DGFT Gold Import Cap at 100 kg: Advance Authorisation Changes for Jewellery Exporters

New certification and verification rules tighten bullion controls under revised norms

The 100 kg Wake-Up Call

DGFT has capped gold imports under Advance Authorisation at 100 kg per licence and introduced Chartered Accountant certification requirements at renewal. If your export house holds multiple AAs or a single licence close to that limit, your filing calendar just became more demanding.

What Actually Changed

Public Notice No. 11/2026-27, dated 14 May 2026, revises the Standard Input Output Norms M-1 to M-8 that govern gold and jewellery ratios under Foreign Trade Policy 2023. Three changes take effect together:

• A 100 kg gold ceiling per Advance Authorisation, applied uniformly across all licences.
• Monthly physical verification and reporting by regional DGFT offices on every AA issued.
• Chartered Accountant certification tied to export obligation fulfilment, announced alongside the notice.

This follows a customs duty increase on gold and silver from 6% to 15%. Together, these moves represent a coordinated effort to tighten bullion inflows. Jewellery exporters will bear most of the compliance burden.

Earlier shifts compound the effect. DGFT removed an "extra provision" in the Handbook of Procedures 2023 in October 2025 (Public Notice No. 28/2025-26) that had allowed AA holders greater import flexibility. In June 2026, silver under Chapter 71 came under its own authorisation requirement for non-bank agencies. Clients importing both gold and silver against AAs now manage two separate compliance tracks.

Who Feels This First

• Export houses with AAs already sanctioned above 100 kg of gold, who must determine whether existing licences are grandfathered in or need fresh compliance steps.
• Nominated agencies and banks supplying duty-free gold into the AA chain, particularly where GST clearance issues have disrupted metal supply.
• Chartered Accountants and consultants now signing certifications tied to export obligation discharge. Your documentation must be complete before the certificate is issued.
• Anyone importing silver or platinum under Chapter 71 through non-banking channels, who now needs DGFT import authorisation.

Compliance Checklist for This Cycle

For exporters:

• Audit every live AA involving gold. Check cumulative import quantity against the 100 kg per-licence cap and flag any licence at or above the limit.
• Cross-check your export obligation deadline against the August 2026 extension reported in press materials. Verify the date in the primary notification before advising clients.
• Review your gold supply chain for any GST-related clearance delays from your nominated agency or bank.
• If you also import silver or platinum, confirm whether your supplier holds the DGFT authorisation now required under Chapter 71 for non-bank agencies.

For Chartered Accountants and consultants:

• Build your certification workflow now: input-output reconciliation against SION M-1 to M-8, wastage norm documentation, and export obligation discharge evidence must all be gathered before certification deadlines.
• Create a tracker for the monthly regional DGFT reporting cycles so your clients' data is ready when authorities request it.
• Obtain written confirmation from your regional DGFT office on whether pre-existing AAs above 100 kg receive transition relief. This remains unsettled.

Where India's Jewellery Exports Go

Gold and jewellery compliance changes affect trade most heavily where export volumes are largest. The US dominates, followed by the UAE.

The UAE's position as the second-largest destination highlights why gold-linked trade corridors, including CEPA-related gold imports, merit separate review when assessing AA exposure.

What to Do This Week

• Audit every gold-linked Advance Authorisation against the 100 kg cap and list any licence at or near the threshold.
• Confirm the export obligation extension date in the primary DGFT notification before updating client timelines.
• Build your Chartered Accountant certification template now, covering SION-based input-output reconciliation and wastage norms.
• Verify authorisation status for any client importing silver or platinum under Chapter 71 through non-bank agencies.
• Set a reminder for the monthly regional DGFT reporting cycle and ensure your clients' data is ready for review.

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