Foreign TradeRelief
Pre-shipment inspection certificates must be issued within 2 days of inspection
DGFT has rewritten the PSIC timeline and given inspection agencies a one-time window of seven days to clear certificates held up for inspections done before 25 August 2026.
Key facts
- Published
- 16 September 2026
- Section
- Foreign Trade
- What it is
- Relief
- Who it affects
- Pre-shipment inspection agencies and importers who need a PSIC
In 30 seconds
- A PSIC has to be generated and issued within 2 days from the date of inspection.
- The DGFT system will allow a PSIC to be issued only within that timeline.
- The PSIC must be uploaded from the same geographical location or country where the inspection is carried out.
- Agencies get a one-time relaxation of seven days from 16 September 2026 to clear backlog PSICs for inspections done before 25 August 2026.
What the document says
“The PSIC shall be generated and issued within 2 days from the date of inspection. The system shall permit generation and issuance of the PSIC only within the prescribed timeline.”
— DGFT Trade Notice 28/2026-27
What changes, and what does not
| Point | Position now | Changed? |
|---|---|---|
| Time to issue a PSIC | Within 2 days from the date of inspection | Revised |
| Backlog PSICs for inspections before 25 Aug 2026 | One-time window of seven days from 16 September 2026 | Relaxed |
| Place of upload | Same geographical location or country as the inspection | No change |
| Other provisions of Trade Notice 22/2026-27 | As they were | No change |
How it got here
- Trade Notice 22/2026-27 introduces enhancements in the PSIA/PSIC process.
- Trade Notice 28/2026-27 revises the timeline and gives a seven-day window for backlog PSICs.
Published 16 September 2026. Updated 3 October 2026. This report is for general information and is not professional advice. Read the source document before acting on it.