An Indian exporter can help a buyer pay a lower import duty only when the destination’s trade agreement covers the product, the goods meet that agreement’s rule of origin, and the importer follows the required preference-claim procedure. A Certificate of Origin (CoO) supports that claim; it does not by itself establish that the goods qualify.
What an FTA can—and cannot—do for your shipment
A free trade agreement (FTA) may provide preferential import duty for eligible goods in a partner country. There is no universal FTA discount for Indian exports: coverage and the preferential rate depend on the destination agreement and the product’s tariff classification. The importing country’s tariff line and procedures matter, so confirm the treatment for the actual product and destination rather than relying on a general rate or the fact that the goods are shipped from India.
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DGFT’s Handbook of Procedures chapter on rules of origin, dated 14 June 2022, describes common criteria such as wholly obtained goods, a change in tariff classification, value addition, and non-minimal operations. These are broad categories, not a substitute for the product-specific rule in the agreement that applies to your shipment. The agreement text and current official guidance govern.
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How to check whether your product qualifies
- Identify the destination and agreement. Confirm the importing country and which agreement, if any, applies to trade with India. If more than one route may be relevant, compare their product coverage, origin tests, proof procedures, and importer-claim requirements.
- Confirm the product’s HS classification. Establish the correct HS code for the goods and check the destination’s tariff line. DGFT’s Certificate of Origin portal provides country-and-product tariff checking, but confirm the result against the actual destination classification and applicable agreement.
- Read the rule for that product. Determine whether the agreement requires wholly obtained status, a tariff-classification change, a value-content threshold, a product-specific process, or another test. Assess the actual inputs and manufacturing steps against that test; exporting or dispatching goods from India alone does not make them Indian-originating.
- Check the duty treatment and conditions. Verify that the agreement grants a preference for the destination tariff line and identify any conditions that apply to claiming it. Do not assume eligibility or savings until both the product coverage and origin rule are satisfied.
- Confirm the proof-of-origin route. Check whether the agreement calls for an issued preferential CoO, an exporter declaration, an authorised-agency route, or another form of proof. DGFT identifies specified issuing agencies for India’s FTAs, PTAs, and GSP arrangements, but the available route and filing requirements are agreement-specific.
What records to assemble before applying for a CoO
Build the origin claim from records that show where materials came from and how the product was made. Keep the source documents, not only the issued certificate; customs may seek evidence to verify the claim.
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- Supplier declarations and supporting origin evidence for inputs.
- Material and production information that explains how the goods meet the applicable rule.
- Cost records where the rule uses a value-content calculation.
- Commercial and shipping records that connect the origin evidence to the goods being exported.
- Matching product descriptions, quantities, invoice details, and exporter/importer information wherever required by the agreement’s form or procedures.
Australia-India ECTA provides an example of agreement-specific verification requirements covering production, supply, materials, and commercial or customs records. Its official Chapter 4 text requires records to be kept for at least five years from the date the CoO is issued. That period is specific to ECTA and should not be treated as a retention rule for every Indian FTA.
How to apply for the preferential Certificate of Origin
- Use the current DGFT filing channel. DGFT’s notice moved preferential CoO applications to eCoO 2.0 on Trade Connect and made its use mandatory from 17 January 2025. Access uses DGFT credentials; keep your exporter profile and Importer Exporter Code (IEC) details current. The legacy CoO page is not the filing route for new preferential applications under that notice.
- Follow the agreement-specific workflow. Select the correct agreement and proof route, then follow the live portal instructions and the relevant agreement guidance. Do not assume one agreement’s declarations, signature rules, or supporting-document requirements apply to another.
- Check the application against the underlying records. Before submission, reconcile the product description and shipment details with the invoice, packing list, and transport documents. Correct inconsistencies before the importer relies on the proof of origin.
- Complete any applicable document-signing and upload steps. Where e-SANCHIT applies, ICEGATE says it accepts PDF documents and identifies an unregistered signature or an unsigned document as causes of an invalid digital-signature error. Check the applicable system’s current requirements rather than assuming this process applies to every CoO application.
- Coordinate with the importer or customs broker. Confirm the required proof format, any invoice or transport-document references, and when and how the importer must claim preference under destination-country procedures.
- Retain the application and supporting evidence. Keep the CoO together with the records supporting the origin decision for the period required by that particular agreement, and be ready to respond if customs requests verification.
Agreement-specific example: India–EFTA TEPA
India–EFTA TEPA took effect on 1 October 2025. For exports to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, DGFT’s September 2025 notice describes preferential CoO handling through Trade Connect and two routes: self-declaration or issuance by an authorised agency.
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For the self-declaration route described in that notice, the exporter profile must be IEC-linked with a valid digital signature certificate (DSC), and the applicant must upload a scan of an ink-signed signature. These are TEPA-specific instructions in the cited DGFT notice, not requirements to assume for every FTA. Check current agreement guidance and portal instructions before filing.
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- Claiming origin because goods left India: Dispatch country is not proof of originating status. Test the inputs and processing against the actual agreement rule.
- Using a general origin rule instead of the product-specific one: Common tests such as tariff shift or value addition are only starting points. Apply the rule written for the relevant product and agreement.
- Allowing descriptions or shipment details to conflict: Reconcile descriptions, quantities, invoice references, and relevant exporter, importer, and transport details across the application and commercial paperwork.
- Keeping only the CoO: Preserve supplier, material, production, and relevant cost evidence so the origin decision can be substantiated.
- Filing through an outdated channel: For preferential CoOs under DGFT’s current notice, use Trade Connect/eCoO 2.0 rather than the legacy page.
- Assuming all agreements use the same signatures and proof: Check the exact agreement’s authorized-issuer, declaration, signature, and importer-claim procedures.
- Uploading an unsigned or improperly signed file where e-SANCHIT applies: Check PDF and signature status against ICEGATE’s current upload requirements.
Which agreement should you assess when there is more than one option?
Do not compare agreements by headline duty rates alone. Use the actual destination tariff line and assess whether your records can prove the applicable rule.
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| What to compare | Question to answer |
|---|---|
| Product coverage and origin test | Does the agreement cover the product, and can the inputs and processing meet its product-specific rule? |
| Preferential tariff treatment | What rate applies to this product’s tariff line in the destination, and under what agreement conditions? |
| Evidence burden | Can supplier, production, material, and—where relevant—cost records support the origin claim? |
| Proof and claim procedure | What CoO or declaration route applies, and what must the importer submit or do to claim the preference? |
| Record retention and verification | What records must be kept, for how long, and what verification process does the agreement provide? |
DGFT’s portal supports country-and-product tariff checking; the agreement text supplies the governing origin and proof procedures. If the destination, HS code, product composition, sourcing, or manufacturing steps are uncertain, resolve those facts before presenting the shipment as eligible for a preference.
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