How to Apply for a DGFT Export License for Restricted Goods

What Is Export Licensing?

India's Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), classifies all goods into four export categories based on ITC-HS Schedule 2:

The vast majority of Indian exports (over 95% by value) fall under the "Free" category and need no export license. This guide focuses on the roughly 5% that fall under "Restricted," where you must obtain DGFT authorization before your goods can clear customs.

When You Need a DGFT Export License

The following categories of goods require DGFT authorization before export. If your product falls into any of these, you cannot ship without the relevant license.

SCOMET Items (Dual-Use Goods)

Items listed in the SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies) list. Appendix 3 to Schedule 2 of ITC-HS. These are dual-use items with both civilian and military applications: certain electronics, computers, telecommunications equipment, navigation systems, sensors, lasers, propulsion systems, and advanced materials. The SCOMET list is aligned with multilateral export control regimes including the Wassenaar Arrangement, Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), and Australia Group. See our deep dive on SCOMET export controls for more detail.

Certain Chemicals

Chemicals listed under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Schedules 1, 2, and 3. This includes precursors and toxic chemicals that could be used in chemical weapons production. Drug precursors listed under NDPS Act controls also require authorization. For broader chemical export compliance, see our chemical export compliance guide.

Restricted Agricultural Products

Several agricultural commodities are subject to periodic export restrictions that the government adjusts based on domestic supply and prices. Onions, non-basmati white rice, wheat, sugar and select pulses have all been restricted, relaxed and re-restricted since 2022. The restrictions move in both directions and with little notice: a notification can shift an item from "Free" to "Restricted" overnight, and can lift a multi-year prohibition just as abruptly. No status for these commodities is stated here for that reason. Read the current ITC-HS Schedule 2 entry for your HS code before you contract.

Seeds and Planting Materials

Export of seeds, germplasm, and planting materials requires authorization from DGFT along with phytosanitary certificates from the Plant Quarantine authority. Certain varieties are restricted to protect India's genetic resources under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act.

Raw Hides, Skins, and Select Wood Products

Raw and semi-processed hides and skins (certain categories under Chapters 41-43) require export authorization. Similarly, certain wood and wood products, particularly those from restricted tree species, need DGFT permission along with forest department clearances.

Drug Precursors

Chemicals that can be used to manufacture narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances require DGFT authorization under the NDPS Act framework. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) issues a No Objection Certificate (NOC) that must accompany the DGFT application.

Types of DGFT Export Licenses

DGFT issues different types of authorization depending on the product category and the nature of the restriction.

Step-by-Step DGFT Portal Application

All export authorization applications are filed online through the DGFT portal. No physical submissions are accepted under FTP 2023. Here is the process.

Login to dgft.gov.in with IEC + DSC

Go to dgft.gov.in and log in using your IEC (Importer Exporter Code) and Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). If you do not have an IEC, you must apply for one first. Your DSC must be Class 3 and registered on the DGFT portal. Make sure your IEC is active and not suspended.

Navigate to Services > Export Authorization

Once logged in, go to the "Services" menu and select "Export Authorization" (or "SCOMET Authorization" if your item is on the SCOMET list). The portal will display the applicable application form based on the authorization type you select.

Select Product Category and HS Code

Enter your product's 8-digit ITC-HS code. The system will verify that the item is indeed restricted and display the specific restriction type and any conditions. If you are unsure of your HS code, use our HS code lookup tool or refer to the HS code classification guide.

Fill the Application Form (ANF Series)

Complete the relevant Aayaat Niryaat Form (ANF). For general export authorizations, this is typically ANF-2D. For SCOMET, use ANF-2F. The form asks for: exporter details, consignee and end-user details, product description and specifications, quantity, value, destination country, port of export, and the purpose of export. Be precise. Vague descriptions are a common cause of rejection.

Upload Supporting Documents

Upload all required documents as PDFs. The exact list depends on your license type (see the documents table below). At minimum, you need the export contract or purchase order, product technical specifications or data sheet, and for SCOMET items, the End-User Certificate. Ensure all documents are legible and in English or Hindi.

Pay the Application Fee

Pay the prescribed fee online via the DGFT portal's integrated payment gateway. The fee varies by authorization type but is typically INR 200-1,000 for standard authorizations. SCOMET applications may have higher fees. Keep the payment receipt. You will need it if there are any processing queries.

DGFT Evaluation and Inter-Ministerial Consultation

For standard restricted items, the regional DGFT office evaluates your application and may seek clarifications. For SCOMET items, DGFT initiates an inter-ministerial consultation involving the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the Department of Defence Production, and other relevant ministries. This is the longest part of the process. You can track your application status on the DGFT portal under "Track Application."

License Issuance or Rejection

If approved, the export authorization is issued electronically on the DGFT portal and transmitted to ICEGATE for customs clearance. You can download the authorization letter from your portal dashboard. If rejected, DGFT will provide reasons. You can re-apply after addressing the deficiencies or appeal to the Appellate Authority under Section 15 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.

Documents Needed by License Type

The document requirements vary based on the type of authorization you are applying for. Below is a consolidated table.

Processing Time

Processing times vary significantly based on the authorization type and the complexity of the product. FTP 2023 has codified target timelines, but actual processing can exceed these targets when inter-ministerial consultations are involved.

End-User Certificate Requirements

An End-User Certificate (EUC) is mandatory for SCOMET and CWC export authorizations. The EUC is a legally binding document from the foreign buyer that assures the Indian government about the intended end-use and end-user of the exported items.

The EUC must contain the following:

• End-user identity: Full legal name, address, and registration details of the actual end-user (not just the consignee or intermediary).
• End-use statement: Specific description of how the items will be used. Generic statements like "for industrial use" are insufficient.
• Non-diversion undertaking: A commitment that the items will not be re-exported, diverted, or used for any purpose other than the stated end-use without prior approval from the Indian government.
• Non-WMD assurance: A declaration that the items will not be used in the design, development, production, or delivery of weapons of mass destruction or their delivery systems.
• Government authentication: For certain high-sensitivity SCOMET categories, the EUC must be authenticated by the government or an authorized agency of the destination country.

Validity and Renewal of Export Licenses

DGFT export authorizations are not permanent. Each authorization has a defined validity period, and you must complete your export within that window.

After the export is completed, you must file an Export Obligation Discharge Certificate (EODC) or submit proof of export to DGFT within the prescribed time. Failure to close out the authorization can result in penalties and affect future applications.

Common Rejection Reasons

Understanding why applications get rejected helps you avoid the most common pitfalls. Based on DGFT trade notices and exporter feedback, these are the top reasons for rejection or delay.

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Exporting Restricted Goods Without a License

Attempting to export restricted goods without the required DGFT authorization is a serious offence with consequences under multiple laws.

Recent FTP 2023 Changes to Export Restrictions

The Foreign Trade Policy 2023 introduced several changes to how export restrictions and licensing work. Key changes relevant to restricted goods exporters:

• Fully digital applications: All export authorization applications must be filed online through the DGFT portal. No physical submissions are accepted. This has reduced processing times and eliminated the need to visit regional DGFT offices.
• Codified processing timelines: FTP 2023 sets a target of 30 days for standard export authorizations and 60 days for SCOMET. While these are targets and not binding deadlines, they have improved average processing times.
• Updated SCOMET list: The SCOMET list has been updated to align with the latest Wassenaar Arrangement, MTCR, NSG, and Australia Group control lists. Some items have been added, some removed, and several entries have been refined with better technical parameters.
• Amnesty for past defaults: FTP 2023 includes amnesty provisions that allow exporters to regularize past export obligation defaults by paying reduced penalties. This clears the path for exporters who were unable to apply for new authorizations due to outstanding defaults.
• Transparent inter-ministerial process: The inter-ministerial consultation process for SCOMET applications has been made more transparent, with defined timelines for each ministry to provide their input.
• Dynamic agricultural export policies: The government has signalled that agricultural export restrictions will continue to be dynamic and responsive to domestic supply conditions. Exporters should monitor DGFT notifications frequently.

Agricultural Export Restrictions. Current Status

This section used to carry a commodity-by-commodity status table. It has been removed. Every row in it was either superseded by a later notification or could not be confirmed against one, and two rows contradicted the tracker on prohibited and restricted goods on this same site. Pulses were listed as banned here and Free there, and the onion export duty was given as 40% here and 20% there. A table that disagrees with its own sibling page is worse than no table, because a reader cannot tell which half to act on.

What is stable enough to be worth stating: agricultural entries in ITC-HS Schedule 2 are the fastest-moving part of India's export policy, they change by notification with immediate effect, and they move in both directions. A multi-year prohibition can be lifted as abruptly as it was imposed. Wheat is the worked example: prohibited from May 2022 under DGFT Notification 06/2015-2020, and amended in August 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Never Miss an Export Policy Change

Seasaw monitors DGFT notifications, tracks changes to ITC-HS export policy classifications, and alerts you when your products' export status changes. So you never get caught shipping restricted goods without authorization.

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Update history

• 2026-08-12 First published.