Last Updated: October 27, 2026 by Pratham Agarwal, Rasp International
The short answer
The Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) is a compulsory online registration you complete before importing notified paper and paperboard of Chapter 48. Under Policy Condition 04 of Chapter 48, restated by Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Notification No. 08/2023 dated 29 May 2023, you pay Rs 500, register between the 75th and the 5th day before the expected arrival date and enter the automatic number, valid 75 days, with its expiry date in the Bill of Entry.
The rule that decides everything: the PIMS number has to exist before the cargo lands. Policy Condition 04 closes registration on the 5th day before the expected arrival date and sets no route for a late registration.
Verified as on 27 October 2026 against DGFT Notification No. 11/2015-20 dated 25 May 2022, Notification No. 08/2023 dated 29 May 2023, Policy Circular No. 41/2015-20 dated 5 July 2022, Policy Circular No. 45/2015-20 dated 23 January 2023, Notification No. 38/2026-27 dated 30 September 2026 and Public Notice No. 02/2025-26 dated 15 April 2025. Written by Pratham Agarwal, Founder, Rasp International.
Rs 500
fee per registration number, Appendix 2K serial 18 (Public Notice No. 02/2025-26)
Day 75 to 5
registration window before expected arrival, Policy Condition 04 (Notification No. 08/2023)
75 days
validity of the number, Policy Condition 04 (Notification No. 08/2023)
201 lines
Chapter 48 tariff lines brought under PIMS, Notification No. 11/2015-20
| Registration | Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS), compulsory advance registration |
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| Part of | Chapter 48 import policy of the Indian Trade Classification (Harmonised System) [ITC (HS)] 2022 Schedule-I, under paragraph 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 |
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| Run by | DGFT notifies the policy; the online system belongs to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) |
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| Legal basis | Notification No. 11/2015-20 dated 25 May 2022, restated as Policy Condition 04 by Notification No. 08/2023 |
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| Who it is for | Every importer of a listed item, including Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Export Oriented Unit (EOU) units |
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| What you get | An automatic registration number, a monitoring record and not a licence |
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| Cap | The registered quantity; several Bills of Entry may use one number within its validity |
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| Validity or window | Register from the 75th to the 5th day before expected arrival; valid 75 days |
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| Where you apply | imports.gov.in, DPIIT Import Monitoring System (Paper); the portal sends filing difficulties to pims-support@gov.in |
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Why this page exists
PIMS comes up at the Bill of Entry stage, because Policy Condition 04(c) requires the number and its expiry date in the Bill of Entry. Traders asked DGFT whether air cargo and Advance Authorisation imports fall outside PIMS, and Policy Circular No. 45/2015-20 answers no.
Rasp International is an ISO 9001:2015 certified export and import (EXIM) and DGFT advisory firm, founded in 2019, that has served 500 plus exporters. This page gives each PIMS rule with its source and flags open points.
What PIMS is
PIMS is an advance online registration that records each planned import of notified paper and paperboard for the Government of India, run by DGFT and DPIIT under the Chapter 48 import policy of the ITC (HS) 2022. Paragraph 2.01 of FTP 2023 makes imports Free unless the ITC (HS) regulates them. Most PIMS lines read “Free subject to compulsory registration under Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS)”: the item stays Free and the registration is the condition. DGFT’s ITC (HS) 2022 Schedule-I restricted items list shows the two newsprint lines and 48026990 as Restricted and also subject to PIMS.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) release of 12 July 2022 says PIMS aims to curb imports under “Others” lines, under-invoiced dumping, mis-declaration and re-routing. PIMS governs Bills of Entry filed on or after 1 October 2022, under Notification No. 11/2015-20.
Which paper items need PIMS
Annexure-I of Notification No. 11/2015-20 lists 201 eight digit lines, all in Chapter 48. Find your exact code in Chapter 48 of Schedule-I and read its policy column.
| Headings | Examples from Annexure-I | Lines |
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| 4801 | Newsprint | 2 |
| 4802 | Litho and offset, duplicating, drawing and handmade paper | 48 |
| 4803 to 4805 | Tissue stock, kraft liner, sack kraft, fluting, testliner | 25 |
| 4806 to 4809 | Greaseproof, tracing and glassine paper, corrugated paper, self-copy paper | 13 |
| 4810 and 4811 | Art and chrome paper, multiply board, self adhesive and thermal paper | 42 |
| 4812 to 4818 | Cigarette paper, wallpaper, envelopes, toilet paper, tissues | 22 |
| 4819 to 4823 | Cartons and boxes, exercise books, labels, paper tubes, moulded pulp trays | 49 |
Notification No. 08/2023 added thermal paper jumbo roll lines 48119095 and 48119096 under PIMS. The PIB release says currency paper, bank bond and cheque paper and security printing paper were kept out. Those lines are Restricted in Schedule-I and need a restricted import authorisation instead.
Who must register and who need not
Who must register
- Any importer in the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA), PIB release of 12 July 2022.
- SEZ, Free Trade and Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) and EOU units at import, Policy Circular No. 41/2015-20 (see our SEZ benefits guide).
- Imports under Advance Authorisation, Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) or Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty (IGCR), Policy Circular No. 45/2015-20 issue (v).
- Air cargo and returnable imports, Policy Circular No. 45/2015-20 issues (i) and (iii).
- A DTA buyer of zone or EOU paper processed into another PIMS line, Policy Circular No. 41/2015-20.
Who need not register
- A sample consignment for a Free on Board (FOB) value of Rs 10,000, whatever the quantity, Policy Circular No. 45/2015-20 issue (ii).
- A DTA unit clearing unprocessed zone or EOU paper already registered on entry, Policy Circular No. 41/2015-20.
- Non-commercial imports by individuals and government agencies under a common Importer Exporter Code (IEC): an exemption can be considered case by case, Policy Circular No. 45/2015-20 issue (iv).
Documents that get a PIMS registration through
A PIMS registration is built from the supplier’s invoice, so the item, quantity and code should match what arrives.Policy Condition 04 asks for “advance information” and lists no fields. These papers feed the registration.
| Document | What it must match | The mismatch that brings a query |
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| Supplier invoice or contract | The item and the permitted quantity you register, Policy Condition 04(b) | The Bill of Entry shows another item or more than the registered quantity |
| Eight digit ITC (HS) code | A Chapter 48 line marked Free subject to PIMS | A specific product filed under an “Others” line, a practice the PIB release names |
| Shipping schedule | The expected arrival date behind the window, Policy Condition 04(b) | Filing more than 75 or fewer than 5 days before arrival |
| Registration number and expiry date | The Bill of Entry entries, Policy Condition 04(c) | An expired or mistyped number |
| Tally of Bills of Entry | The permitted quantity of one registration, Policy Condition 04(b) | Part shipments that together pass the registered quantity |
| Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) price of Virgin Multi-layer Paper Board (VPB) | Minimum Import Price (MIP) of Rs 67,220 per tonne till 31 March 2027, Notification No. 38/2026-27 | VPB below the MIP is Restricted, PIMS number or not |
How to register for PIMS, stage by stage
1
Before you register: code and date
Confirm the eight digit code in the Chapter 48 policy column and check VPB prices against the MIP. Count back 75 and 5 days from the expected arrival date.
2
Filing: open the paper system
On imports.gov.in, open the DPIIT Import Monitoring System and choose Paper as the import category.
3
Filing: enter the shipment and pay
Enter the advance information the system asks for and pay the Rs 500 fee. The number is issued automatically under Policy Condition 04(b).
4
After filing: hand it to your broker
Send the number and expiry date to your customs broker for the Bill of Entry, Policy Condition 04(c).
5
After filing: track quantity and expiry
Bills of Entry may draw on one number until it expires or the quantity runs out. Then register again.
The lapse rule: Policy Condition 04 gives no extension. If the vessel slips past the expiry date, register again for the new arrival date.
Your broker has asked for a PIMS number
Send us the eight digit code, the expected arrival date and the quantity. When you engage us, checking the code and the window is part of preparing and filing the registration in your unit’s name.
Where PIMS registrations go wrong
These patterns follow from the rules above; they are not client cases.
| Failure | What you see | What actually broke |
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| Wrong code | Bill of Entry code differs from the registration | The code was picked before checking the specification against Chapter 48 |
| Registered too late | Goods held liable to confiscation, as in a Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House order of 23 September 2025 | Registration closes on the 5th day before expected arrival |
| Number expired | The expiry date is already past | The 75 days ran out while the vessel was delayed |
| Quantity used up | The last part shipment has no quantity left | Several Bills of Entry drew past the permitted quantity |
| Assumed exempt | An air or Advance Authorisation import arrives without a number | Policy Circular No. 45/2015-20 applies PIMS whatever the mode or scheme |
| VPB below the MIP | Board held despite a PIMS number | Notification No. 26/2025-26 makes it Restricted below Rs 67,220 per tonne |
How PIMS fits with other import rules
Each system below has its own notification and its own number.
| System | Covers | When to register | Status and source |
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| PIMS | Listed Chapter 48 paper lines | 75th to 5th day before arrival; valid 75 days | In force, Notification No. 11/2015-20 |
| Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) | Iron and steel, Chapters 72, 73 and 86 | 60th to 3rd day before arrival (2nd day in listed cases); valid 75 days | In force, Notification No. 17/2015-20; Ministry of Steel SIMS FAQ. See our SIMS page |
| Non-Ferrous Metal Import Monitoring System (NFMIMS) | Listed copper and aluminium, Chapters 74 and 76 | From the 60th day before arrival until Out of Charge (the customs release); valid 75 days | In force, Notifications No. 61/2015-20 and 22/2026-27 (30 June 2026) |
| Chip Imports Monitoring System (CHIMS) | Integrated circuits and parts, 85423100 to 85429000 | Not required | Discontinued, Notification No. 41/2024-25 dated 29 November 2024 |
| Restricted import authorisation | Items marked Restricted in Schedule-I | A DGFT licence before import, case by case | Fee one per thousand of CIF value, Rs 500 to Rs 1 lakh, Appendix 2K serial 4 |
Policy Circular No. 04/2025-26 frees Advance Authorisation, DFIA and some EOU and SEZ imports of VPB from the MIP only; PIMS still applies under Policy Circular No. 45/2015-20. Our guide to DGFT licensing and restricted items covers licences.
What PIMS will not do
1
It will not make a restricted item Free
VPB below the MIP stays Restricted, and stock lots under 48109200 and 48109900 stay Prohibited, as Notification No. 26/2025-26 records.
2
It will not reduce duty
PIMS collects advance data for monitoring. It changes no duty and pays no incentive.
3
It will not stretch past its window
Policy Condition 04 fixes the window and the 75 day validity, with no extension.
How Rasp International handles PIMS registration
When you engage us, we prepare and file the PIMS registration end to end, always in your unit’s own name, or guide you if you prefer to file yourself. We sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and a service level agreement (SLA) with every client. You and Rasp International both hold the portal logins, kept safe and confidential, and documents sit in encrypted storage. We give an authority letter only when you ask for one. We hold no customs broker (CHA) licence: licensed CHA partners across India handle customs clearance. Read how we work or see our PIMS registration service.
Importing paper or board in the next 75 days
Tell us the product, the code and the expected arrival date. When you engage us, we check whether PIMS applies and file the registration in your unit’s name.
What Is Not Yet Notified, Checked on 27 October 2026
- The fields on the PIMS form and the day the 75 day validity starts. No notification says. Check with pims-support@gov.in, the address imports.gov.in gives for filing difficulties, or with DPIIT.
- Whether a registration can be amended or cancelled after a change of port, supplier or quantity. Check with pims-support@gov.in before filing a second one.
- What to do when arrival is under 5 days away. Copper and aluminium now allow registration up to Out of Charge, but no such change has been notified for paper. Check with DPIIT and your customs broker.
- Whether the Rs 10,000 FOB sample figure is a ceiling; the circular does not say “up to”. Check with your DGFT Regional Authority.
- Where the number goes in your Bill of Entry software. We found no Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) circular on PIMS. Check with your customs broker.
- Any change to PIMS itself; none since Notification No. 08/2023. Check the DGFT notifications page before each shipment.
Frequently asked questions
What is PIMS registration?
PIMS registration is a compulsory online advance registration for importing notified Chapter 48 paper and paperboard. The importer files on imports.gov.in, pays Rs 500 and gets an automatic number valid for 75 days, under Policy Condition 04 of Chapter 48 of the ITC (HS) 2022.
Is PIMS registration mandatory for all paper imports?
Only for the listed Chapter 48 lines: 201 under Notification No. 11/2015-20, plus two thermal paper lines added by Notification No. 08/2023. Currency paper, bank bond and cheque paper and security printing paper were kept out, and those Restricted lines need a restricted import authorisation instead.
When should I apply for PIMS registration?
Apply not earlier than the 75th day and not later than the 5th day before the expected arrival date, under Policy Condition 04(b) of Chapter 48. A number taken near the 75th day may expire if the vessel is delayed, and after the 5th day the window has closed.
How long is a PIMS registration number valid?
The number stays valid for 75 days under Policy Condition 04(b) of Chapter 48. Several Bills of Entry may use it within that time for the permitted quantity. The condition does not say from which day the 75 days run, so use the expiry date printed on the registration.
What is the fee for PIMS registration?
The fee is Rs 500 for each automatic registration number. Notification No. 11/2015-20 set it, and Appendix 2K serial 18 of FTP 2023, as amended by Public Notice No. 02/2025-26 dated 15 April 2025, confirms Rs 500 for each import monitoring system number.
Do SEZ and EOU units need PIMS registration?
Yes. Policy Circular No. 41/2015-20 requires PIMS when an SEZ or FTWZ unit imports a listed item and when an EOU imports one. A DTA buyer needs no fresh registration for unprocessed paper, but needs one if processing changed the code to another PIMS line.
Is PIMS needed for imports under Advance Authorisation?
Yes. Answering a question on Advance Authorisation, DFIA and IGCR, Policy Circular No. 45/2015-20 says PIMS is mandatory whatever the purpose of the import and under any scheme. An authorisation saves duty on inputs, but it does not replace the PIMS registration.
Are paper samples exempt from PIMS?
Policy Circular No. 45/2015-20 exempts a consignment of samples for an FOB value of Rs 10,000, whatever the quantity. The circular does not say “up to”, so confirm with your DGFT Regional Authority before relying on it for samples near that value.
What happens if my PIMS registration expires before the goods arrive?
An expired number cannot support the Bill of Entry, because Policy Condition 04(c) needs a valid number and expiry date. No extension is provided, so register again inside the window for the new arrival date. If arrival is under 5 days away, check with DPIIT, which runs the paper system.
What is the difference between PIMS and SIMS?
PIMS covers listed paper lines of Chapter 48 and opens 75 days before arrival. SIMS covers iron and steel in Chapters 72, 73 and 86 under Notification No. 17/2015-20, runs on the Ministry of Steel portal and opens 60 days before arrival. Both numbers last 75 days.
Sources
- Tier 1. DGFT Notification No. 11/2015-20 dated 25 May 2022: content.dgft.gov.in; Notification No. 08/2023 dated 29 May 2023: content.dgft.gov.in.
- Tier 1. DGFT Policy Circular No. 41/2015-20 dated 5 July 2022: content.dgft.gov.in; Policy Circular No. 45/2015-20 dated 23 January 2023: content.dgft.gov.in.
- Tier 1. DGFT Notification No. 26/2025-26 dated 22 August 2025: content.dgft.gov.in; Policy Circular No. 04/2025-26 dated 3 September 2025: content.dgft.gov.in; Notification No. 38/2026-27 dated 30 September 2026: content.dgft.gov.in.
- Tier 1. DGFT Public Notice No. 02/2025-26 dated 15 April 2025: content.dgft.gov.in.
- Tier 1. DGFT Notification No. 17/2015-20 dated 5 September 2019 (SIMS): content.dgft.gov.in; SIMS FAQ, Ministry of Steel: sims.steel.gov.in.
- Tier 1. DGFT Notification No. 61/2015-20 dated 31 March 2021 (NFMIMS): content.dgft.gov.in; Notification No. 22/2026-27 dated 30 June 2026: content.dgft.gov.in; Notification No. 41/2024-25 dated 29 November 2024 (CHIMS): content.dgft.gov.in.
- Tier 1. PIB release of 12 July 2022 on PIMS: pib.gov.in; DPIIT Import Monitoring System (Paper): imports.gov.in; home page notice naming pims-support@gov.in: imports.gov.in; ITC (HS) 2022 and its restricted items list: dgft.gov.in.
- Tier 1. Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House Order-in-Original of 23 September 2025 on a PIMS registration made after arrival: jawaharcustoms.gov.in.
This is general guidance. Rules change. Check the current notification or trade notice, or speak to us, before you act.
Related: Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) | Restricted import authorisation | IEC registration | DGFT consultants in India