How to Import Duty-Free Afghan Products to India in 2025

📊 Did you know that many products from Afghanistan—like apples, figs, and dates—can enter India at zero customs duty? That’s right. Thanks to the #SAFTA agreement (South Asia Free Trade Area) and Afghanistan’s classification as a Least Developed Country (LDC), eligible Afghan-origin products enjoy preferential duty rates, sometimes even 0%.

With Afghan Trade Minister Azizi recently landing in India to boost bilateral trade, this is a great time for Indian importers and traders to understand how to leverage these duty benefits correctly — and compliantly.

🌍 Understanding SAFTA & Its Benefits for Afghanistan

India and Afghanistan are both part of SAFTA, an agreement aimed at promoting free trade among South Asian countries.

🔑 Key takeaway:
Afghanistan, being an #LDC, gets extra benefits under SAFTA — including almost full duty exemptions on many agricultural and dry fruit exports into India.

💸 What this means for you as an Indian trader:

• 0% import duty on qualifying Afghan products

• Better margins on high-demand items like dry fruits, apples, and tea

• An opportunity to build strong import ties with a fast-growing supplier region

🛃 What Are the Main Products You Can Import at 0% Duty?

Here’s a list of Afghan-origin products eligible for duty-free import under SAFTA:

1. Apples (Royal Gala, Red Delicious, Royal Blue)

2. Figs (both fresh and dried)

3. Dates

4. Dry Fruits – Pistachios, Walnuts, Almonds

5. Kiwi (two-star, four-star grades)

6. Fermented Black Tea

7. Saffron and Medicinal Herbs

These products are especially popular during Indian festive seasons and winter months, making this the ideal season to import.

✅ Key Compliance Rules to Get the Duty-Free Benefit

Just because the product is from Afghanistan doesn’t mean it automatically qualifies. You must meet a few critical conditions:

1. Rule of Origin Must Be Satisfied

The goods must originate in Afghanistan. That means:

• Grown, harvested, or manufactured in Afghanistan

• Not simply repackaged or mixed from other countries

❌ Example NOT allowed: Figs bought from Iran, repacked in Kabul, and shipped with “Afghanistan” label.

2. Certificate of Origin (CoO) Is Mandatory

The Afghan exporter must provide a CoO, issued by the recognized Afghan authority, which includes:

• HSN codes

• Description of goods

• Value of products

• Country of destination (India)

• Invoice reference

Without this, you cannot claim preferential duty rates.

3. Goods Must Not Be on India’s Sensitive List

India maintains a “Sensitive List” under SAFTA, which includes items not eligible for duty cuts. Always cross-check whether your product appears here before importing.

We help importers do this quickly through our compliance screening tools at Shunyatax Global. ✅

4. Direct Consignment Rule Applies (Mostly)

The goods should ideally come directly from Afghanistan. But currently, due to political and logistical challenges at the Attari border, most shipments:

• Go from Afghanistan → Iran (Chabahar Port) → Indian Ports (Nava Sheva, Mundra)

Despite this detour, Indian customs still accept these as qualifying routes under SAFTA if properly documented.

📋 Final Checklist Before Importing from Afghanistan

Before your Afghan shipment lands in India, here’s what you need to tick off:

• ✅ Is the HSN code correct and matches your invoice?

• ✅ Do you have a valid Certificate of Origin with all details?

• ✅ Is the product eligible under SAFTA and not in the Sensitive List?

• ✅ Have you accounted for port clearances at Mundra or Nava Sheva?

• ✅ Have you filed the necessary import documents in time?

💡Pro Tip: Many traders lose their “0% duty” benefit due to small documentation errors. Always double-check.

🤝 Why Work With Shunyatax Global?

At Shunyatax Global, we make international trade smooth for Indian businesses. Whether it’s:

• 📂 End-to-end compliance assistance

• 📦 Trade documentation

• 🛳️ Customs clearance for Afghan imports

• 💼 Support for setting up a business in Dubai, if you're eyeing re-exports

We’ve helped 100+ clients tap into duty-free benefits under SAFTA, saving them lakhs in import costs.

Shunyatax Global provides auditing, bookkeeping services, and business setup in Dubai for individuals and businesses.

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🚀 Start your journey with us today:
👉 📞 Book a Consultation: Shunyatax Global: 1-1 Confidential Advisory
👉 🌐 Visit Our Website: Shunyatax Global Services
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