SIMS registration is filed online on the Ministry of Steel’s portal at sims.steel.gov.in, using your IEC code as the login. You fill one application per item of import, declare whether the grade is covered by a Steel QCO, pay ₹750 per number through Bharatkosh, and the SIMS number is issued as soon as payment succeeds. Since 20 February 2026, most consignments must be registered between the 60th and the 3rd day before expected arrival.
Quick steps on the SIMS portal:
- Open sims.steel.gov.in and click Register as Importer (first time only). Enter your IEC code, captcha and the OTPs, then set a password.
- Log in with your IEC code, password and captcha.
- Start a new SIMS application, pick your branch, and enter the HS code, grade, IS code, QCO or non-QCO status, BIS licence details (for QCO grades), origin and shipment details.
- Click Final Submit and pay ₹750 per SIMS number through Bharatkosh.
- Download the PDF summary and payment receipt from the Complete section, and quote the SIMS number and its expiry date in the Bill of Entry.
Want it filed for you, with the classification checked first? See our SIMS registration service.
What SIMS means at customs
SIMS stands for Steel Import Monitoring System. Under DGFT Notification 17/2015-20 dated 5 September 2019, imports under Chapters 72, 73 and 86 of ITC (HS) became “free subject to compulsory registration under SIMS”. The portal FAQ confirms that every HS code in these chapters needs registration.
The current portal, SIMS 2.0, went live on 25 July 2024 and replaced the old SIMS module on the DGFT website (DGFT Trade Notice 10/2024-25). The trade notice says applications filed on SIMS 1.0 stay viewable on the DGFT website. The portal is run by the Ministry of Steel and maintained by MSTC.
Step 1: Register as an importer (one time)
The SIMS 2.0 user manual sets out the registration:
- Click Register as Importer on the home page.
- Enter your IEC code. The IEC name, mobile and email fill in automatically from your IEC record.
- Enter the captcha, accept the terms and submit.
- Enter the OTPs sent to the mobile number and email.
- Create a password that meets the rules shown on screen.
There is no separate DGFT login or user ID to remember: you log in with the IEC code itself. If you later change your mobile or email on the DGFT portal, the manual says you can pull the update into SIMS by entering your IEC code on the update screen.
Step 2: Fill the SIMS application
After the November 2025 changes, the regular SIMS form asks for 20 fields instead of 56 (PIB, 20 November 2025). Screen labels can change, but the FAQ lists what you need to have ready:
| Keep ready | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Valid IEC, with correct branch details | Branch, district and state are pulled from your IEC |
| Commercial invoice and bill of lading | Quantity, value and shipment details |
| Mill test certificate (MTC) | Grade and the Indian Standard the steel conforms to |
| Consignment ID | Listed by the FAQ as a prerequisite |
| HS code and technical details of the product | Decides whether a QCO applies |
| IS code and BIS licence details | Needed where the grade is covered by a QCO |
| Country of origin | Filled as per the applicable rules of origin |
The Ministry’s monthly SIMS reports break registrations down by country, ITC code, grade, port, end use and whether a BIS licence is available, so expect to declare all of these.
QCO vs non-QCO in SIMS
For each item you declare whether the grade falls under a Steel Quality Control Order. If you are new to QCOs, start with our guide to quality control orders.
- QCO grade: the Ministry of Steel requires import only from manufacturers holding a valid, operative BIS licence for that grade. You enter the IS code and the mill’s BIS licence details. Check the licence on Manak Online before filing (how to check a CM/L number); overseas mills hold these licences under BIS FMCS. If the mill has no licence, an exemption is needed, applied for on the QCO Exemption Portal.
- Non-QCO grade: since 20 November 2025, grades not covered by any QCO have been mapped on the portal, and importers can generate SIMS numbers for them directly without a Ministry clarification or NOC (PIB).
Two points catch importers out. First, the FAQ says that if the HS code is mapped to a QCO but your IS code does not appear in the drop-down, you need an NOC from the Ministry of Steel (see our steel import NOC service). Second, a Ministry of Steel order of 13 June 2025 requires the input material of QCO products to meet its mapped Indian Standard, for bills of lading dated on or after 16 June 2025. Your MTC should support both.
Step 3: Pay and get your SIMS number
The fee is ₹750 per SIMS number (₹500 registration plus ₹250 processing), per the FAQ. Several numbers generated in one login are paid together. Payment goes through Bharatkosh, and the number is created immediately after a successful payment.
If Bharatkosh shows the payment as pending and later clears it, wait about an hour: the FAQ says a scheduler updates pending payments on the SIMS portal in that time.
Step 4: Download the registration and use it in the Bill of Entry
Completed applications appear in the Complete section with the SIMS number and a PDF of the application summary and payment receipt. Earlier registrations are listed under View SIMS registration.
The number is valid for 75 days from issue. Customs requires the SIMS registration number and its expiry date in the Bill of Entry. A JNCH public notice citing CBIC Circular 38/2019-Cus adds that officers need not ask for further documentary proof of registration.
When to file: the 2026 window
A Ministry of Steel notice dated 19 February 2026, effective 20 February 2026, replaced the 2025 notices:
| Import | Earliest | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| From all countries except Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka | 60th day before expected arrival | 3rd day before |
| From Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka | 60th day | 2nd day |
| Specified HS codes of heading 7204 (ferrous scrap) | 60th day | 2nd day |
| From SEZ or EOU to DTA | 60th day | 2nd day |
How to check a SIMS registration number
To check a SIMS number, open the View Report page, enter the importer’s IEC code and the SIMS number, and click View Report. Customs brokers use this page, and buyers can use it to confirm a number a supplier or agent has given them.
Common errors and fixes
- District and state blank: these come from your IEC. Apply for IEC modification on DGFT.
- Final Submit disabled: a mandatory field is empty.
- Wrong detail after payment: registrations cannot be amended or cancelled, so file a fresh one.
- No number after payment: confirm payment on Bharatkosh, then contact the helpdesk (011-65263079, 011-65263080, simshelpdesk@mstcindia.in, 9:30 am to 6 pm on working days).
SARAL SIMS for small and export-linked imports
SARAL SIMS, launched on 21 November 2025, gives one yearly number for consignments of up to 10 MT (annual cap of 1,000 MT from FY 2026-27), or for Advance Authorisation, SEZ and EOU imports for export. It uses the same login, costs ₹750 per number, and needs an annual return by 30 April. For FY 2025-26, the Ministry allowed late returns until 31 August 2026 with a ₹10,000 fee and said no further extensions would follow.
How Aaditech can help
The SIMS form takes minutes. Getting the HS code, grade, IS code and BIS licence right is the hard part, and errors cannot be amended. Our team, which includes former BIS Directors, checks each line item and the mill’s licence, then files within the window. See our SIMS registration service.