Import Mobile Accessories from China to India: BIS, WPC and Duty Guide (2026)

Can you import mobile accessories from China to India? Yes, and most of India’s phone cases, cables, chargers, power banks and earbuds already come from China. But the rules differ by product: cases and cables need only the right HS code and duty, while chargers, power banks and wireless earbuds need BIS registration, and anything with Bluetooth needs WPC approval before customs will release it.

If you plan to import mobile accessories from China to India, this guide shows the duty and compliance profile for each product, how to ship lithium batteries legally, where to source in China, a quality checklist, and a worked rupee example for a mixed order.

Which mobile accessories can you import from China to India?

All common phone accessories are freely importable under India’s import policy, which means no DGFT import licence is needed. What decides how hard the import will be is whether the product falls under a technical regulation. A simple way to think about it:

• Low-compliance accessories: phone cases and covers, screen guards, USB data cables, car and desk holders, pop sockets, selfie sticks without Bluetooth, ring lights without adapters. You need the correct HS code, duty and Legal Metrology labels.
• Regulated accessories: mobile chargers and adapters, power banks, wired and wireless earphones, neckbands, Bluetooth speakers and smartwatches. These need BIS registration, and wireless versions also need WPC approval.

Many sellers start with the first group because a mistake costs less and the margins are good. The second group sells more by value, but every model has to be checked before you pay the factory.

What is the import duty on mobile accessories from China?

The table shows typical HS codes and duty rates from the IFC India import duty database. Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS) is 10% of BCD, and IGST is charged on assessable value plus BCD plus SWS. There is no AIDC or anti-dumping duty on these codes in the database. Rates as of October 2026; confirm for your exact HS code on the India import duty rates by HS code page, because material, function and wireless features can change the code.

Accessory	Typical HS code	BCD	IGST	BIS (CRS)	WPC
Phone cases and covers (plastic, silicone, TPU)	39269099	15%	18%	No	No
USB and data cables	85444299	15%	18%	Not as a standalone item (verify)	No
Mobile chargers and adapters	85044030	15%	18%	Yes, IS 13252 (Part 1)	No (yes for wireless chargers, verify)
Power banks	85076000	20%	18%	Yes, IS 13252 (Part 1); cells IS 16046	No
TWS earbuds	85183011	20%	18%	Yes, IS 616	Yes
Wired earphones and headphones	85183020	20%	18%	Check: IFC database flags IS 616; confirm on the CRS list	No
Smartwatches and fitness bands	85176290	20%	18%	Yes, IS 13252 (Part 1)	Yes

Screen guards are classified by material: tempered glass usually falls in chapter 70 and plastic film in chapter 39, so confirm the code with your customs broker. Leather or fabric wallet covers may move to heading 4202. The 15% BCD on chargers applies to chargers and adapters of cellular mobile phones; other battery chargers attract 20%. For how each duty is calculated, see our import duty from China to India guide.

Which mobile accessories need BIS registration?

Under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS), run by BIS for MeitY, listed electronics cannot be imported or sold in India unless the manufacturer holds a BIS registration for that factory, brand and model, and the product carries the Standard Mark with the R-number. For mobile accessories, the categories that matter most are:

• Power adapters for IT equipment (phone chargers), IS 13252 (Part 1).
• Power banks for portable applications, IS 13252 (Part 1), with the lithium cells inside also registered under IS 16046.
• Wireless headphones and earphones, IS 616; confirm whether your wired model is also covered.
• Smartwatches, IS 13252 (Part 1).
• Bluetooth speakers, usually tested to IS 616; confirm the scope for your model.

The Chinese factory is the applicant, through an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR), and testing must be done at a BIS-recognised lab in India. A new registration commonly takes one to three months, so the R-number must be confirmed before you place the bulk order, not after the goods reach the port. Our detailed guide to BIS registration for electronics from China explains the process, costs and how to verify an R-number. Always check the current list on the BIS website, because MeitY adds products from time to time.

The private-label trap

Most Indian sellers put their own brand on Chinese earbuds or power banks. A factory’s existing registration covers its own brand, not yours. Unless your brand is added to the registration, the goods are non-compliant even if the identical product is registered under another name. Sort this out in writing before paying the deposit.

When do you need WPC approval for Bluetooth accessories?

Any product with a radio module, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, needs an Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing of the Department of Telecommunications. This covers TWS earbuds, neckbands, Bluetooth speakers, smartwatches, wireless chargers and Bluetooth selfie remotes.

• Route: for products working in de-licensed bands such as 2.4 GHz Bluetooth, the ETA is a self-declaration filed online on the Saral Sanchar portal. No separate WPC import licence is needed for these bands.
• Who applies: an Indian legal entity, usually the importer or brand owner, using an RF test report from an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab.
• Time and fee: usually a few working days once documents are complete, with a government fee per model; check the current fee on the portal.
• At customs: the ETA certificate is uploaded with the Bill of Entry. Without it, Bluetooth goods are detained and demurrage starts running.

BIS and WPC are separate approvals. A Bluetooth earbud needs both: BIS for electrical safety and WPC for the radio. Keep both certificates, the test reports and photos of the marking in your import file, along with the papers in our documents required for import from China checklist.

How do you ship power banks and battery products from China?

Power banks are lithium-ion batteries in a case, so they travel as dangerous goods (Class 9). Power banks shipped on their own fall under UN3480, while batteries packed with or inside a device, such as earbuds in a charging case, fall under UN3481. This changes how you ship:

Mode	Power banks (UN3480)	Devices with built-in batteries (UN3481)	Indicative cost and time (October 2026)
Sea LCL	Accepted by some consolidators as declared DG cargo; needs UN38.3 test summary, MSDS and DG declaration	Usually accepted with battery documents	₹9,000–16,000 per CBM door to door for general cargo, DG surcharge extra; about 3–6 weeks
Air cargo	Cargo aircraft only, strict packing and state-of-charge limits; few forwarders accept small lots	Accepted with proper labels and documents	₹350–600/kg door to door for general cargo, DG costs extra; about 5–10 days
Courier	Usually refused	Restricted; check with the courier	₹450–900/kg for samples

The practical lesson: tell your forwarder about every battery product before booking. A power bank hidden in a general LCL shipment is a safety risk, can be refused at loading, and can hold up everyone else’s cargo in the same container. Our air freight vs sea freight guide explains chargeable weight and transit times in more detail.

Where do Indian importers source mobile accessories in China?

• Shenzhen: the main manufacturing base for chargers, power banks, earbuds and smartwatches. Factories here are most likely to already hold BIS registrations for India.
• Guangzhou: wholesale markets and trading companies for cases, covers, cables and mixed accessory ranges, often with low MOQs.
• Yiwu: cheaper cases, holders, selfie sticks and gift-type accessories for small mixed orders. Electrical items found in Yiwu shops rarely carry BIS registration; see our list of products to buy from Yiwu market.
• Online platforms: Alibaba and 1688 list thousands of accessory suppliers, but listing photos say nothing about Indian compliance. Use them to shortlist, then verify.

Quality checks that matter for mobile accessories

1. Real battery capacity: test power banks for actual mAh output; overstated capacity is the most common complaint and return reason.
2. Charging standard: confirm the fast-charge protocol (for example USB PD) and wattage with a USB tester, not just the box print.
3. Cable build: check wire gauge, connector fit and a bend test; thin copper causes slow charging and heat.
4. Case fit: test cases on the actual phone model, including camera cut-outs and button feel.
5. Markings and labels: BIS Standard Mark with R-number on product and box, and the Legal Metrology declaration ready before shipment.
6. Golden sample: keep a signed approved sample and inspect bulk goods against it before loading.

Worked example: duty on a mixed mobile accessories order

Assumptions: an online seller in Bengaluru imports four lines from Shenzhen and Guangzhou. The earbuds and power banks come from factories whose BIS registrations cover the seller’s brand, and the earbuds have a WPC ETA. Total FOB value USD 6,400; sea freight and insurance to Nhava Sheva of USD 250 are spread by value, so CIF is USD 6,650. Exchange rate ₹96 per USD, the CBIC import rate under Notification 29/2026-Customs (N.T.), effective 16 October 2026. Assessable value is taken as CIF. Rates as of October 2026; confirm for your exact HS code.

Line (HS code)	Assessable value (₹)	BCD (₹)	SWS (₹)	IGST 18% (₹)	Total at customs (₹)
500 TWS earbuds at USD 6.50 (85183011), BCD 20%	3,23,850	64,770	6,477	71,117	1,42,364
1,000 USB-C cables at USD 0.60 (85444299), BCD 15%	59,788	8,968	897	12,538	22,403
2,000 TPU phone cases at USD 0.45 (39269099), BCD 15%	89,681	13,452	1,345	18,806	33,603
300 power banks at USD 5.50 (85076000), BCD 20%	1,64,416	32,883	3,288	36,106	72,277
Total	6,37,735	1,20,073	12,007	1,38,567	2,70,647

If the Bill of Entry carries your GSTIN, the IGST of ₹1,38,567 is normally claimed as input tax credit. Your real duty cost is BCD plus SWS of ₹1,32,080, about 21% of the assessable value. Per unit, that is roughly ₹142 per pair of earbuds and ₹120 per power bank. Freight comes on top: general cargo LCL is about ₹9,000–16,000 per CBM door to door (indicative, October 2026), and the power banks may need a separate DG booking with an extra surcharge.

Now compare the cost of a compliance miss. If the earbuds arrived without WPC approval or with an R-number that does not cover your brand, ₹4 lakh of goods could sit at the port while storage and demurrage build up, and the outcome could be re-export or destruction. That is why BIS and WPC checks come before price negotiation. Test your own mix in the IFC shipment calculator.

What labels, EPR and marketplace rules apply after import?

• Legal Metrology: retail packs must show the importer’s name and address, country of origin, MRP, net quantity, month and year of import and customer care details. For imports, the declaration must be on the pack before customs clearance, so print or sticker it in China.
• Battery EPR: under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, importers of batteries, including those inside power banks and earbuds, are treated as producers and must register with CPCB.
• E-waste EPR: under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, importers of listed electrical and electronic equipment must register for EPR; check whether your product is listed.
• Marketplaces: Amazon and Flipkart commonly ask for BIS registration details before you can list regulated electronics, so keep the R-number, WPC ETA and importer details ready.

Pre-order checklist for mobile accessories

1. HS code and duty confirmed for each product.
2. BIS R-number verified for the exact factory, brand and model, valid beyond your arrival date.
3. WPC ETA in hand for every Bluetooth or Wi-Fi product.
4. UN38.3 test summary and MSDS for battery products, and the forwarder told in advance.
5. Legal Metrology artwork approved and printed before shipment.
6. EPR registrations done for batteries and listed electronics.
7. Pre-shipment inspection booked against the golden sample.

How IFC helps you import mobile accessories from China to India

IFC – Imports From China has more than 20 years (since 2004) in China–India import and export and has served 5000+ businesses. It is founded and led by Mayank Dang (CA Sahab), a Chartered Accountant (FCA, ICAI). IFC’s own offices in Guangzhou and Yiwu have translators and English-speaking staff who can ask suppliers for BIS and WPC documents, check markings on samples and cartons, verify the supplier and run a quality inspection before loading.

IFC gives BIS, HSN, duty and customs/GST compliance guidance before you order, then handles sourcing, LCL and FCL sea freight, air cargo and customs clearance in India. Mixed containers and air cargo are loaded daily, and IFC has a warehouse at its headquarters. With DDP shipments from China to India, accessories are delivered door to door to major cities including Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

Bottom line

Mobile accessories are one of the most profitable China-to-India categories, but only when compliance is handled first. Start with cases and cables if you are new, and move into chargers, power banks and earbuds once you can verify BIS registrations for your brand, get WPC approval for wireless items and ship batteries correctly. With those checks done, duty of 15–20% BCD is a predictable cost, not a risk.

Frequently asked questions