PIMS Registration for Paper Imports — Paper Import Monitoring System
If you import paper or paperboard under Chapter 48, customs will not clear the Bill of Entry without a PIMS registration number. TAXAJ files it on the import monitoring portal against your IEC, checks the HS code, quantity and value before payment, and hands you the number for your customs broker — in the window the rules allow.
- Registration number the same day
- 8-digit HS code check before filing
- Filed 75 to 5 days before arrival
- SEZ, EOU and Advance Authorisation imports
- Bill of Entry fields shared with your CHA
- Repeat consignments tracked for you
What Is PIMS Registration?
The Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) was introduced by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade through DGFT Notification No. 11/2015-20 dated 25 May 2022. It changed the import policy of 201 tariff lines of paper and paper products in Chapter 48 of ITC (HS) Schedule I from "Free" to "Free subject to compulsory registration under PIMS". It has applied to every Bill of Entry filed on or after 1 October 2022.
PIMS is not a licence. Nobody approves or rejects your import. You submit advance details of the consignment online, pay ₹500, and the system issues an automatic registration number beginning with DPIIT-PPR, sent to the mobile number and email on your IEC. You then quote that number and its expiry date in the Bill of Entry. The government uses the data to track under-invoicing, dumping, mis-declaration and imports routed through third countries to claim trade-agreement benefits.
Read This FirstPIMS in 2026: What Is Current
DGFT Public Notice No. 02/2025-26 dated 15 April 2025 consolidated the fee for an automatic registration number under all Import Monitoring Systems at ₹500. The same fee applies to the steel (SIMS) and non-ferrous metal (NFMIMS) monitoring systems.
Virgin multi-layer paper board under HS 48059100, 48059200, 48059300, 48109200 and 48109900 is "Restricted" if its CIF value is below ₹67,220 per tonne. DGFT Notification No. 38/2026-27 dated 30 September 2026 extended this to 31 March 2027. Imports at or above the price stay free, but still need PIMS registration.
DGFT Policy Circular No. 45/2015-20 clarified that sample consignments with an FOB value of up to ₹10,000 are exempt, that air shipments get no exemption, and that imports under Advance Authorisation, DFIA, IGCR, EOU and SEZ all need registration.
Who Needs PIMS Registration
Coverage follows the 8-digit HS code on your invoice and Bill of Entry, not the trade name of the product. If your item sits in one of the 201 notified lines of Chapter 48, you need a registration number for each consignment, whatever your size or the reason you are importing.
Converters and printers
Kraft paper, coated and uncoated paper, paperboard, newsprint and litho/offset paper bought abroad for printing, packaging or conversion.
Traders and distributors
Importers of tissue and toilet paper, cartons, labels, envelopes, notebooks, letter pads and stationery made of paper.
Scheme and zone units
Units importing under Advance Authorisation, DFIA or IGCR, and units in SEZs, FTWZs and EOUs at the point of import.
Covered, typically
- Newsprint, handmade paper, wallpaper base and drawing paper
- Kraft paper and paperboard, coated and uncoated
- Tissue, toilet and facial paper
- Cartons, boxes and other paper packaging
- Labels, envelopes, letter pads, account books
- Air, sea and land shipments alike
Not covered, or exempt
- Currency paper, bank bond and cheque paper, security printing paper (excluded from the notification)
- Sample consignments with FOB value up to ₹10,000
- Clearance from an SEZ, FTWZ or EOU into the domestic tariff area, if the paper was registered on entry and not processed
- Non-commercial imports under a common IEC, case by case under Para 2.58 of the Foreign Trade Policy
PIMS Rules at a Glance
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| When to apply | Not earlier than 75 days and not later than 5 days before the expected date of arrival of the consignment |
| Fee | ₹500 per registration number, paid online. Not refundable |
| Validity | 75 days from issue |
| Multiple shipments | Several Bills of Entry can be filed against one registration number within its validity, up to the quantity registered |
| Bill of Entry | Registration number and its expiry date must be entered so customs can clear the goods |
| Documents | No paper documents go to any authority. The application is online, against your IEC |
| Changes | Check every field before you pay. If the details change after issue, plan for a fresh registration and fee |
| Wrong or missing data | Action under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 is possible for incorrect information |
Your shipment lands on the 20th. The registration must be generated by the 15th at the latest, and could have been filed as early as the 75th day before arrival.Most delays we see are an IEC whose mobile number or email no longer works, so the registration number never reaches the importer. Fix the IEC first; we do that as part of the job.
Information Needed for the PIMS Application
About the importer
- IEC (Importer-Exporter Code), active and updated
- Access to the mobile number and email on the IEC, for the OTP and the registration number
- GSTIN and address of the importing unit
- For SEZ, FTWZ or EOU units: the unit's approval details
About the consignment
- 8-digit HS code and product description for each item
- Quantity with unit, and CIF value
- Country of origin and country of export
- Exporter or manufacturer name and address
- Port of import and expected date of arrival
- Proforma or commercial invoice, and bill of lading or airway bill if issued
How TAXAJ Files Your PIMS Registration
Coverage check
We match each item's 8-digit HS code against the notified lines. For paper board, we also check the CIF value against the ₹67,220 per tonne minimum import price.
IEC and timing check
We confirm the IEC is active and its contact details work, and that the expected arrival date falls inside the 75-to-5-day window.
Online application
We log in with your IEC on the import monitoring portal (imports.gov.in) and enter importer, product, quantity, value, origin, exporter and port details.
Review before payment
You approve a summary of the draft. Once paid, the registration cannot be edited, so this is the step that saves a second fee.
Fee and registration number
The ₹500 fee is paid online and the system issues the registration number (DPIIT-PPR…) with its expiry date, sent to the IEC's mobile and email.
Handover to your CHA
We send the number, expiry date and registered quantity to you and your customs broker for the Bill of Entry, and track balance quantity for later shipments.
SEZ, FTWZ, EOU and Advance Authorisation Imports
| Situation | PIMS needed? |
|---|---|
| SEZ or FTWZ unit imports covered paper | Yes, at the point of import into the zone |
| EOU imports covered paper | Yes |
| DTA buyer clears the same paper from an SEZ, FTWZ or EOU, not processed | No, if it was registered on entry |
| DTA buyer clears it after processing that changed the 8-digit HS code to a covered line | Yes, the DTA importer registers |
| Import under Advance Authorisation, DFIA or IGCR | Yes, the scheme makes no difference |
| Temporary or returnable import | Yes, with no fee waiver |
Common PIMS Mistakes
Wrong HS code
A mismatch between the HS code on the registration and on the Bill of Entry stops clearance. Fix the classification before you file, not at the port.
Filing too late
The last day is the 5th day before arrival. Vessel delays don't open the window again; a lapsed number needs a new registration.
Stale IEC contacts
The registration number goes only to the IEC's mobile and email. Update the IEC on the DGFT portal first.
Quantity under-declared
Later Bills of Entry can only use the quantity left on the registration. Register what you will actually import.
Ignoring the paper board MIP
Below ₹67,220 per tonne CIF, the listed paper board lines are restricted and need more than PIMS.
Assuming samples are free
Only samples up to ₹10,000 FOB are exempt. Show the FOB value on the commercial invoice.
What TAXAJ Does, and What You Provide
We handle
- HS code and coverage check, including the paper board MIP
- IEC check, and modification if contact details are out of date
- Drafting and filing the PIMS application
- Fee payment guidance and registration number with expiry date
- Bill of Entry details for your CHA and balance-quantity tracking
- Related services: IEC, AD Code on ICEGATE, GST on imports
You provide
- IEC number and OTP access on the IEC mobile or email
- Proforma or commercial invoice for the consignment
- Expected arrival date and port of import
- Exporter or manufacturer details and country of origin
- Bill of lading or airway bill, once issued
PIMS Registration — Frequently Asked Questions
What is PIMS registration?
It is a mandatory online registration under the Paper Import Monitoring System for importing paper and paper products covered by 201 tariff lines of Chapter 48 of ITC (HS). You submit advance details of each consignment, pay ₹500, and get an automatic registration number to quote in the Bill of Entry.
What is the PIMS registration fee?
₹500 per registration number, paid online, as fixed in Appendix 2K of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 (Public Notice No. 02/2025-26 dated 15 April 2025). The fee is not refundable. Our professional fee is ₹4,999 plus GST for the first registration, ₹2,499 plus GST for each repeat registration for the same importer and product, or ₹7,999 plus GST for a monthly pack of up to 4 registrations. The government fee is charged separately.
When can I apply for PIMS registration?
Not earlier than the 75th day and not later than the 5th day before the expected date of arrival of the consignment.
How long is a PIMS registration valid?
75 days from issue. Within that period you can file several Bills of Entry against the same number, up to the quantity you registered.
Is PIMS a licence or approval?
No. It is an automatic registration. The system issues the number once the details and fee are submitted; nobody reviews or approves it. It is mandatory, though: customs will not clear covered paper without it.
Do I need PIMS for air shipments or small quantities?
Yes for air shipments: DGFT has refused any exemption for air cargo. Small commercial quantities also need it. Only sample consignments with an FOB value of up to ₹10,000 are exempt.
Does an SEZ or EOU unit need PIMS registration?
Yes, at the time of import. When the same paper is later cleared to a domestic buyer without processing, the buyer does not need to register again. If processing changed the 8-digit HS code into a covered line, the domestic importer registers.
Do imports under Advance Authorisation need PIMS?
Yes. DGFT Policy Circular No. 45/2015-20 (23 January 2023) clarified that PIMS applies whatever the scheme, including Advance Authorisation, DFIA, IGCR, EOU and SEZ.
Which paper products are outside PIMS?
Currency paper, bank bond and cheque paper, and security printing paper were excluded from the notification. Anything not in the 201 notified tariff lines is also outside it. Coverage depends on the 8-digit HS code.
Is there a minimum import price for paper?
For virgin multi-layer paper board under HS 48059100, 48059200, 48059300, 48109200 and 48109900, yes: imports with a CIF value below ₹67,220 per tonne are restricted until 31 March 2027 (DGFT Notification No. 38/2026-27). At or above that price they are free, subject to PIMS registration.
Can I edit a PIMS registration after it is issued?
Plan on no. Draft applications can be changed before submission, but once the fee is paid the registration stands as issued. If the product, quantity or arrival details change, a fresh registration and fee are usually needed, which is why we review the draft with you before paying.
What happens if I import without PIMS registration?
Customs will hold the Bill of Entry until a valid registration number and expiry date are entered. Giving wrong information in PIMS can also lead to action under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992.
Paper Shipment on the Way? Get PIMS Done Before It Lands
Send us the invoice and the expected arrival date. A TAXAJ team member checks the HS code, files the registration and sends the number to your customs broker, usually the same working day.
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