{"id":97,"date":"2026-05-16T15:23:04","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T15:23:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tracecontainer.com\/blog\/?p=97"},"modified":"2026-05-16T15:23:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T15:23:05","slug":"what-is-an-igm-import-general-manifest-guide-for-indian-customs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tracecontainer.com\/blog\/what-is-an-igm-import-general-manifest-guide-for-indian-customs\/","title":{"rendered":"What is an IGM? (Import General Manifest Guide for Indian Customs)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When an international ship or cargo plane arrives at an Indian port, it cannot simply unload its cargo and hand it over to the buyers. Before a single container touches the dock, Indian Customs must know exactly what is on board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The very first legal gatekeeper of this process is a document called the IGM<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you work in import documentation or are waiting for your foreign shipment to arrive, understanding the IGM is crucial. It is the master key that unlocks the customs clearance process. Here is everything you need to know about it in plain, simple terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is an IGM and an IGM Date?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

IGM<\/strong> stands for Import General Manifest<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think of it as a master passenger and cargo passport for the entire vessel. It is a mandatory legal declaration filed with Indian Customs (under Section 30 of the Customs Act, 1962) that lists every single item carried by the arriving vessel or aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • The IGM Number:<\/strong> Once the document is successfully submitted, the customs computer system (ICEGATE) generates a unique identification number known as the IGM Number<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The IGM Date:<\/strong> This is the official date on which the manifest was electronically filed and accepted by customs. This date is highly important because it legally establishes the exact moment your goods entered Indian territory.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    Who Files the IGM?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The importer does not<\/strong> file the IGM, and neither does their Customs House Agent (CHA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The legal responsibility to file the IGM lies entirely with the Carrier<\/strong> of the goods. This means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • The Shipping Line (for sea cargo)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The Airline (for air cargo)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The Steamer Agent or Freight Forwarder \/ NVOCC (acting on behalf of the carrier)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      The carrier must submit this data electronically through the ICEGATE portal, typically within 24 hours of the vessel’s arrival (or even before arrival for short-haul routes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n\n\n\n

      Why is IGM Filing So Important?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      The IGM serves as the foundation for anti-smuggling and revenue collection. Its primary purposes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. Customs Accountability:<\/strong> It ensures that no unauthorized or illegal cargo is secretly brought into the country. Every item must be accounted for.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. The “Line Number” System:<\/strong> The IGM breaks down the massive ship’s cargo into individual rows called Line Numbers<\/strong>. Each specific Bill of Lading (BL) or Air Waybill (AWB) is assigned its own Line Number. This maps your exact container to the master vessel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Data Verification:<\/strong> It prevents fraud. It ensures that what the exporter sent matches exactly what the carrier claims to have brought into the country.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \n\n\n\n

        Can We File a Bill of Entry (BOE) Without an IGM Number?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Yes, absolutely.<\/strong> In fact, Indian Customs prefers it this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        You can file what is called an Advance Bill of Entry<\/strong> (or Prior Bill of Entry) up to 30 days before the vessel is scheduled to arrive at the port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        According to Indian Customs regulations, importers are highly encouraged to file their BOE before<\/em> the end of the day preceding the aircraft or vessel’s arrival. Filing early allows customs to start reviewing your paperwork, assessing taxes, and calculating duties ahead of time, which significantly speeds up delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        When you file an Advance BOE, you leave the fields for the IGM Number, IGM Date, and Line Number blank (or input a temporary placeholder like NOMBL<\/code> if the Master Bill of Lading isn’t finalized yet).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n\n\n\n

        Why Do We Need the IGM Number Before Finalizing the BOE?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        While you can start<\/em> the process without an IGM number, you absolutely cannot finish<\/em> it without one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Before customs gives the final approval known as Out of Charge (OOC)<\/strong> to release your container from the port, the system must perform a step called IGM Linkage<\/strong> (or Regularization).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The customs automated system takes the details from your Bill of Entry and compares them line-by-line with the details the shipping line filed in the IGM:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • Do the Bill of Lading numbers match exactly?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Is the weight listed on the BOE the same as the weight in the IGM?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Is the Importer\u2019s name (Consignee) correct?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          If everything aligns perfectly, the system links your BOE to the IGM Line Number. If there is even a minor spelling typo or a weight mismatch between your BOE and the carrier\u2019s IGM, the system will flag an error, and your cargo will remain locked at the port until an official IGM Amendment<\/strong> is filed and approved by a customs officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n\n\n\n

          Summary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          The IGM is the shipping line\u2019s declaration of what they brought into India, while the Bill of Entry is your declaration of what you are importing. Only when these two puzzle pieces click together can your container legally exit the port gates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Once the carrier logs the IGM, you can easily track your container’s port milestones using TraceContainer.com<\/strong> or your air shipments via TraceAWB.com<\/strong> to ensure a smooth transition from arrival to final delivery.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          When an international ship or cargo plane arrives at an Indian port, it cannot simply unload its cargo and hand it over to the buyers. Before a single\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tracecontainer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tracecontainer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tracecontainer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tracecontainer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tracecontainer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tracecontainer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99,"href":"https:\/\/tracecontainer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97\/revisions\/99"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tracecontainer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tracecontainer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tracecontainer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}