In ExDocs, product details sit in one item catalogue, and the Export module auto-fills export documents from that catalogue and your buyer profiles. DGFT’s Foreign Trade Policy lists which export documents are mandatory and, in some cases, what must appear on them, such as matching invoice numbers and the names of the parties involved. ExDocs is not responsible for document accuracy or export compliance, so verifying every document stays the exporter’s job.
Which export documents does the Foreign Trade Policy make mandatory?
According to DGFT, Foreign Trade Policy Chapter 2, the mandatory documents for export of goods from India are:
- A transport document: Bill of Lading, Airway Bill, Lorry Receipt, Railway Receipt or Postal Receipt
- Commercial Invoice cum Packing List
- Shipping Bill, Bill of Export or Postal Bill of Export
The list can grow for particular goods. For goods subject to restrictions or policy conditions, or that require an NOC or product-specific compliances under any statute, the regulatory authority concerned may notify additional documents for export or import. In specific cases, the regulatory authority concerned may also seek additional documents or information, electronically or in writing, as deemed necessary to ensure legal compliance.
Which details must match or appear across export documents?
The Foreign Trade Policy names specific details that have to line up across documents. These apply in the situations stated, not to every shipment:
- Certificates of Origin: all IEC holders availing CoOs shall use the same invoice numbers in both the CoOs and the corresponding Shipping Bills, to enable automated verification.
- Supporting manufacturers: the names of both the supporting manufacturer and the merchant exporter must figure in the concerned export documents, especially the Tax Invoice, Shipping Bill, Bill of Export or Airway Bill.
- Third-party exports: export documents such as the shipping bill shall indicate the names of both the manufacturing exporter or manufacturer and the third-party exporter(s), and the Export Order and Invoice should be in the name of the third-party exporter.
- Currency: all export contracts and invoices shall be denominated either in freely convertible currency or Indian rupees, but export proceeds shall be realised in freely convertible currency.
How ITC(HS) codes link each item to export policy
DGFT describes ITC(HS) as a compilation of codes for all merchandise or goods for export and import, with goods classified by group or sub-group at 2, 4, 6 or 8 digits. ITC(HS) is aligned at the 6-digit level with the international Harmonized System goods nomenclature maintained by the World Customs Organization, and India maintains its national Harmonized System of goods at the 8-digit level, notified under the First Schedule of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975.
The import and export policies for all goods are indicated against each item as per its ITC(HS) code, so the code recorded for an item is what connects it to the policy that applies to it.
Description, quantity and value in Authorisations and self-certification
Under the Foreign Trade Policy, every Authorisation includes all or some of a set of terms and conditions, as applicable to the paragraph under which it was issued, in addition to other conditions that may be specified. One of those terms is the description, quantity and value of goods.
Where DGFT relies on self-certification, applicants shall fill in information and particulars with sufficient care and caution. Any information later found untrue or incorrect will be liable for action under the FT (D&R) Act, 1992 and the Rules under it, in addition to penal action under any other Act or Order.
Keeping your IEC details up to date
An IEC is a 10-character alphanumeric number allotted to an entity (firm, company, LLP and so on) and is mandatory for undertaking any export or import activities. IEC details need to be updated online, and where there are no changes, that also needs to be confirmed online. An IEC is de-activated if it is not updated within the prescribed period, and a de-activated IEC may be activated again once it is successfully updated. For first-time registration, see How to Get an IEC Code in India.
How ExDocs fills export documents from one item catalogue
The ExDocs Export module creates commercial invoices, proforma invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, bills of lading and 20+ export documents, auto-filled from your item catalogue and buyer profiles.
- Item catalogue: 120+ pre-built categories, 400+ sub-categories and thousands of attributes, plus unlimited custom options.
- Shipping volume: live CBM calculations and container utilisation as you enter order quantities. For the underlying formula, see How to Calculate CBM for Export Shipments.
- Industry templates: industry-specific templates add the fields, columns and calculations unique to your products.
What ExDocs does not do
ExDocs is not responsible for the accuracy of documents generated or for export compliance. You remain responsible for verifying all export documentation, including documents auto-filled from the item catalogue.
Doing it by hand, or with a customs broker or freight forwarder, is the better fit when a shipment involves something you are unsure about, such as a new product, a new buyer arrangement or a regulator’s request. ExDocs can produce the documents, but the decision about whether they are right for that shipment is yours.
When to get specialist help
This post covers what the Foreign Trade Policy expects in export documents and how ExDocs fills them. It does not cover these situations; ask the people listed:
- Restricted goods or goods needing an NOC: ask a customs broker or the regulatory authority concerned which documents apply to your goods.
- A regulator asks for more documents or information on a shipment: a customs broker can help you respond.
- Classifying an item under ITC(HS): ask a customs broker before you save the code in your catalogue.
- Supporting manufacturer or third-party export arrangements: check with your customs broker or accountant how the names go on each document.
- Authorisations and self-certified applications: ask DGFT or a trade consultant.
- Invoice currency and realising export proceeds: ask your bank or accountant.
Related reading
- GST on Export Invoices — What Every Indian MSME Exporter Must Know
- EPCG Scheme: Pre-Application Checklist for Exporters
Sources
Checked against the official sources above on 13 November 2026. Rules and forms change, so confirm the current version on the official page before you act.