Aadhaar
Accepted as a valid Indian identity and address document when details match the shipment record.
Indian KYC • customs documents • courier clearance
KYC Documents for International Shipping
International courier, import and export shipments from India may require KYC documents to verify the sender, receiver, address and shipment purpose. Global India Express helps customers prepare valid documents for personal courier, commercial parcels, medicines, food items, samples, baggage and cargo before pickup or clearance.
Important: Individual and business KYC requirements can differ. Final documents depend on shipment type, item category, declared value, customs requirement and carrier policy.
- Individual and business KYC
- Import and export support
- Courier document guidance
Direct answer
Which KYC documents are valid for international courier?
For individual courier shipments, a valid Indian document such as Aadhaar, Passport, PAN or Voter ID can be used when it verifies identity and address. For commercial import or export shipments, IEC is generally required along with business KYC documents.
- Individual: identity and address document such as Aadhaar, Passport, PAN or Voter ID.
- Company or firm: PAN, registration papers, authorisation, address proof and authorised signatory KYC.
- Commercial import/export: IEC is required in addition to KYC documents.
If the address on the ID is different from the delivery address, additional delivery-address recording or supporting proof may be required.
Valid Indian documents
Common KYC Documents Used for International Courier
These documents are commonly reviewed for identity, address and shipment purpose before international courier pickup, import clearance or export booking.
Passport
Useful for identity and address verification, especially for international courier and student shipments.
PAN
Accepted for identity checks and commonly required with invoice or value declaration for shipments.
Voter ID
Can support identity and address verification where the address details are complete and current.
IEC for Business
Importer Exporter Code is required for commercial imports or exports through courier.
Authorisation
Companies, firms and trusts may need authorisation, power of attorney or board resolution.
Government reference matched
Customs KYC guidance for courier shipments
Customs Circular No. 9/2010 introduced KYC obligations for customer identification and document verification. Later courier guidance explains that individual KYC can be completed with a valid document such as Aadhaar, Passport, PAN or Voter ID when it contains identity and address, while commercial imports or exports require a valid IEC.
The table below keeps the original organisation-wise structure but updates the customer-facing note so users do not assume Aadhaar is the only possible document.
Organisation-wise checklist
KYC Documents Required for Courier Imports and Exports
Use the relevant row according to the sender, receiver or business type. Final document checks may vary by item category, value and destination.
| Form of organisation | Features to verify | Documents generally obtained | Shipment note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Legal name and any other name used; present and permanent address in full, complete and correct form. | Aadhaar, Passport, PAN, Voter ID, Driving Licence, Bank Account Statement or Ration Card. For individual courier imports/exports, one valid document such as Aadhaar, Passport, PAN or Voter ID may be sufficient if it contains identity and address. If the current address is different, the courier representative may record the delivery address with the ID proof. | Personal courier |
| Company | Company name, principal place of business, mailing address, telephone number and email address. | PAN, Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association, utility or telephone bill, authorisation letter, board resolution or power of attorney for authorised signatory. IEC is mandatory for commercial imports or exports. | Commercial shipment |
| Partnership Firm | Legal name, permanent address, name and address of all partners, telephone number and email address. | Partnership deed, registration certificate if registered, PAN, firm address proof, telephone or utility bill, power of attorney or authorisation, partner KYC documents and IEC for commercial import/export. | Business shipment |
| Proprietorship | Legal name of proprietor, business name if used, complete address and business contact details. | Proprietor KYC, PAN, Aadhaar or Passport, business address proof, GST registration if applicable, shop/establishment proof if available and IEC for commercial import/export. | Small shipment |
| Trust, Foundation or Association | Name of trustees, settlors, beneficiaries and signatories; founder, managers, directors and complete address details. | Registration certificate if registered, trust deed or governing document, PAN, telephone or utility bill, resolution of managing body, power of attorney or authorisation and KYC of trustees or authorised signatories. | Institutional shipment |
Practical note: For many personal shipments, courier teams ask for clear KYC copies, receiver details, item declaration and invoice or value declaration. For commercial shipments, check IEC and business documentation before pickup.
Shipment-wise documents
Extra Documents by Courier Shipment Type
KYC proves identity and address. Some shipment categories need additional papers before they can be accepted.
Documents
Sender KYC, receiver address and document description are usually enough for normal document courier.
CertificatesContractsMedicines
Prescription, purchase invoice, composition and quantity details may be required before medicine courier acceptance.
PrescriptionInvoiceFood Items
Ingredients, packaging, shelf stability and destination restrictions should be checked before packing food items.
IngredientsSealed PackCommercial Goods
Invoice, packing list, IEC, GST or product details may be required depending on commercial purpose and value.
IECInvoice
Step-by-step process
How KYC Document Review Works
A simple process helps prevent pickup delay and customs clearance issues.
Share shipment details
Send destination country, item list, declared value, weight and shipment purpose.
Confirm sender type
Tell us whether the shipment is individual, company, partnership, trust or proprietorship.
Check valid KYC
Aadhaar, Passport, PAN, Voter ID or business documents are reviewed as applicable.
Prepare shipment papers
Invoice, packing list, declaration, prescription or IEC may be required by shipment type.
Review restrictions
Food, medicines, electronics, liquids and restricted items are checked before acceptance.
Confirm pickup
Pickup is planned after document readiness, serviceability and item acceptance are confirmed.
Dispatch and tracking
Tracking details are shared after the shipment is booked with the suitable courier service.
Need help with KYC for courier?
Share your shipment type and sender category
We will check the right KYC and shipment documents before pickup or clearance.
Frequently asked questions
KYC Documents for International Shipping FAQs
Simple answers about Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Voter ID, IEC, business documents and courier KYC.
KYC means Know Your Customer. For international courier, import and export shipments, the sender or receiver may need to provide identity, address and shipment-purpose documents so the courier and customs process can verify the party involved.
For individuals, Aadhaar, Passport, PAN or Voter ID may be accepted where the document contains identity and address. Other supporting documents such as driving licence, bank account statement or ration card may be requested depending on shipment type and verification requirement.
Aadhaar is a valid and commonly accepted document, but government courier KYC references also recognise documents such as Passport, PAN and Voter ID where they satisfy identity and address requirements. A courier company may still request Aadhaar for faster address matching or internal verification.
For individual courier shipments, if the ID proof does not show the current address, the courier representative may record the delivery address at the time of handing over the parcel along with the ID proof, subject to applicable customs guidance and shipment category.
IEC is generally required for commercial imports or exports. Personal gifts, documents or non-commercial shipments may be handled differently, but the exact requirement depends on item type, value, purpose and customs rules.
A company may need PAN, Certificate of Incorporation, MOA, AOA, address proof, authorisation letter, board resolution or power of attorney and authorised signatory KYC. IEC is needed for commercial imports or exports.
A partnership firm may need partnership deed, registration certificate if registered, PAN, firm address proof, partner KYC documents, authorisation or power of attorney and IEC for commercial import/export.
Yes. Medicines may need prescription, purchase invoice, composition and quantity details. Food items may need ingredient, packaging and product details. Final acceptance depends on destination rules and carrier policy.
KYC helps verify the sender or receiver identity, shipment purpose and address. It also supports customs processing and reduces the risk of incorrect, restricted or misdeclared shipments.
Share the shipment type, destination country, item list, declared value and sender or receiver type with Global India Express. The team can tell you which documents are needed before pickup or clearance.
Contact Global India Express
Get help with courier KYC documents
For faster support, send shipment type, item list, destination country, sender category and available KYC documents.
Document note
Document requirements may change by shipment type, customs instruction, destination country, carrier policy and item category.
Do not share sensitive identity documents on public or unknown channels. Submit KYC only through a verified company contact.