How to Import from South Korea to India (2026): Duty, IGST, CDSCO/BIS Rules & Landed Cost
A practical guide for Indian businesses and individuals importing from South Korea — K-beauty, electronics, machinery parts, food — covering registrations, duty and IGST calculation, CEPA, CDSCO/BIS compliance and door-to-door DDP shipping.
Key takeaways
- Indian import duty on Korean goods is usually 0–10% under CEPA (vs 10–20% MFN) plus 18% IGST on most products — cosmetics are also 18% (5% on soap, shampoo and toothpaste) since the Sept 2025 GST reform.
- Cosmetics need CDSCO import registration; electronics need BIS (CRS) — or import as personal use within limits.
- DDP door-to-door from Korea from ₹690/kg (flat ₹1,500/kg all-inclusive for cosmetics); 6–9 days.
- Always compare landed cost: product + freight + duty + IGST + clearance — not the Korean sticker price.
Quick answer
Get an IEC (for business imports), have your Korean supplier ship to our Seoul consolidation hub, and let ShipKorea clear Indian customs with duty and IGST pre-paid (DDP). Korea→India door-to-door from ₹690/kg; K-beauty at a flat ₹1,500/kg including 18% GST and duty; 6–9 days.
Who needs what — business vs personal import
Individuals importing for personal use (skincare hauls, K-pop merch, small electronics) need no licence — customs duty applies above the ₹5,000 gift/₹10,000 personal-use thresholds. Businesses need IEC + GST; cosmetics for resale need a CDSCO Import Registration Certificate (Form COS-1) held by the Indian importer; electronics need BIS CRS registration of the exact model; food needs FSSAI import licence.
Duty and IGST — the real math
Assessable value = CIF (product + freight + insurance). Basic Customs Duty (BCD) under CEPA is 0–10% on most Korean goods with a Korean Certificate of Origin (vs 10–20% MFN). Social Welfare Surcharge 10% of BCD. IGST on (value + BCD + SWS): 18% for most goods, and 18% for skincare/make-up cosmetics too (5% on soap, shampoo and toothpaste) since Sept 2025. Example: ₹10,000 CIF of skincare → BCD 10% ₹1,000 → SWS ₹100 → IGST 18% on ₹11,100 = ₹1,998 → landed ₹13,098 before delivery. Our flat ₹1,500/kg cosmetics rate absorbs all of this.
The India–Korea CEPA on the import side
Korean-origin goods with a CEPA Certificate of Origin (issued by Korea Customs / KCCI) qualify for reduced BCD. Ask your Korean supplier for it — most established exporters issue it routinely. Without it customs applies MFN rates.
Compliance by product category
K-beauty & cosmetics: CDSCO registration for commercial, none for personal use; 18% GST (5% on soap, shampoo and toothpaste). Electronics & gadgets: BIS CRS for 70+ product categories (chargers, power banks, laptops, monitors); personal use of one unit is allowed. Machinery & auto parts: BIS for some categories, otherwise IEC only. Food & supplements: FSSAI import NOC at the port; shelf life ≥60% remaining. Toys: BIS mandatory since 2021.
Shipping options from Korea and how DDP saves you
Our Seoul hub receives goods from any Korean seller (Coupang, Gmarket, Olive Young, wholesalers), consolidates multiple orders into one shipment, and ships DDP to your door in India. You pay one all-inclusive per-kg rate: from ₹690/kg (general goods) or a flat ₹1,500/kg for cosmetics — no customs visits, no courier 'duty + handling' bills at delivery.
Proxy shopping — importing when the seller won't ship to India
Many Korean brands and marketplaces only ship domestically. Our proxy shopping service buys on your behalf in Korea, receives at the Seoul hub, photographs the goods, and ships DDP to India. Popular for K-beauty wholesale, limited K-pop merchandise and Korean electronics.
Next steps
Send us the product list, quantities and Korean supplier details on WhatsApp. We'll confirm HS codes, compliance requirements, exact landed cost and timeline within a working day. See also Korean cosmetics wholesale for India and cheapest courier from Korea to India.
