The Directorate General of Systems and Data Management under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) has issued an Advisory dated March 17, 2026 for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) users regarding the filing of SEZ courier shipments through the ICEGATE platform. This initiative is part of CBIC’s continued efforts to enhance trade facilitation and improve ease of doing business.
In line with this objective, ICEGATE has introduced functionality to enable SEZ exports and imports through courier mode. While the core operational handling of such shipments will continue through the Express Cargo Clearance System (ECCS), shipment-related data will be seamlessly exchanged between ICEGATE and ECCS, ensuring efficient and streamlined processing.
To ensure proper identification and processing of SEZ courier shipments, specific declaration requirements have been introduced for SEZ users or their authorised agents. In the case of Bill of Entry (BE), the importer type “C” is to be declared in the main segment for SEZ courier imports. For Shipping Bills (SB), exporter class “C” or “D” is to be declared in the main segment, where “C” represents merchant courier exports and “D” represents manufacturer courier exports.
These enhancements are expected to facilitate accurate identification, improve processing efficiency, and ensure seamless integration between systems handling courier shipments. The initiative further strengthens the digital Customs ecosystem and supports faster clearance of SEZ courier consignments.
SEZ users and their agents are advised to adopt the revised declaration requirements for smooth filing and processing of courier shipments through ICEGATE.
The Advisory can be accessed at: https://a2ztaxcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/3-Advisory-on-Filing-of-SEZ-Courier-Shipments-in-ICEGATE.pdf
