KYC is an acronym for Know Your Customer which is a term used for identifying and verifying the identity and address of the customer.
In the context of increasing number of offenses involving various modus-operandi such as misuse of export promotion schemes, fraudulent availment of export incentives , unscrupulous imports and duty evasion by bogus IEC holders etc., the "Know Your Customer (KYC)" guidelines have been put in place by The Ministry of Finance, Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs to ensure that they are not used intentionally or unintentionally by importers / exporters who indulge in fraudulent activities.
KYC (Know Your Customer) guidelines puts an obligation on Our Company to verify the antecedent, correctness of the IEC (Importer Exporter Code), identity of the customer and their functioning in the declared address by using reliable, independent and authentic documents, data or information. Hence, all consignees and importers based in India need to provide KYC documents for the clearance of all non-document imports, regardless of the value of such consignments.
KYC documents (government recognized Identity and address proof) need to be presented to Customs during the import clearance process. Hence, it is important that Our Company is provided with all the necessary KYC documents before the shipment arrives in India. Absence of KYC documents during the import clearance process leads to clearance delays as shipments are detained by customs, until KYC documents of the consignee are provided by the shipper at origin or consignee based in India.
As per the Public Notice issued by SIIB - Customs vide Regulation 12(1)(v) of the Courier Import & Export Regulations, 2010 and Circular No 2/2018 dated 12th January 2018, as an Authorized Express Operator it has now become very critical for entire Our Company's India & World-wide network to support and comply with the Indian Customs Regulations for obtaining Authorization Letters along with proof of identity and delivery/pick-up address details as per the KYC requirement for all Import and Export non-docs consignments.
In India, the pick-up/delivery address has to match with the AWB/Invoice address along with KYC proof produced & No delivery can happen on the Roads or PO Box addresses. The extract of Regulation is pasted below for your reference. For both imports and exports consignments, Our Company needs to obtain the Authorization letter along with KYC documents mandatorily and retain it for any audit purposes by the Customs Authorities.
Please refer the enclosed format of Authorization letter [ Download here ] which needs to be obtained by Our Company along with KYC documents.
An Authorised Courier shall :
You are requested to please share your KYC documents with Our Company via e-mail on kycsupport@ourcomapny.com with the Airwaybill / Reference Number of your shipment in the subject line.
The below table provides more information about KYC documents required for customs clearance as mandated by Indian Customs vide CBEC Circulars 09/2010, 33/2010 and 07/2015 for identification/ verification of importers/exporters for customs clearance performed on their behalf by Our Company acting as an Authorized Courier.
S.No. | Category | Documents to be obtained |
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1 | Individual - Resident Indian Any one self-certified document is sufficient if it contains both Identity (Photo) and Address Proof. In case an Individual wants the delivery to a different address or the given KYC document does not match with the delivery address, please provide below any one of the additional self-certified document to record the proof of delivery address.
Individual below 18 years of age can also provide a Birth Certificate as Proof of Identity. However, one ID proof of the Parent / Guardian is also required with address proof. |
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02 | Companies/Firms/Trusts/ Foundations registered under GST (Any one document with IEC). If customers have registered under different branches across India, please provide all registered GSTN data |
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03 | Companies/Firms not registered under GST - Any two documents |
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04 | Partnership firms not registered under GST- Any two documents |
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05 | Trusts/Foundations not registered under GST - Any two documents |
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06 | Foreign National residing in India or visits India - Passport and Visa/PIO card self certified copies are mandatory. Additionally please provide any ONE of the following address proof document. The address on this document should match with the delivery address.
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07 | Diplomats/Govt. Organisations/ Govt. Research Institutes or any Govt. Authorities etc as prescribed under para 2.07 HBP 2015-20 i.e. Categories of importer and exporter that are exempted from obtaining IEC. | The IEC will be either Unique Identification Number (UIN) issued by GSTN and authorized by DGFT or any common number notified by DGFT. |
Once the shipment is booked at origin, Our Company will send an auto generated message to the consignee on the phone number or email address provided on the Air Waybill to request for the KYC documents. Hence, it is essential for the shipper to ensure that the consignee’s name, address and contact details on the Air Waybill and invoice are completely accurate.
Consignees/ Importers must upload their correct KYC through the link shared in the SMS / Email to avoid possible delays in import clearance. The name and address on the KYC documents must match the name and address mentioned on the Air Waybill and invoice.
Customs clearance will be initiated upon receipt of satisfactory KYC documents hence all KYC’s uploaded directly through link or shared through any other medium are validated before they are submitted to customs.
If satisfactory KYC documents are not received within 15 calendar days, the shipment will be considered undeliverable and disposed with charges, if any, will be billed back to the shipper.
Note: For all regular and Business to Business customers, we require KYC documents only at the first time unless there are any changes in the previously given KYC documents. All regular customers have to inform Our Company for any changes in the KYCs time to time for seamless operations.