Shipping Bill Format for Export: Fields and Pre-Filing Checklist
What an Indian shipping bill contains field by field, what to check before your CHA files it, and how it must match your commercial invoice and packing list.
Short answer: A shipping bill is the export declaration Indian customs requires before goods can be loaded. The exporter or their customs broker (CHA) files it electronically on ICEGATE with the invoice, packing list and scheme details. After examination, customs grants the Let Export Order (LEO), which lets the cargo be loaded.
- Filed by
- Exporter or their CHA, on ICEGATE
- When
- Before cargo is loaded — after invoice and packing list are final
- Key output
- Let Export Order (LEO)
- Must match
- Commercial invoice value, quantity, HS code; packing list
- Not the same as
- Bill of lading (the carrier's document)
What a shipping bill is
In India, the shipping bill is the electronic customs declaration for export cargo. It is filed before goods are allowed to load, and it records the goods, value, destination, and any export scheme or benefit claimed.
It is not the carrier’s bill of lading. The shipping bill is a customs document filed by or for the exporter; the bill of lading or air waybill is issued by the carrier after cargo is accepted for transport.
Shipping bill format: the core fields
The exact screens change with the ICEGATE system, but the content your CHA needs from you is stable. Every one of these values should come straight from your final commercial invoice and packing list.
| Field | Source document |
|---|---|
| Exporter name, address, IEC, GSTIN, AD code | Your registrations and bank |
| Buyer and consignee | Commercial invoice |
| Invoice number, date and value; currency; Incoterm | Commercial invoice |
| Goods description, HS (ITC-HS / CTH) code, quantity and unit | Commercial invoice |
| FOB value (plus freight and insurance where shown) | Commercial invoice |
| Number of packages, marks, net and gross weight | Packing list |
| Port of loading, port of discharge, country of destination | Booking / commercial invoice |
| Scheme or benefit claimed (drawback, RoDTEP, EPCG, advance authorisation) | Your scheme documents |
| IGST paid or LUT details | GST invoice and LUT |
Which shipping bill your CHA files
The type depends on whether the goods attract export duty and what benefit you claim. Your CHA selects it when filing, but you should know which one your shipment needs. The types of shipping bill post covers each one in depth.
| Type | Used when |
|---|---|
| Free shipping bill | Goods attract no export duty and no duty-benefit scheme is claimed |
| Dutiable shipping bill | Goods attract export duty or cess |
| Drawback shipping bill | You claim duty drawback on inputs used in the export |
| Ex-bond shipping bill | Goods are exported from a customs-bonded warehouse |
| Coastal shipping bill | Goods move by sea between Indian ports |
Checklist before filing
Most shipping bill amendments trace back to filing from a draft invoice. Run these checks before your CHA submits.
- The commercial invoice and packing list are final — no quantity or price still under discussion.
- Goods description and HS code match the invoice and describe what is actually in the cartons.
- Invoice value, currency and Incoterm are entered exactly as on the invoice; FOB value is correct.
- Quantity and unit of measure match the invoice; packages and weights match the packing list.
- Buyer, consignee, port of loading and country of destination are complete and correct.
- Scheme details (drawback, RoDTEP, authorisation numbers) are entered and you are eligible.
- IGST paid or LUT details are consistent with how the GST invoice is endorsed.
How it must match your commercial invoice
Description, quantity, and value on the shipping bill should tie back to the commercial invoice and packing list. HS codes should describe the goods you are actually shipping. Mismatches invite queries, delay the Let Export Order and can affect incentive claims.
Once filed, correcting a shipping bill means a formal amendment with customs — slower and more visible than fixing an internal document.
Common mistakes
Filing from a draft invoice, then amending when prices or quantities change. A wrong HS code that affects incentive eligibility. Incomplete consignee or destination details. An invoice value that doesn't match the shipping bill value. Treating the shipping bill as paperwork the CHA will complete without your final invoice.
How Bilexor helps
Bilexor keeps invoice and packing list values on one shipment record, so the description, quantities, HS codes and amounts you hand to your CHA for the shipping bill come from the same source.
Informational only — not customs filing advice. Confirm current ICEGATE field requirements with your CHA before you file.
Frequently asked questions
Is a shipping bill the same as a bill of lading?
No. A shipping bill is the Indian customs export declaration, filed by or for the exporter. A bill of lading is the carrier's transport document.
Who files the shipping bill?
Usually the exporter's customs house agent (CHA), electronically on ICEGATE, using the final commercial invoice and packing list.
What is the Let Export Order (LEO)?
The permission customs grants once the shipping bill is assessed and any examination is done. Goods can be loaded only after LEO.
What happens if the shipping bill doesn't match the invoice?
Customs may query or hold the shipment, and correcting it needs a formal amendment, which takes longer than fixing an internal document before filing.
Sources
Informational only — not legal, banking, tax, or customs advice. Always verify document and LC requirements with your bank, CHA / customs broker, and buyer before presentation.