to the

respective Customs Authority for release of goods, without payment of Customs Duty, of the

items in the EC.

B. Documents to be attached with ECs:

ECs will in all cases, be accompanied by the following documents duly stamped by

the Embassy in respective order:

a) Prior Approval for the Protocol Special Section for the import, wherever required (as

mentioned above)

b) Invoice and the Packing List in original c) Airway Bill, Bill of Lading or Postal Notice depending on the mode of import.

d) Certificate of origin of goods from supplier

e) Cargo Arrival Notice/Delivery order issued by the Airport/Port/Postal Authority

concerned

f) For import of publicity material, publications, books, magazines, recorded videos, audio

cassettes, DVDs, VCDs. Etc. and the details like volume, subject matter, no. of copies

and packages, language, value and any relevant detail should be enclosed. ECs. Merely

stating “Printed material/recorded video cassettes” will not be accepted.

g) For import of electronic/electrical equipment, the invoice will contain the following

additional specific details:

i. Make & Model of the Item

ii. Capacity of the Air conditioner, Size of Television Screen, Computer Hardware

Specifications and

iii. Serial No. of the equipment.

h) For import of wireless communication equipment, satellite phones, GPS systems,

satellite earth stations, prior approval of the Government of India, to be obtained

through Protocol III Section, shall invariably be furnished.

i) For import of motor vehicles; details of make, model, year of manufacture,

transmission, displacement, Right Hand /Left Hand (Left hand vehicles are not

allowed in India), and a certificate of compliance with emission norms (Now Euro – IV

and above) shall be communicated. The norms of emission will conform to Euro-IV or

Bharat Stage –IV or higher as notified from time to time.

j) For import of auto spare parts; a list of parts, their serial numbers and registration

number, make and model of vehicle for which the spare parts are being imported will

also be provided.

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k) Depending on the kind of import and its intended/subsequent use, an undertaking will

be enclosed with each copy of the EC as per the following formats:

a) Imports for Official use:

“This is to certify that the articles specified in the enclosed Exemption Certificate are

intended for the Official use of (name of the Embassy/mission) and that they are

the property (Name of the Sending State) and will continue to be so.”

Official Seal of Embassy/Mission Signature of Head of Mission

(or officer authorized to sign on his behalf)

Place:

Date:

b) Import of Personal and Household Effects.

“ Certified that I arrived in India on …………(date) and that the goods being imported

under the Exemption Certificate No……dated…..were my properties at the time of my first

arrival in India.” Signature of the Diplomat/Official.

Place:

Date:

Countersigned by the Head of Mission with Seal of the Mission.

c) Import of Samples and other items for display/demonstration in the

Embassy/Consulate/Attaché Offices.

“ This is to certify that the samples mentioned in exemption Certificate

No……………..dated……are the product of…………(name of the country/Organization) and are

solely for display and/or demonstration inside the premises of the office of …………..of this

Mission/Attaché Office. If these samples are used for display and demonstration purposes at

a place, other than the premises mentioned above, the customs duty leviable there shall be

paid by this Mission.”

Official Seal of Mission Signature of Head of Mission

(or Officer authorized to sign on his behalf)

Place:

Date:

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l) For importing items in replacement of those re-exported earlier, ECs will be

accompanied by an ‘Export Certificate’ issued by Customs Authorities of the

Port/Airport of re-export.

C) Unutilized ECs.

The ‘Original’ and Duplicate copies of all attested ECs remaining un-utilized for three

months from the date of attestation will invariably be returned to the attesting authority

for cancellation.

D) Guidance to filing ECs for attestation by the Ministry of External Affairs:

To avoid delays in processing ECs for attestation, the missions should ensure the following:

a) ECs filed for attestation in each calendar year should bear separate running

numbers for items for ‘official use’ of the Mission and for ‘personal’ use of

individual Privileged Persons for all categories of imports;

b) Items listed in the ECs should be limited to the expressly required for official

use of the Mission or for personal use of the privileged persons or members of

their family;

c) Each item should be clearly listed separately.

d) The individual and the collective value of the items should invariably be

recorded in equivalent Indian Rupees in the relevant Column of EC.

e) Alterations, striking through a word or sentence and overwriting should be

avoided.

E) Countersigning of ECs

1. Ecs. For items for ‘Official use’ should be signed by the Head of Mission. ECs. For

items of ‘personal use’ of a privileged person or member of his family will be signed

by the privileged person concerned and countersigned by Head of mission.

2. Head of missions with ten or more privileged persons can delegate the responsibility

of countersigning to another senior Diplomat of the Mission

F) Specimen signatures of Countersigning Authority:

Three copies of the specimen signature of the countersigning authority on separate

sheets with official seal of the Mission will be submitted to the Protocol Special Section.

G) Demurrage

The Embassy/Mission should ensure early clearance of their consignments so as to

avoid demurrage charges. Requests for waiving of or refund of demurrage charges could be

considered only if the delay is directly attributable to the administrative processing time in

Protocol Division.

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H) Restrictions on import of publicity material

a) Dip. Missions may import calendars, diaries, publicity posters and booklets for free

distribution on exemption from duty provided such material has been produced or

manufactured by the country importing it.

b) For import of publicity material, books, magazines, printed material etc. as OFFICIAL

PURPOSE, the mission will make clear distinction between material for official use and

for free distribution for publicity purpose for free donation and the fact will be clearly

declared in the exemption.

c) Import of Religious books, tourism & educational material.

E. C. will not be issued for Religious books when it is for free distribution/donation.

Tourism publicity material also does not qualify for exemption from payment of customs

duty.

d) Import of beef and poultry in any form is prohibited as per Exam policy.

e) Import of wireless telecommunication system/dish antenna/GPS system/earth station or

other advanced communication system are governed by regulations contained in circular

Note Verbale No. DIII/451/1/2001-Pt dated: April 10, 2003 (Annexure XVI.)

f) Facility for Import of Tapestry/fabric material has been withdrawn.

g) Export of Antique items, including Coin, sculpture, manuscript, work of art or

craftsmanship, any article detached from a historical building or cave, article of science,

art, crafts, literature, religion, custom, moral or politics in bygone ages or objects

declared by the central government to an antiquity in existence for not less than one

hundred years, outside India is prohibited -- under Export Control Act -1947.

h) The Trading in Shahtoosh Shawls has been declared illegal in India, in Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

i) At the port of exit in India, the Customs authorities are empowered to seek a declaration

from passengers that their baggage does not contain any antiquities except those for

which valid and proper export license has been obtained.

I) CUSTOMS REGULATIONS FOR CLEARANCE AND INFORMATION FOR IMPORTS

HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND PERSONAL ON FIRST ARRIVAL: (WHEN THE CONSIGNEE AND CONSIGNOR ARE THE SAME)

The consignment under this category is cleared on BD FORM (Baggage Declaration Form) available at the airport. It is deemed that the diplomat/official arriving in India on Diplomatic assignment Visa will bring with him his used household goods and personal effects on transfer of his residence.

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a) DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

1. PERSONAL BAGGAGE ON FIRST ARRIVAL OF DIPLOMAT/OFFICIAL:

2. Exemption Certificate from the Protocol Special, Govt. of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, New Delhi, on Form No.8 Original & Duplicate.

3. Original Passport

4. Original Bill of Lading/Airway bill

5. Packing list/Invoice

6. Baggage Declaration Form duly sealed and signed by the Diplomat/Official

7. Original DO

8. GATT declaration

9. Authority letter in the name of the Customs Officer authorizing the CHA/agents to clear the consignment on behalf of the Diplomat and forward the same to the residence of Diplomat/Official.

b) ABOUT PERSONAL CONSIGNMENTS TO BE CLEARED AFTER THE FIRST ARRIVAL OF DIPLOMAT/OFFICIAL:

(The subsequent imports can only be undertaken with the Prior Approval of the Protocol Special of the Government of India, New Delhi).

a) Exemption Certificate from the Protocol Special, Govt. of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, New Delhi, on Form No.8 (Original & Duplicate)(for personal effects)

b) Original Bill of Lading/Airway bill

c) Packing list/Invoice

d) Bill of Entry/BD Form duly sealed and signed by the Diplomat/Official

e) Original DO

f) GATT Declaration

g) Authority letter in the name of the Customs Officer authorizing the CHA/agents to clear the consignment on behalf of the Diplomat/Official and forward the same to his address.

c) OFFICIAL CONSIGNMENTS OF THE MISSION:

All Official consignments of the Embassy would be covered by the following procedure: Prior Approval is mandatory and is to be obtained from the Protocol Special, Govt. of India, New Delhi, for any official consignment from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia i.e. Electronic, Electrical, Computer and its accessories, Air conditioners etc i.e. Capacity of the Air conditioners, Size of Television Screen, Computer Hardware Specifications and Serial No. of the equipment. After Prior Concurrence, the EC is to be sent with

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the PA along with AWB, Invoice, Packing list, Serial Numbers of the items being imported, brochures and their price:

1. Exemption Certificate from the Protocol Special, Govt. of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, New Delhi, on Form No.7 (for official consignments) Original & Duplicate.

2. Original Bill of Lading/Air waybill

3. Packing list/Invoice

4. Bill of Entry Form duly sealed and signed by the Head of the Mission with Diplomatic seal.

5. Original DO

6. GATT Declaration

7. Authority letter from the Head of the Mission in the name of the Customs Officer authorizing the CHA/agents to clear the consignment on behalf of the Diplomatic Mission and forward the same to the Mission’s address.

d) SPECIFIC INFORMATION

a) New goods imported, after taking PRIOR APPROVAL of MEA, are intended only for personal use of the Diplomat/Official and their family members and not to be sold before the expiry of three years from the date of import.

b) Diplomats/Official may re-export household goods and personal effects on

completion of their assignments in India.

c) Diplomats are not required to be present at the Customs Clearance

d) The Royal Embassy in New Delhi/Consulate in Mumbai will obtain the EC after the physical arrival of the Shipment in India.

e) Catalogue, Technical write up, Literature in case of machineries, spares or

chemicals as may be applicable f) Certificate of Origin to be included in MEA documents

g) The household goods/personal effects can be imported within two years of their

arrival into India in case of Diplomats and within four (4) months in case of Special/Official passport holders.

h) The clearance of the goods at the customs can only be affected by filing the

documents on line through some approved CHA.

e) Some of the approved Customs House Agents approved by the Delhi

Chambers of Commerce can be seen in the link below:

http://www.delhichamber.co.in/Custom-Freight-Shipping-

Cargo.asp?ALP=All

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Annexure Form 7 (Custom Duty Exemption Certificate for official use)

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Annexure Form 8 (Custom Duty Exemption Certificate for personal use)

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Annexure Form 9 (Custom Duty Exemption Certificate for Motor Vehicle)

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Annexure Ministry’s Note No. D-VI/451(1)/1/98

List of Importable Items for personal use

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