SEZ & FTWZ Clearance
Kandla SEZ · Mundra SEZ · FTWZ
How does SEZ clearance differ from normal customs clearance?
Goods entering a Special Economic Zone are treated as leaving India's customs territory, so they come in without duty, and goods sold from the zone into India (DTA) pay duty as imports. Filings are made on the SEZ Online system and approved by the zone's customs officers, not at the port customs house.
Kandla SEZ sits in Gandhidham, the same town as our office, and Mundra SEZ is close by. We file the zone documents, follow the approvals and move the cargo between the port and the zone.
- Zones
- Kandla SEZ (Gandhidham), Mundra SEZ, free trade warehousing zones
- Filed on
- SEZ Online, approved by the zone's authorised officers
- Covers
- Imports into the zone, exports, DTA sales, zone-to-zone transfers
- Rules
- SEZ Act 2005 and SEZ Rules 2006
What's included
What does SEZ and FTWZ clearance include?
Every movement into, out of and between zones, with its own filing.
Imports into the zone
Goods brought duty-free from abroad into the SEZ unit.
Exports from the zone
Shipping bills filed for goods leaving the SEZ for overseas buyers.
DTA sales
Goods sold from the zone into India, cleared with duty as imports.
Zone-to-zone transfers
Movements between SEZ units or into an FTWZ.
FTWZ storage
Goods held in a free trade warehousing zone without duty until they leave.
Port to zone movement
Cargo moved between the port and the zone under the zone's procedure.
Process
How is cargo cleared into an SEZ?
The filing is online, but the goods still have to be moved and checked in at the zone gate.
- Filed and followed by one team
- Attended at the port
- Clearance desk open 24 hours
-
01
Import into an SEZ unit
Documents from the unit
Invoice, packing list, B/L and the unit's approval details.
-
02
Import into an SEZ unit
Bill of Entry on SEZ Online
Filed for the SEZ unit.
-
03
Import into an SEZ unit
Assessment by the zone
Checked by the SEZ's authorised officer.
-
04
Import into an SEZ unit
Movement from the port
Cargo moved from the port to the zone.
-
05
Import into an SEZ unit
Gate-in and examination
Checked at the zone gate if required.
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06
Import into an SEZ unit
Delivery to the unit
Received into the unit's records.
Documents
What documents does SEZ clearance need?
The trade documents, plus the unit's zone approvals.
Not sure what you have? Send photos of your documents on WhatsApp for a first check.
Send on WhatsApp| Document | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice and packing list | Yes | For every movement |
| Bill of lading or airway bill | Yes | For imports into the zone |
| Letter of approval (LoA) | Yes | The unit's approval to operate in the SEZ |
| Bill of Entry or shipping bill on SEZ Online | Yes | Filed by us for the unit |
| Authorisation for the customs broker | Yes | Allows us to file for the unit |
| DTA sale documents | DTA sales | Bill of Entry for home consumption, with duty |
| Licence or permit | By product | Where the goods need one |
Requirements change with the commodity and the rules in force, so we confirm the list for your consignment with every quote.
Quote
Get a quote for SEZ & FTWZ Clearance
Rates and the document list for your consignment, back within 24 hours.
- A team at the port, in Gandhidham
- Clearance desk open 24 hours
- Document list with every quote
SEZ or normal
SEZ clearance compared with normal customs clearance
The trade documents are the same. Where and how they are approved is not.
| Normal clearance | SEZ clearance | |
|---|---|---|
| Filed on | ICEGATE | SEZ Online |
| Approved by | Port customs | The zone's authorised officers |
| Duty on imports | Paid at clearance | Not paid on entry into the zone |
| Sales into India | Not applicable | DTA sale, duty paid as an import |
| Where goods go | To the importer | Into the SEZ unit or FTWZ |
Ports
Which zones and ports do we work with?
Kandla SEZ is in Gandhidham, next to our office; Mundra SEZ is beside Mundra port.
Industries
Which SEZ units do we work with?
Manufacturing and trading units in the Kutch zones.
Related services
What is usually booked with SEZ clearance?
How does SEZ clearance differ from normal clearance?
An SEZ is treated as outside India's customs territory for duty. Goods enter it without duty, and filings are made on SEZ Online and approved by the zone's authorised officers instead of the port customs house. Goods sold from the zone into India pay duty as imports.
What is a DTA sale?
A DTA (domestic tariff area) sale is a sale from an SEZ unit to a buyer in India outside the zone. It is cleared like an import, with a Bill of Entry and duty paid on the goods, because they are entering India's customs territory.
What is an FTWZ?
A free trade and warehousing zone is a type of SEZ used for storage and trading. Goods can be stored there without paying duty until they are sold into India or re-exported, which suits importers who hold stock before selling.
What are the benefits of an FTWZ?
Duty is deferred until goods leave the zone for India, and nothing is paid on goods re-exported. That frees working capital and lets a trader hold stock close to the market, sort or relabel it, and sell it in smaller lots.
Is Kandla SEZ near your office?
Yes. Kandla SEZ is in Gandhidham, the same town as our office, and Mundra SEZ is beside Mundra port. Being close means documents and approvals are followed up in person.
Can goods move from one SEZ to another?
Yes. Zone-to-zone transfers are filed on SEZ Online and move without duty, since both units are outside the customs territory. The receiving zone records the goods on arrival.
What documents does an SEZ unit need to give you?
The invoice, packing list and bill of lading, the unit's letter of approval, and an authorisation letting us file on the unit's behalf. Some goods also need a licence or permit, which we check before filing.
Do SEZ units still need a customs broker?
Yes, for most filings. SEZ units must file bills of entry and shipping bills on SEZ Online and move cargo between the port and the zone under the zone's rules. A customs broker who knows the zone's procedures keeps approvals and movements on time.