Last Updated: October 27, 2026 by Pratham Agarwal, Rasp International
The short answer
A restricted import authorisation is the licence you need from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to import goods marked “Restricted” in Schedule I of the Indian Trade Classification (Harmonised System), or ITC (HS). You apply online to DGFT headquarters in ANF 2M (Aayat Niryat Form 2M) under para 2.47 of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP) 2023. DGFT may consult the Exim Facilitation Committee (EFC) and the authorisation is valid 18 months, HBP paras 2.48 and 2.16.
The rule that decides everything: the authorisation must be valid on the date of import, HBP para 2.18(a), and HBP para 2.17 fixes that date as the date of shipment from the supplying country. Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 para 2.12 does not let Restricted goods that already arrived wait for a later licence, unless DGFT specifically allows it.
Verified as on 27 October 2026 against FTP 2023 Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5 and 11, HBP 2023 Chapter 2, Appendix 2K, ANF 2M, the DGFT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Restricted Imports v1.1, EFC minutes of 25 September 2026 and DGFT notices up to Trade Notice No. 32/2026-27 dated 26 October 2026. Written by Pratham Agarwal, Founder, Rasp International.
18 months
validity of an import authorisation for Restricted items, HBP 2023 para 2.16(iii)
1 per 1,000
rupee of application fee per Rs 1,000 or part of cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value, minimum Rs 500 and maximum Rs 1 lakh, Appendix 2K row 4
90 days
to fix a deficient application before it counts as withdrawn, HBP 2023 para 2.05(b)
3,528
import authorisations for Restricted items issued in 2025-26, DGFT Monthly MIS (Management Information System) Report, April 2026
| Licence | Import Authorisation for Restricted items |
|---|
| Part of | FTP 2023 Chapter 2, HBP 2023 Chapter 2 and ITC (HS) 2022 Schedule I |
|---|
| Run by | DGFT, or a Regional Authority (RA) it authorises, which may take the advice of the EFC, HBP para 2.48(a) |
|---|
| Legal basis | Sections 3 and 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992; FTP para 2.08 |
|---|
| Who it is for | An Importer Exporter Code (IEC) holder importing an item marked “Restricted” in Schedule I |
|---|
| What you get | Permission to import the item, quantity and value written on it, on its conditions, FTP para 2.10 |
|---|
| Cap | Only what the authorisation states; fee capped at Rs 1 lakh, Appendix 2K row 4 |
|---|
| Validity or window | 18 months, HBP para 2.16(iii); six month revalidation on merits, HBP para 2.20(a) |
|---|
| Where you apply | DGFT portal, Import Management System, in ANF 2M |
|---|
Why this page exists
Filing is not the same as holding a licence. In the published minutes of EFC Meeting No. 006AM27 held on 25 September 2026, more applications for Restricted imports were marked “Deferred” than “Approved”. FTP para 2.13 adds that no person can claim an Authorisation as a right.
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. Our guide to what needs a DGFT licence covers other licence types.
What a restricted import authorisation is
A restricted import authorisation is a DGFT licence that lets a named importer bring in a stated quantity and value of an item marked “Restricted” in Schedule I of ITC (HS), granted by DGFT or a Regional Authority it authorises under Chapter 2 of FTP 2023 and HBP 2023.
FTP para 2.01 makes every import “Free” unless ITC (HS) marks it “Prohibited”, “Restricted” or reserved for State Trading Enterprises (STEs). FTP para 11.48 defines “Restricted” as importable only after obtaining an Authorisation from DGFT.
How to check whether your item is Restricted
| Check | What to watch |
|---|
| The 8 digit code in Schedule I | Policy is set against each code, FTP para 2.02(c), so read the exact 8 digit line, not the heading |
| The Import Policy column | “Restricted” needs an authorisation or a notified procedure, FTP para 2.08. “Free” with a registration condition is a monitoring system |
| The Policy Condition column and the chapter’s conditions | A condition can restrict one use only: premium frozen duck meat is Restricted only for supplies to hotels rated 3 star and above, Trade Notice No. 31/2024-25 |
| Notifications issued since | Silver bars became Restricted by Notification No. 17/2026-27 dated 16 May 2026; low ash metallurgical coke became Free again by Notification No. 54/2025-26 |
| Second hand goods | Schedule I covers new goods unless stated, FTP para 2.02(d). Second hand goods other than capital goods are Restricted, FTP para 2.31 item II |
Policy on the date of import: FTP para 1.05(b) applies the policy on the date of import. An import under an irrevocable commercial letter of credit opened before the restriction can be allowed for its balance, if registered with the jurisdictional RA within 15 days.
What you get
| Element | What the authorisation gives | Limit |
|---|
| Item, quantity and value | Permission for what is written on it, FTP para 2.10(a); several Restricted products on one authorisation, FAQ v1.1 Q23 | Nothing beyond the stated quantity or value |
| Conditions | May carry an Actual User condition, a minimum import price or a bond, FTP para 2.10 | Conditions bind at customs |
| Port | May name one port, Inland Container Depot or Land Customs Station, HBP para 2.48(b) | Port of Registration cannot change after issue, FAQ v1.1 Q33 |
| Validity | 18 months; the EFC may approve a shorter or longer period for a contract, HBP para 2.16 | Must be valid on the date of import, HBP para 2.18(a) |
| Amendment | Add items, reduce quantity or value, change the unit, FAQ v1.1 Q37; Rs 200, Appendix 2K row 7 | Only within validity, FAQ v1.1 Q36 |
| Transfer and duty | None | Non-transferable, FAQ v1.1 Q30; no duty exemption is among its terms, FTP para 2.10 |
Who can apply and who cannot
Who can apply
- An entity whose DGFT profile is linked with an Importer Exporter Code and has a registered Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), FAQ v1.1 Q3.
- The Actual User, unless DGFT dispenses with that condition, FTP para 2.09.
- A firm on the Denied Entity List (DEL) can submit, but DGFT acts only after removal, FAQ v1.1 Q4.
Who cannot apply, or does not need to
- A cancelled or suspended IEC cannot submit, FAQ v1.1 Q4.
- Prohibited items are not permitted, FTP para 11.41. STE items come through the notified STE unless DGFT grants another entity an authorisation, FTP para 2.21.
- Government recognised research units importing for research, except live animals, HBP para 2.50.
- Bona fide samples, except vegetable seeds, bees and new drugs, HBP para 2.62(a).
- Fair exhibits on re-export for six months against a bond or ATA Carnet (a temporary import document), HBP para 2.60(a).
- Imports under an exemption in a policy condition, such as Policy Condition No. 7 to Chapter 71 for silver bars, Policy Circular No. 02/2026-27 para 2.3.
Documents that get it through
The ITC (HS) code on the invoice has to match the Schedule I row, its policy condition and the item you ship.| Document | What the authority checks | The mismatch that brings a query or rejection |
|---|
| ANF 2M item table | Origin, code, technical description, quantity, unit and CIF value | A code that is not Restricted fails the upload, FAQ v1.1 Q21; no make, brand or specification, Q22 |
| Past imports, turnover and justification | Licences for the item in the last three licensing years with quantity consumed and balance (ANF 2M Part B), three years of sales and a detailed justification | An earlier licence left out, or a quantity with no link to turnover or past use |
| Item papers in ANF 2M | Drug licence and Chartered Accountant certified consumption for bulk drugs; End User Certificate for government supplies | The section for your item left blank |
| Papers named in an item notice | Capacity certified by the State Pollution Control Board and a valid Consent to Operate for petroleum coke, Public Notice No. 02/2026-27 | The notice’s own list missed, or its window missed |
| Declarations | No penalty under customs or foreign trade law; no director in a firm on the DEL, ANF 2M | A director who also sits in a firm on the DEL |
| Profile and port | Updated profile and the Port of Registration, FAQ v1.1 Q29 and Q33 | An old profile blocks “Save and Next”; the licensed port cannot be amended; only customs can permit another, HBP para 2.48(b) |
How to apply, stage by stage
1
Before you apply: confirm the code and route
Read the Schedule I row and later notifications, check for an exemption or item notice, and register the DSC.
2
Filing: open the right category
Go to Services, Import Management System, Import Authorization for restricted imports. Where a notice names an import category, use it: Public Notice No. 02/2026-27 says applications under any other category are liable to be rejected.
3
Filing: complete, pay and sign
Enter items, three years of licences, turnover, port and justification. Pay Rs 1 per Rs 1,000 or part of CIF value, Appendix 2K row 4, sign with the DSC and note the file number, FAQ v1.1 Q7.
4
After filing: answer any deficiency
Use Respond Deficiency, FAQ v1.1 Q14. A higher CIF value in the reply pays extra fee, Q28.
5
After filing: the EFC decision
The EFC normally meets once a month, HBP para 2.48(c). Its minutes list each file number’s decision. Download the letter under View Approved Licenses, FAQ v1.1 Q9.
The lapse rule. A deficiency left unanswered for 90 days ends the application, HBP para 2.05(b). After 18 months, DGFT headquarters may revalidate it on merits for six months from expiry, HBP para 2.20(a), for Rs 500, Appendix 2K row 8.
The expedited route. HBP Chapter 2 prints no general one. Trade Notice No. 30/2026-27 sets one for silver bullion under ITC (HS) 7106, excluding silver dore (unrefined silver). Complete applications filed from 15 October 2026 with a self-declaration that duty will be paid at the general rate without concessions may be processed faster, paras 2 and 5, and these authorisations are valid six months with no extension, para 8. The silver may be procured only through the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) or Nominated Banks or Agencies under Appendix 4B, para 6. See our silver import licence post.
Goods held at customs for want of a DGFT licence
Send us the ITC (HS) code, the invoice and the bill of lading date. We check the Schedule I row and tell you which route applies.
Where applications go wrong
| Failure | What you see | What actually broke |
|---|
| Goods shipped before the licence | Customs holds the consignment | FTP para 2.12 bars clearing Restricted goods against a later licence unless DGFT specifically allows it; section 111(d) of the Customs Act, 1962 makes them liable to confiscation, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Customs Manual 2025 |
| Code read from an old copy | Free last year, Restricted now | A notification changed Schedule I; FTP para 1.05(b) applies the policy on the date of import |
| Deficiency letter missed | File closed | Deemed withdrawn after 90 days, HBP para 2.05(b) |
| Case deferred | “Deferred” in the EFC minutes | One reason HBP para 2.48(c) names: comments awaited from a technical ministry |
| Goods landed at another port | Port does not match | Imports are tied to the named port unless customs permits another, HBP para 2.48(b) |
How it fits with other routes
| Route | How it differs from a restricted import authorisation |
|---|
| Import monitoring systems | The item is Free subject to registration and gets an automatic registration number for Rs 500, Appendix 2K row 18, with no EFC decision. See the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) page and the Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) page |
| IT hardware Import Management System | Laptops, tablets, servers and similar hardware under heading 8471: portal open 22 December 2025 to 15 December 2026, authorisations valid till 31 December 2026, Policy Circular No. 08/2025-26 |
| Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) | Lower duty quota. Under HBP paras 2.57 to 2.59 the bodies named in para 2.58 apply in ANF 2M to the EFC by 1 March; other TRQs follow their own notices. See the raw sugar TRQ post |
| Advance Authorisation and EPCG | FTP para 4.18 allows Restricted inputs under an Advance Authorisation unless disallowed; para 5.01(f) allows them under Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) only after EFC approval |
What a restricted import authorisation will not do
1
It will not cover goods shipped before issue
FTP para 2.12 keeps the clear later route closed to Restricted items unless DGFT specifically allows it.
2
It will not stretch past what it states
It covers its item, quantity, value and port for the named holder only, FAQ v1.1 Q30 and Q33.
3
It will not replace other laws
FTP para 2.03 applies domestic laws, rules and standards to imports. Customs duty and any permit another law requires still apply.
How Rasp International handles a restricted import authorisation
When a client engages us, we prepare and file the ANF 2M application end to end, always in the client unit’s own name. Clients who prefer to file themselves can do so with our guidance. A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and a service level agreement (SLA) are signed with every client. The client and we both hold the portal logins, kept safe and confidential, and documents sit in encrypted storage. We give an authority letter only when a client asks for one. We hold no customs broker (CHA) licence; licensed CHA partners across India handle customs clearance. Read how we work, or see our restricted item import licence service in our store.
A supplier says your order needs a DGFT licence
Tell us the product, the code on the proforma invoice and the planned shipment date. We check the Schedule I row before you commit.
What Is Not Yet Notified, Checked on 27 October 2026
- EFC decision time. HBP Chapter 2 sets none. Check with the EFC section at DGFT headquarters.
- Extension or revalidation. FAQ v1.1 Q27 says no extension is available, but HBP para 2.20(a) allows six months of revalidation on merits and the same FAQ at Q38 to Q41 explains how to apply. Check with DGFT headquarters.
- When DGFT will “specifically allow” early arrivals under FTP para 2.12. No criteria are published. Check with DGFT headquarters and the Customs house.
- Reasons. The minutes print only a decision, such as Deferred or “Examine on File”. Check the portal letter or with DGFT headquarters.
- Restricted IT hardware for 2027. No circular after Policy Circular No. 08/2025-26 is listed. Check with DGFT headquarters.
Frequently asked questions
What is a restricted import authorisation?
It is a DGFT licence to import an item marked Restricted in Schedule I of ITC (HS), naming the importer, item, quantity, value and conditions. You apply online to DGFT headquarters in ANF 2M under HBP para 2.47, and DGFT may consult the Exim Facilitation Committee.
How do I check if an item is restricted for import in India?
Find the 8 digit ITC (HS) code in Schedule I on the DGFT site and read the Import Policy and Policy Condition columns. Then check later notifications, because DGFT amends Schedule I by notification. Second hand goods follow FTP para 2.31 instead of Schedule I.
Who decides a restricted import authorisation application?
DGFT, or a Regional Authority it authorises, grants it under HBP para 2.48(a), and may consult the Exim Facilitation Committee of technical ministry representatives. The committee normally meets once a month, HBP para 2.48(c), and DGFT publishes its minutes on the Minutes of Meeting page.
What is the DGFT fee for a restricted item import licence?
Appendix 2K row 4 sets Rs 1 per Rs 1,000 or part of the CIF value, with a minimum of Rs 500 and a maximum of Rs 1 lakh. An amendment costs Rs 200 under row 7, and a first revalidation Rs 500 under row 8.
How long is a restricted import authorisation valid?
HBP para 2.16(iii) makes it valid for 18 months from issue, unless specified otherwise. DGFT headquarters may revalidate it on merits for six months from expiry, HBP para 2.20(a), though DGFT FAQ v1.1 Q27 says no extension is available. Silver authorisations under Trade Notice No. 30/2026-27 are valid six months with no extension.
What happens if goods arrive before the import authorisation?
FTP para 2.12 lets early goods be warehoused and cleared against a later authorisation, but not Restricted items unless DGFT specifically allows it. The CBIC Customs Manual 2025 explains that such goods are liable to confiscation under Customs Act section 111(d), and the officer may offer a fine in lieu of confiscation under section 125.
What does Deferred mean in EFC minutes?
It means the committee did not decide the application at that meeting. HBP para 2.48(c) names one reason: comments awaited from a technical ministry. If its No Objection Certificate then arrives with no divergence of views, the EFC Chairman can approve it and the committee confirms it later.
What can I do if my restricted import application is rejected?
An incomplete application rejected with reasons can be reopened once the deficiencies are fixed, within 90 days under HBP para 2.05. For a committee decision, Appendix 2K row 13 sets Rs 5,000 for a review application, and FTP para 2.60 allows a request to DGFT for a personal hearing.
What is the difference between restricted and prohibited imports?
A Restricted item can be imported against a DGFT authorisation or a notified procedure, FTP para 2.08. A Prohibited item is not permitted for import, FTP para 11.41, so no licence is available. An STE item is imported by the notified State Trading Enterprise unless DGFT grants another entity an authorisation, FTP para 2.21.
Do I need a consultant to apply for a restricted import licence?
No. Any eligible IEC holder can file ANF 2M on the DGFT portal with a registered DSC. A consultant can prepare the justification, import history and item papers. If you engage us, we file in your unit’s own name, and you can still file yourself with our guidance.
Sources
- Tier 1. Foreign Trade Policy 2023 Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5 and 11, and Handbook of Procedures 2023 Chapter 2 as on July 2026, DGFT: FTP Chapter 2, HBP Chapter 2.
- Tier 1. Appendix 2K as amended by Public Notice No. 02/2025-26 dated 15 April 2025: Appendix 2K. ANF 2M and the Import Management System: dgft.gov.in.
- Tier 1. DGFT FAQ, Restricted Imports v1.1: content.dgft.gov.in. ITC (HS) 2022 Schedule I: dgft.gov.in.
- Tier 1. Minutes of EFC Meeting No. 006AM27 dated 25 September 2026: EFC minutes; Minutes of Meeting.
- Tier 1. Trade Notice No. 30/2026-27 dated 13 October 2026: content.dgft.gov.in. Trade Notice No. 31/2024-25 dated 13 February 2025: DGFT trade notices.
- Tier 1. Policy Circular No. 08/2025-26 dated 17 December 2025: content.dgft.gov.in; Policy Circular No. 02/2026-27 dated 9 October 2026: DGFT circulars.
- Tier 1. Notifications No. 17/2026-27 dated 16 May 2026 and No. 54/2025-26 dated 3 January 2026: DGFT notifications. Public Notice No. 02/2026-27 dated 10 April 2026: content.dgft.gov.in.
- Tier 1. DGFT Monthly MIS Report for April 2026, Table 2: content.dgft.gov.in.
- Tier 1. CBIC Customs Manual 2025, prohibitions and offences chapters: cbic.gov.in.
This is general guidance. Rules change. Check the current notification or trade notice, or speak to us, before you act.
Related: EXIM licences and registrations | What needs a DGFT licence | DGFT consultants