Import Furniture from China to India.

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Establish the importing entity and IEC

DGFT’s DGFT — Foreign Trade Policy, Chapter 2 ↗ requires an Importer-Exporter Code for imports unless a specific exemption applies. Identify the entity that will appear on the invoice, shipment and Bill of Entry. Confirm the relevant registrations and import-policy status of each furniture category with the broker.

Personal household goods and commercial furniture orders should not be assumed to follow identical arrangements. If the purchase is for a hotel, office or resale, disclose that intended use when obtaining customs and product advice. A supplier’s export experience does not establish the Indian buyer’s eligibility or obligations.

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Check the current furniture BIS position

BIS — products under compulsory certification, Scheme I ↗ currently lists work chairs, general-purpose chairs and stools, tables and desks, storage units, beds and bunk beds under the furniture quality-control framework. Match each item to its Indian Standard and read the linked order and current amendments.

Confirm commencement, transition provisions, exemptions and the appropriate certification position for the manufacturer and shipment. Do not assume a generic overseas test report replaces an applicable BIS requirement. Resolve the position before production; a certificate for a different model or manufacturer may not answer the question for your goods.

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Request an item-level duty calculation

Use the exact Customs Tariff Heading in ICEGATE — customs duty calculator ↗. Ask the broker to check the applicable notifications, valuation, compliance information and any relevant additional measures. A mixed order of chairs, beds and storage furniture can require more than one classification.

Budget basic customs duty, applicable surcharge or other measures, and IGST as separate lines. Confirm each assessment base: the tax calculation may involve more than the factory invoice alone. Request the current calculation for the order rather than reusing a percentage from an unrelated import.

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Prepare matching product and shipment documents

The DGFT — Foreign Trade Policy, Chapter 2 ↗ identifies the transport document, commercial invoice and packing list, and Bill of Entry as core import documents, with further evidence where required. Ask which product certificates or permissions need to be ready before dispatch.

Use consistent item descriptions, model references, quantities, materials and carton marks. If the order includes electrical accessories or other regulated components, describe them separately for review. Keep the approved technical specification and conformity evidence with the shipment file so the physical cargo can be matched to its records.

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Price delivery beyond the arrival port

Compare complete freight quotations, including destination handling, clearance, potential storage and inland transport. Record packed volume and gross weight. For hotel or apartment packages, label cartons by item and room type and confirm unloading space, installation access and phased receiving dates.

Ask who bears charges if the shipment is delayed because evidence or declarations are incomplete. Keep a planning reserve separate from official fees and import taxes, and avoid paying twice for services already bundled into the supplier or forwarder quote.

Before dispatch, ask your local customs broker to confirm the classification, current measures, tax bases and product evidence for this exact furniture order. Put confirmed amounts into the import budget calculator. Its figures are estimates based on your inputs, not a live customs quotation for India.