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Import export policy: free, restricted, prohibited and SCOMET items
How to check if an item can be imported or exported freely, needs a DGFT licence or is prohibited. Application fees for export and import licences and where to search the ITC (HS) policy.
Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026
The short answer
How to check if an item can be imported or exported freely, needs a DGFT licence or is prohibited. Application fees for export and import licences and where to search the ITC (HS) policy. Key facts: Issued by: DGFT, Ministry of Commerce; Validity: As stated on the licence; Time: Online on the DGFT portal.
Source: content.dgft.gov.in, checked 2 Oct 2026.
What it is
Under the Foreign Trade Policy, exports and imports are free except where they are prohibited, restricted or reserved for state trading enterprises in the ITC (HS) schedules. Schedule 1 is the import policy and Schedule 2 is the export policy, given for each 8-digit HS code.
Before you place an order, find your 8-digit code and read its policy and conditions. If the item is restricted, you need a licence or authorisation from DGFT. If it is prohibited, it cannot be imported or exported at all.
Who needs it
Every importer and exporter should check this once for each product. All imported goods are also subject to domestic laws, technical standards and safety rules, as the General Notes to the import policy say.
Official fees
| Fee | Official amount |
|---|---|
| Application for an export licence or SCOMET authorisation (restricted goods) | ₹1,000Checked on 2 Oct 2026 SourceItem 2 of the scale of fees. |
| Application for an import licence or permission for a restricted item | ₹1 per ₹1,000 of CIF value, minimum ₹500, maximum ₹1 lakhChecked on 2 Oct 2026 SourceItem 3 of the scale of fees. |
| Duplicate licence, or amendment or correction | ₹200 eachChecked on 2 Oct 2026 Source |
Fees and rules change and can differ between offices. Confirm the fee on the official portal before you pay. Amounts marked Not officially verified could not be checked on an official page.
Documents to keep ready
- IEC
- Details of the item with its 8-digit ITC (HS) code
- Documents named in the policy condition for that code (for example a veterinary certificate or a licence from another ministry)
- Invoice or proforma for the value of the import or export
Steps to apply
- Find the 8-digit ITC (HS) code for your product. DGFT policy search
- Read the policy: Free, Restricted, Prohibited or STE (state trading), and any policy conditions.
- If restricted, apply for the licence or authorisation on the DGFT portal and pay the application fee. dgft.gov.in Fee: See fee table
- If prohibited, you cannot trade the item. If it is STE, trade goes through the named state enterprise.
- Also check other laws that apply, such as FSSAI, BIS, CDSCO and quarantine rules.
Where to apply
- DGFT policy search: Search the import and export policy for any HS code
- Schedule 1 General Notes: Import policy rules
- Schedule 2 General Notes: Export policy rules
Govt License is not a government website. We never take government fees or apply for you.
SCOMET items
SCOMET means Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies. Exports of SCOMET items are governed by Appendix 3 of the export schedule and need authorisation. Category 0 items fall under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
What the official lists show
DGFT's published lists name 407 restricted import codes (as on 12 June 2019) and 88 prohibited import codes (updated 12 June 2019). The chapter-wise export policy we read is the 2021 edition. Policies change by DGFT notification, so use the search page above for the current position of your code. Our chapter-by-chapter guide summarises the lists.
After you apply
What to do once the form is submitted: where to track it, how long it takes, why it gets rejected and what the law says if you do not have it.
Track your application
Typical time
Apply online to DGFT headquarters on the DGFT portal
Checked on 5 Oct 2026 Source
If you operate without it
Importing or exporting against the rules can bring a penalty of at least ₹10,000 and up to five times the value of the goods, whichever is more. Using false or tampered papers can bring the same penalty. Under the Customs Act the goods can also be confiscated.
Law: Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act 1992 section 11; Customs Act 1962 sections 111 and 112
Checked on 5 Oct 2026 Source
Common reasons for rejection and how to fix them
| Reason | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Application is incomplete or unauthorised | Fix what the officer lists and reopen it; after 90 days it is treated as withdrawn. |
| Item is restricted or prohibited | Check the ITC (HS) policy for your code before applying. |
| Fee not paid or details wrong | Pay the Appendix 2K fee and match details to your IEC. |
Checked on 5 Oct 2026 Source
Govt License is an independent guide. Fines and rules change, so confirm on the official portal. Items marked Not officially verified could not be checked on an official page.
Common questions
How do I know if I can import or export an item?
What is a restricted item?
What does a licence application cost?
Is the policy the only rule?
Is Govt License a government website?
Related guides
Official sources for this page
- DGFT ITC (HS) 2022 Schedule 1: General Notes regarding Import Policy
- DGFT ITC (HS) Schedule 2: General Notes to Export Policy
- DGFT Appendix 2K: scale of application fees
- DGFT list of restricted items for import (407 codes, as on 12 June 2019)
- DGFT list of prohibited items for import (88 codes, updated 12 June 2019)
- DGFT ITC (HS) Schedule 2: chapter-wise Export Policy (2021 edition)
- DGFT ITC (HS) import and export policy search