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Customs Clearance (CHA) for Importers and Exporters
Customs clearance is the filing and follow-up that lets goods leave the port, airport or ICD: the Bill of Entry for imports or the Shipping Bill for exports, assessment and duty, any examination, and release. Sanmayu handles it for you, ideally starting before your cargo arrives, and delivers the goods to your door.
Free first consultation · a named contact replies
Who needs customs clearance support?
Every shipment that crosses India's border is cleared by customs. Most businesses use a customs broker because a filing error costs storage days at the port.
- Importers and tradersBringing finished goods or components in, by sea or air, regularly or for the first time.
- Overseas manufacturersSelling into India through an Indian importer or an authorised representative.
- ExportersShipping goods out, who need the Shipping Bill filed and the export documents in order.
Is a CHA the same as a Customs Broker?
Yes. "Customs Broker" is the current name for the licensed agent who transacts customs business for you; "CHA", for Custom House Agent, is the older name most people still use. Both mean the same service.
How does import customs clearance work?
Ten stages, from your documents to your door. The right-hand column is what most often slows each stage.
| Stage | Who acts | What happens | What can hold it up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Document check | Sanmayu with you | Invoice, packing list and transport document checked against each other | Values, quantities or names that do not match |
| 2 · Classification | Sanmayu with you | HS code confirmed; it sets the duty and the licences the goods need | A code that triggers a different duty or licence |
| 3 · Licences | Sanmayu | BIS, WPC, LMPC or EPR evidence attached where the product needs it | A required certification that does not exist yet. Sanmayu also handles these |
| 4 · Bill of Entry | Sanmayu | Import declaration filed electronically | Filing errors and amendments |
| 5 · Assessment | Customs | Duty assessed; queries raised if anything is unclear | Queries on value or classification |
| 6 · Duty payment | You | Assessed duty paid | Late payment |
| 7 · Examination | Customs | Physical check if the shipment is selected | Goods that differ from the declaration |
| 8 · Out of charge | Customs | Customs releases the goods | Open queries or missing documents |
| 9 · Terminal release | Terminal or CFS | Cargo handed over after charges are settled | Storage charges building up |
| 10 · Delivery | Sanmayu | Goods moved to your door | Inland transport scheduling |
Which documents are needed for import clearance?
| Document | Why it is needed | Common problem |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Sets the value duty is calculated on | Value questioned by customs |
| Packing list | Shows what is in each package | Counts that do not match the invoice |
| Bill of lading or airway bill | Proves the shipment and the consignee | Consignee name differs from the importer |
| IEC | Identifies the importer or exporter | Not yet registered or details outdated. Get your IEC |
| Certificate of origin | Needed to claim a trade-agreement duty rate | Wrong format for the agreement |
| Product certification | BIS registration, WPC ETA, LMPC or EPR where the product is regulated | Missing approval puts the cargo on hold. Find my certification |
| Insurance | Part of the declared value on some terms of sale | Not provided when required |
Can the Bill of Entry be filed before the cargo arrives?
Yes. Filing in advance lets assessment start while the ship or aircraft is still on its way, so fewer days pass at the port. It is the main reason to bring a customs broker in early: the documents are checked once, before anything is charged by the day.
What does customs clearance cost?
Three separate parts, each paid to a different party. We quote ours and tell you the others as they are assessed, so you can see where each part comes from. Your first consultation is free.
- Duties and taxesAssessed by customs on the declared value and the HS code.
Paid toCustoms
Goes up or down withHS code, declared value, origin and any trade-agreement claim.
- Port and terminalHandling, and storage or detention if cargo waits.
Paid toThe terminal, CFS, or shipping line
Goes up or down withDays the cargo waits, container or loose cargo, examination.
- Our serviceDocument check, filing, follow-up with customs and delivery coordination.
Paid toSanmayu
Goes up or down withNumber of lines and HS codes, number of shipments, delivery distance.
What moves the total up or down
- Documents that matchA clean set filed before arrival avoids amendments and daily charges.
- Regulated productsGoods needing BIS, WPC or LMPC evidence add that work, or are held without it.
- ExaminationA selected shipment is opened and checked, which adds handling and waiting.
- Sea or air, and how oftenMode of transport and a regular flow of shipments change how the work is set up.
Get a quote for your shipment
A named contact reads your details and replies with our part, plus what to expect from customs and the terminal.
- What the goods are and the country they come from
- Import or export, sea or air, and the port
- Invoice and packing list, if you have them
- Whether the goods need BIS, WPC or LMPC
Free first consultation covers
- Whether your product or activity falls under this service, and what its scope is.
- Which approvals, schemes or registrations apply to your case.
- The list of documents you will need to gather.
- What a named contact needs from you to prepare a quote.
The first consultation is free. Any work after it is quoted separately, and you decide whether to go ahead.
What holds cargo up at customs?
- Classification queriesAn HS code that customs reads differently changes duty and licences. Settle it before filing.
- Missing certificationRegulated products without BIS, WPC or LMPC evidence are held. Sanmayu handles those approvals too.
- Demurrage, detention and storageThree different daily charges: the shipping line's for the container, for keeping it outside, and the terminal's for storage. They grow while documents wait.
- Mismatched documentsInvoice, packing list and bill of lading must tell the same story, down to the consignee name.
How is export clearance different?
For exports the Shipping Bill replaces the Bill of Entry, and the sequence runs the other way: documents, Shipping Bill, examination if selected, then "let export" before loading. Air and sea shipments follow the same steps on different timetables. Sanmayu also checks what your destination market needs, such as CE or FCC, before the goods leave.
Customs clearance: common questions
What does a customs broker (CHA) do?#q-what
Files the customs declaration, answers customs queries, attends examination and obtains release of your goods, on your behalf.
What does CHA stand for?#q-full-form
Custom House Agent. The licence is now called Customs Broker; both names describe the same service.
How long does customs clearance take?#q-time
It depends on four things: whether the documents match, whether the classification is settled, whether the shipment is selected for examination, and when duty is paid. Filing before arrival removes the most common wait. We do not quote a fixed time because customs decides.
Can a Bill of Entry be filed before the cargo arrives?#q-advance
Yes. Filing before arrival lets assessment begin while the goods are in transit.
Which documents are needed for import clearance?#q-docs
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, IEC, and any certificate of origin, product licence or insurance document the shipment needs. See the table above.
What happens if my product needs BIS or WPC and I do not have it?#q-cert
Customs can hold the goods until the approval exists. Check before you ship with Find my certification. Find my certification
Who pays the customs duty?#q-duty
The importer of record. We tell you the assessed amount and when it is due.
Can clearance start before I have an IEC?#q-iec
No. An IEC is needed to file the declaration. If you do not have one yet, we can register it with you first.
Often needed with customs clearance
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Phone: +91 72899 60446 · +91 96112 31611
Consultations and documents are in English; translation on request.