SIMS, PIMS, CIMS and NFMIMS Import Registration
Steel, coal, paper, copper and aluminium items are “free” to import, but only after you take an automatic registration number under the matching import monitoring system. The number must be quoted in your bill of entry, so it has to be in hand before the goods reach the port. We handle SIMS registration and the other three systems, filing on the right portal.
What it is
Import monitoring systems are online registration schemes run under the Foreign Trade Policy. They do not ban or cap imports. The importer reports each consignment in advance, and the government watches volumes and prices of sensitive goods. The importer gets an automatic registration number, and Customs will not clear the goods without it.
DGFT changes the import policy of the listed items from “Free” to “Free, subject to compulsory registration”. The four systems most traders meet are SIMS for steel, CIMS for coal, PIMS for paper and NFMIMS for copper and aluminium. You need a valid Import Export Code before you can apply under any of them.
Which system covers your goods
| System | Goods covered | Policy basis |
|---|---|---|
| SIMS (Steel Import Monitoring System) | Steel products in Chapters 72, 73 and 86 of ITC (HS) | Policy condition under DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 of 28 September 2020; SIMS 2.0 portal from July 2024 |
| CIMS (Coal Import Monitoring System) | Coal under Chapter 27, including anthracite, bituminous, coking and steam coal | DGFT Notification 49/2015-20 of 22 December 2020 |
| NFMIMS (Non-Ferrous Metal Import Monitoring System) | Copper items in Chapter 74 and aluminium items in Chapter 76 | DGFT Notification 61/2015-20 of 31 March 2021 |
| PIMS (Paper Import Monitoring System) | Notified paper and paperboard products | DGFT notification of 25 May 2022 |
The HS code on your supplier’s invoice decides which system applies. Here is the catch: two products that look alike can sit in different tariff lines. Copper wire sits in Chapter 74, but insulated copper cable falls in Chapter 85, outside NFMIMS. So we check the eight-digit code before anything else. Some traders call NFMIMS the copper and aluminium import monitoring system; it is the same registration.
Who it applies to
You import to resell
Anyone with an IEC who imports covered steel, coal, paper, copper or aluminium for resale. Think of a Faridabad stockist bringing in cold-rolled coils from Korea for local fabricators. Importers, their agents or customs brokers can file the application.
You import inputs for your factory
Factories that import steel coils, copper rods, aluminium sheet or paper for their own production. Registration applies even when the goods come in under a scheme such as Advance Authorisation, EOU or SEZ.
You import metal scrap
Metal scrap in Chapters 72 and 73 also needs SIMS, along with its own pre-shipment inspection rules. See our metal scrap import registration page for that route.
Why it matters
No number, no clearance
The registration number and its expiry date are declared in the bill of entry. Without them, the shipment waits at the port while demurrage builds up.
One number per consignment
A registration covers one customs entry. It can include several products if the exporter, manufacturer, country of origin and port are the same.
Wrong data, real trouble
False details can attract action under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.
Documents required
Your registrations
- Active IEC (updated for the current year)
- GST registration
- DSC or login for the DGFT or monitoring portal
Shipment details
- Purchase order or proforma invoice
- HS code, description, quantity and CIF value
- Country of origin and port of loading
- Expected port and date of arrival
Product details
- Manufacturer and exporter names and addresses
- Technical details: grade, specification, thickness or GSM as relevant
- For steel, the mill test certificate where the form asks for it
How it works
Pin down the HS code and system
For SIMS registration or any other system, we check the eight-digit HS code against the import policy and confirm which monitoring system, if any, applies.
Match the data to the bill of entry
We take the invoice, supplier details, quantity, value and expected arrival from you. In practice, most problems start when the registration and the bill of entry show different values, so we line them up now.
File and pay on the portal
We file the online application and pay the registration fee. The automatic registration number is generated online.
Pass the number to your customs broker
We share the number and expiry date with your broker so they are quoted correctly in the bill of entry.
Timelines
Apply no earlier than 60 days ahead
For SIMS and CIMS, you can apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival of the consignment.
Have it before the bill of entry
The number must exist before the bill of entry is filed. For coal, the CIMS rule is at least 5 days before arrival.
Use it within 75 days
A SIMS or CIMS number is valid for 75 days. Ship running late beyond that? File a fresh registration.
What happens if you skip it
Goods held at the port
Customs cannot clear covered goods without a valid registration number in the bill of entry.
Fine and penalty
In a 2026 CESTAT case, goods cleared without SIMS and LMPC certificates drew a ₹1 lakh redemption fine and a ₹50,000 penalty under Section 112(a)(i) of the Customs Act, 1962.
Cost of delay
Port storage and container detention charges keep running while the paperwork is fixed.
Frequently asked questions
Is SIMS registration a licence to import steel?
No, SIMS registration is a registration, not a licence. The steel items remain “free” to import; the policy only adds a condition that you register each consignment in advance and quote the number in your bill of entry. The number is generated automatically once the online form and fee are complete. Quality control orders and BIS rules apply separately. With the HS code checked first, registration itself is routine.
How early can I apply for SIMS or CIMS?
You can apply no earlier than 60 days before the expected arrival of the shipment. For coal under CIMS, the application must also be made at least 5 days before arrival. The number stays valid for 75 days, which covers most voyages. If you file as soon as the supplier confirms the shipping date, you have plenty of buffer before the vessel reaches the port.
What is the registration fee?
DGFT’s fee schedule, Appendix 2K, amended by Public Notice 02/2025-26 dated 15 April 2025, lists ₹500 for issuing an automatic registration number under SIMS, CIMS, NFMIMS, PIMS and other import monitoring systems. The fee is paid online on the portal. DGFT can revise it, so we confirm the amount the portal asks for before filing.
Do I need a separate registration for every shipment?
Yes, one registration number is needed for each customs entry, that is, each bill of entry. You can include several products in one registration if the importer, exporter, manufacturer, country of origin and port stay the same. If any of these change, file a separate registration. For regular importers, we keep a simple shipment calendar so no consignment lands without its number.
Does PIMS apply to imports into an SEZ or EOU?
Yes. DGFT Policy Circular 45/2015-20 dated 23 January 2023 clarified that PIMS registration is compulsory whatever the purpose of import, including Advance Authorisation, IGCR, EOU and SEZ, and whatever the mode of transport. Samples with an FOB value below ₹10,000 are exempt. Non-commercial imports by individuals or government agencies can be exempted case by case. So plan for registration on every commercial paper consignment.
Which copper and aluminium items need NFMIMS?
Items in Chapter 74 (copper) and Chapter 76 (aluminium) of ITC (HS) moved to “free subject to compulsory registration” under NFMIMS through DGFT Notification 61/2015-20 dated 31 March 2021. The exact eight-digit HS code decides coverage, so check your supplier’s invoice. If your product sits in a covered line, register before the bill of entry. We check the code with you first.
What if my shipment is delayed beyond 75 days?
A SIMS or CIMS number expires 75 days after it is issued. If the goods arrive after that, apply for a fresh registration before the bill of entry is filed, using the updated arrival date. Keep the supplier’s revised shipping schedule handy, since the new form asks for it. Bulk cargo is often late, and the fresh number is generated online once the form is complete.
Can my customs broker file the registration?
Yes, importers, their agents or customs brokers with the importer’s valid IEC can file. The details must match the importer’s IEC and the commercial invoice exactly, because Customs checks the number against the bill of entry. Many importers prefer one team to handle both, so the data matches. We work alongside your broker and share the number and expiry date in good time.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Government fee: ₹500 per automatic registration number under DGFT Appendix 2K (Public Notice 02/2025-26, 15 April 2025). IEC, if you still need one: ₹500.
Ready to begin?
Share the invoice and expected arrival date, and we will have your import monitoring number ready before the ship docks.