Here’s the answer that surprises most first-time importers: for the vast majority of products, you don’t need an import licence to import from China. India abolished general import licensing decades ago — most goods are “freely importable.” What you do need is something simpler, cheaper and permanent: an IEC (Import Export Code).
The confusion between the two — a licence you probably don’t need and a registration you absolutely do — is where new importers waste weeks. These five rules clear it up, including the one case where a real licence applies and the product approvals an IEC doesn’t cover.
Quick answer: No general import licence is required to import from China to India — most goods are freely importable. You do need an IEC (Import Export Code), a one-time online registration from DGFT (₹500 fee, linked to your PAN, valid for life) for any commercial import. Separately, some products need their own approvals — BIS for electronics, FSSAI for food, WPC/ETA for wireless devices — and a small “restricted” list needs an actual import authorisation. Personal-use purchases don’t need an IEC at all.
Rule 1: You don’t need a licence — you need an IEC
Under India’s Foreign Trade Policy, goods fall into three buckets: free (the overwhelming majority — no licence), restricted (needs an import authorisation from DGFT), and prohibited (can’t be imported at all). Unless your product sits on the restricted list — think certain arms, some chemicals, specific live animals and plants, refurbished electronics in some categories — no licence exists to apply for.
The IEC is different: it’s not permission, it’s identification. It’s a 10-digit code (now aligned with your PAN) that tells customs who the importer is. No commercial consignment clears Indian customs without one — which makes it Step 1 of the entire import-from-China process, before you so much as shortlist a supplier.
Rule 2: Getting an IEC is a 15-minute online job
The IEC has a fearsome reputation it stopped deserving years ago. The reality in 2026:
- Where: the DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in), fully online.
- Fee: ₹500, paid online.
- What you need: PAN (personal or company), a bank account in the firm’s name with a cancelled cheque or bank certificate, address proof, and Aadhaar/DSC to sign.
- How long: most applications are auto-approved within a couple of working days.
- Validity: lifetime. One code covers unlimited imports and exports — there’s no per-shipment anything.
Sole proprietors can apply on a personal PAN — you don’t need a company to start importing.
Rule 3: “Lifetime validity” has a catch — update it every year
The rule that catches even experienced importers: since 2021, every IEC must be electronically re-validated between April and June each year, even if nothing changed. Miss the window and DGFT deactivates the code — and a deactivated IEC means your consignment sits at port, on demurrage, while you scramble to reactivate it. The update takes minutes and costs nothing if your details are unchanged. Put it in the calendar next to your GST filings.
Rule 4: An IEC doesn’t cover product-specific approvals
This is the gap that holds cargo at port. The IEC identifies you; it says nothing about whether your product is cleared to enter. Depending on the HSN code, you may separately need:
| Product category | Approval needed | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics & IT goods | BIS registration (CRS) | Bureau of Indian Standards |
| Food, supplements, packaging | FSSAI licence + import clearance | FSSAI |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth devices | WPC ETA | Wireless Planning & Coordination |
| Toys | BIS (mandatory since 2021) | Bureau of Indian Standards |
| Cosmetics | CDSCO registration | Central Drugs Standard Control Org. |
| Restricted-list goods | Import authorisation | DGFT |
Check what your HSN code triggers before you pay a supplier — an unregistered BIS product doesn’t get a duty bill, it gets refused clearance. The full paperwork stack (invoice, packing list, bill of lading and the rest) is in our guide to the documents required to import from China.
Rule 5: Personal imports don’t need an IEC at all
Buying something from China for your own use — not for resale? No IEC required. Personal-use parcels clear customs under their own category through the courier, with duty collected before delivery. The trade-off is that personal imports are taxed at a flat, high rate with no Input Tax Credit — often costlier than the commercial route once orders get regular. The moment you’re buying to resell, even in small quantities, you’re a commercial importer: get the IEC, register for GST, and your import taxes drop sharply (the maths is in our import duty guide).
Licence sorted — here’s what actually decides your success
The paperwork above is the easy 10%. What decides whether importing works for you is the other 90% — vetting the supplier, agreeing FOB terms, choosing freight, and clearing customs without demurrage. That full sequence is our 12-step guide to importing goods from China to India, and if you’d rather have the compliance handled end to end, a good import agent carries the IEC-to-clearance load for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to import from China to India?
No — most goods are freely importable and no general import licence exists. You need an IEC (Import Export Code) from DGFT for any commercial import, plus product-specific approvals where applicable (BIS for electronics, FSSAI for food, WPC for wireless devices). Only a small “restricted” list of goods needs an actual import authorisation.
What is the difference between an import licence and an IEC?
A licence is permission to import a specific restricted product; an IEC is simply your importer identification — a one-time, 10-digit PAN-linked registration that every commercial importer must have regardless of product. For freely importable goods (the vast majority), the IEC is the only trade registration you need.
How much does an IEC cost and how long does it take?
The government fee is ₹500, the application is fully online on the DGFT portal with your PAN, bank proof and address proof, and most codes are issued within a couple of working days. It’s valid for life — but must be electronically re-validated every year between April and June, or DGFT deactivates it.
Can I import from China without an IEC?
Only for personal use — parcels for your own consumption clear through the courier without an IEC, though at flat, high duty rates. Any commercial import, however small, requires an IEC; customs will not clear a commercial consignment without one.
Do I need GST registration to import from China?
You can technically import with just an IEC, but without GST registration the IGST you pay at customs (usually 18%) becomes a permanent cost instead of a recoverable Input Tax Credit. For any business importing to resell, IEC + GST together is the practical minimum.
Get the code, skip the confusion
So: no licence, one IEC, ₹500, valid for life — updated every April–June — plus whatever approval your specific product carries. That’s the entire “permission” side of importing from China. Sort it in week one and it never blocks you again.
Want the compliance handled while you focus on the product? OyeExpress runs door-to-door imports from China — sourcing, freight, customs clearance and duty calculation under one partner, with your paperwork checked before anything ships. Talk to an import expert about your first shipment.
