Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate to be issued within 2 days of inspection; one-time window for backlog PSICs: DGFT Trade Notices No. 28/2026-27 and 22/2026-27
DGFT’s Trade Notice No. 22/2026-27 of 25 August 2026 tightened the PSIA/PSIC module so that a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate could be generated only on the date of inspection. Trade Notice No. 28/2026-27 of 16 September 2026 relaxes this to 2 days from inspection and gives agencies a one-time seven-day window to clear backlog certificates.
Key facts
- In force
- 2-day timeline from 16 September 2026; module changes from 25 August 2026
- Who it affects
- Pre-Shipment Inspection Agencies, importers who need a PSIC, customs brokers, Customs authorities
- What it is
- Rule change
- Section
- Foreign Trade
- Published
- 16 September 2026
In 30 seconds
- Trade Notice No. 28/2026-27 dated 16 September 2026 substitutes para 2(ii) of Trade Notice No. 22/2026-27 dated 25 August 2026.
- A PSIC must now be generated and issued within 2 days from the date of inspection; the system permits it only within that time.
- PSIC uploading must be done from the same geographical location/country where the inspection is carried out.
- One-time relaxation of seven days from 16 September 2026 to clear backlog PSICs for inspections conducted before 25 August 2026.
- Trade Notice No. 22 also raised photo attachments from 5 to 10 (5 MB each) and the mandatory video from 10 MB to 50 MB.
हिंदी में सार
DGFT के Trade Notice 28/2026-27 (16 सितंबर 2026) के अनुसार Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate अब निरीक्षण की तारीख़ से 2 दिन के भीतर जारी करना होगा और उसी देश से अपलोड करना होगा जहाँ निरीक्षण हुआ। पहले Trade Notice 22/2026-27 (25 अगस्त 2026) में सिर्फ़ निरीक्षण के दिन ही PSIC बन सकता था। 25 अगस्त 2026 से पहले के निरीक्षणों के बकाया PSIC निपटाने के लिए एजेंसियों को सात दिन की एक बार की छूट दी गई।
Before and now
Only on the date of inspection; the system did not permit generation or issuance on any subsequent date (Trade Notice No. 22/2026-27).
Within 2 days from the date of inspection, uploaded from the same geographical location/country where the inspection is carried out (Trade Notice No. 28/2026-27).
What the two trade notices do
Trade Notice No. 22/2026-27 dated 25 August 2026 introduced changes in the Pre-Shipment Inspection Agency (PSIA) / Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) module on the DGFT portal, in continuation of Trade Notice No. 03/2022-23 dated 26 April 2022. Trade Notice No. 28/2026-27 dated 16 September 2026 relaxes one of those changes and adds a transitional arrangement. Both are addressed to all Pre-Shipment Inspection Agencies, members of trade and industry, and Customs authorities.
Relaxations under Trade Notice No. 28
- Timeline for issuing a PSIC: para 2(ii) of Trade Notice No. 22 is substituted. The PSIC shall be generated and issued within 2 days from the date of inspection. The system permits generation and issuance only within this timeline. PSIC uploading shall be done from the same geographical location/country where the inspection is carried out.
- Backlog PSICs: a one-time relaxation of seven days from the date of issue of the trade notice is given to recognised PSIAs to clear backlog PSICs for inspections conducted before 25 August 2026, where certificates could not be issued because of the system restrictions introduced under Trade Notice No. 22.
All other provisions of Trade Notice No. 22 remain unchanged.
Changes made by Trade Notice No. 22 that continue
| Feature | What the module now does |
|---|---|
| Date of inspection | Standardised as DD/MMM/YYYY while generating the PSIC |
| Signature and stamp | Authorised PSIA users can upload and maintain signature and stamp images, auto-embedded in the PSIC; no manual signing, stamping and re-uploading |
| Inspector | Selected from a system-populated drop-down list; details auto-populated |
| Photographs of inspection | Limit raised from 5 to 10, at 5 MB each |
| Video of inspection (mandatory) | Size raised from 10 MB to 50 MB; formats remain MP4, AVI, MTS, MOV, FLV, WMV |
| Instruments | Registered instruments shown in a drop-down based on the country of inspection; details auto-fetched and read-only |
Uploading the signature and stamp
- Log in to the DGFT portal.
- Go to Services → Pre-Shipment Inspection → Upload Scanned Signature & Stamp for PSIC Generation.
- Search and select the PSIA user concerned.
- Upload the scanned signature and official stamp in the prescribed format and submit.
What agencies and importers should do
PSIAs should issue each certificate within 2 days of inspection and from the country of inspection, since the system will not allow it later. Agencies with pending certificates for inspections before 25 August 2026 had seven days from 16 September 2026 to clear them. For help, Trade Notice No. 22 lists the DGFT Helpdesk Service on the DGFT website, the toll-free numbers 1800-572-1550 / 1800-111-550 and the email dgftedi@nic.in.
Questions and answers
Within how many days must a PSIC be issued?
Within 2 days from the date of inspection. Under Trade Notice No. 28/2026-27, the system permits generation and issuance of the PSIC only within this timeline.
Can the PSIC be uploaded from any location?
No. The trade notice says PSIC uploading shall be done from the same geographical location/country where the inspection is carried out.
What about certificates stuck for inspections done before 25 August 2026?
Recognised PSIAs were given a one-time relaxation of seven days from 16 September 2026 to clear backlog PSICs for inspections conducted prior to 25 August 2026.
How many photographs and what video size are allowed?
Up to 10 photographs at 5 MB each (earlier 5), and a mandatory video of up to 50 MB (earlier 10 MB) in MP4, AVI, MTS, MOV, FLV or WMV format.
Does the inspector still have to sign and stamp the PSIC manually?
No. Authorised PSIA users can upload signature and stamp images, which are auto-embedded in the PSIC, removing the need for manual signing, stamping and re-uploading.
Published 16 September 2026. Updated 8 October 2026. This report is for general information and is not professional advice. Read the source document before acting on it.