SOP for Customs Clearance of Imported Goods through Foreign Post Offices (FPOs)

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs

Room No. 16049, Kartavya Bhawan-I, New Delhi-110001
Dated: 6th August, 2026

To,

All the Pr. Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners of Customs/Customs (Preventive)

All Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners of Customs & Central Tax

All Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners of Customs/Customs (Preventive)

All Principal Director Generals/Director Generals under CBIC.

Madam/Sir,

Subject: Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for clearance of imported goods through Foreign Post Offices under the Postal Import Regulations, 2025 – reg.

In order to facilitate Customs clearance of postal imports through a technology-driven and risk-based system, CBIC has developed the FPO Import Application for processing personal postal imports in accordance with the framework envisaged under Postal Import Regulations 2025 issued vide Notification No. 18/2025 - Customs (N.T.) dated 28th March 2025. The objective is to provide a uniform regulatory and procedural framework for assessment and clearance of imported goods through Foreign Post Offices (FPOs).

2.The FPO Import Application for personal imported goods, which constitute the predominant share of postal imports handled through FPOs has been deployed and is presently operational at Bengaluru, Kochi, Mumbai FPO, APSO Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Delhi. The FPO Import application has also been integrated with the Risk Management System (RMS), enabling automated risk assessment and system-based facilitation of postal import articles.

3.It has also been observed that jurisdictional field formations have issued Public notices/SOPs to facilitate Customs clearance at their respective FPOs. While such instructions address location-specific operational requirements, there is a need to ensure uniformity in Customs procedures across all FPOs.

4.In view of the above, the following procedure is prescribed for processing of personal imported goods at FPOs;