HS 9004

Import Duty on Sunglasses & Eyewear in India (2026): 11%–22% + IGST

Spectacles and sunglasses under HS heading 9004 attract 11-22% combined customs duty in India, with sunglasses at the 22% end and corrective spectacles lower. Add 18% IGST and imported designer frames carry a total tax load of roughly 30-44% - still attractive against Indian boutique markups on premium eyewear.

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Live tariff

HS-code duty rates for sunglasses & eyewear

The duty column is the combined customs rate (BCD plus AIDC and SWS, all charged on the assessable value); IGST is then applied on the duty-inclusive amount.

HS code	Description	Customs duty	IGST
90041000	Sunglasses	22%BCD 20%SWS 2%	18%
90049000	Spectacles	12.1%BCD 10%AIDC 1%SWS 1.1%	18%
90049010	Spectacles, Goggles And The Like, Corrective, Protective Or Other (Excl. Spectacles For Testing Eyes	11%BCD 10%SWS 1%	18%
90049020	Spectacles, Goggles And The Like, Corrective, Protective Or Other (Excl. Spectacles For Testing Eyes	11%BCD 10%SWS 1%	18%
90049090	Spectacles, Goggles And The Like, Corrective, Protective Or Other (Excl. Spectacles For Testing Eyes	11%BCD 10%SWS 1%	18%

Rates are the tariff we apply when quoting real shipments; anti-dumping duty, where notified for a specific product and origin, is charged in addition.

Worked example

What INR 20,000 of sunglasses & eyewear costs to land in India

Step by step, using the representative rate for this category (11% duty on HS 90049010, 18% IGST). Your exact rate depends on the precise HS code in the table above.

Sunglasses & Eyewear (goods value): INR 20,000
International freight (illustrative, 10% of goods): INR 2,000
Assessable value (CIF = goods + freight): INR 22,000
Customs duty (11% of CIF, HS 90049010): INR 2,420
IGST (18% of CIF + duty): INR 4,396
Estimated landed cost: INR 28,816

Note for businesses: the IGST portion (INR 4,396 here) is creditable as input tax credit if you are GST-registered; the customs duty portion is not. Freight is illustrative - use the calculator for a quote with real shipping on your actual item.

Before you order

What to know about importing sunglasses & eyewear

Sunglasses specifically sit at the top of the heading's duty range; prescription spectacles and frames classify lower.
18% IGST applies on the duty-inclusive value.
Eyewear is light - freight per unit is trivial, making it one of the most efficient categories to consolidate with other purchases.
A pair worn on your face or in its case in your pocket is a personal effect; a stack of boxed pairs is a commercial import.

What we ship

Popular sunglasses & eyewear imports

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses

Oakley sports eyewear

Persol

Gentle Monster

Oliver Peoples

Maui Jim

Sunglasses & Eyewear import questions, answered

How much duty applies to sunglasses shipped to India?+

Sunglasses attract 22% combined customs duty plus 18% IGST on the duty-inclusive value, about 44% total over CIF. Corrective spectacle imports fare better at around 11% duty. Because eyewear weighs nothing, freight adds little - taxes are essentially the whole premium.

Are Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses treated as sunglasses or electronics?+

Camera-equipped smart glasses raise a genuine classification question - sunglasses (9004) versus wearable electronics. Shipments we have handled cleared under eyewear with standard duty, but expect the entry to be examined; include the product spec sheet with the invoice.

Is it worth importing Gentle Monster or boutique brands?+

Yes - Korean and Japanese boutique eyewear has thin or no Indian distribution, and where it exists, markups exceed the 44% import tax load. Import is often the only route for current-season styles.

Do prescription glasses ordered online attract duty?+

Prescription spectacles classify at the lower end of heading 9004 (around 11% duty) plus IGST. Online prescription-glasses services abroad can still beat Indian optical-chain pricing for premium lens packages, though local fitting adjustments become your problem.

Related duty guides

Import duty on perfumes & fragrances

HS 3303

Import duty on cosmetics & skincare

HS 3304

Import duty on jewellery

HS 7113, 7117

All India duty categories Import cost calculator Ship to India with iWishBag

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