Air IGM Tracking and Status on ICEGATE Portal

When an enterprise's goods are expected to arrive by air, customs clearance begins before arrival. The Air Import General Manifest (Air IGM) is a document filed which allows customs authorities to gain access to the goods brought into India. This article will discuss what an Air IGM is, how an enterprise can track the status of Air IGM and why it is useful for an enterprise.

Key Takeaways

• Air IGM is a mandatory declaration for all air cargo imports into India. 
• Air IGM must be filed accurately and within prescribed timelines by the airline or its agent. 
• Tracking Air IGM status on the ICEGATE portal helps importers identify errors and anticipate clearance timelines

What is an Air IGM?

The Air Import General Manifest (Air IGM) is a legally mandated document filed with Indian Customs that contains a comprehensive summary of all cargo arriving on an international flight. It is the first official declaration of imported goods to customs authorities.

The Air IGM includes details such as the flight information, port of arrival, shipper and consignee particulars, nature of goods and gross weight. Customs authorities examine this information to identify whether there are any prohibited goods or whether any further examination is required.

Without a valid Air IGM, customs do not allow the filing of a Bill of Entry, halting the import process. This makes Air IGM a foundational element of import compliance.

What is Air IGM Tracking, and How Does It Work?

The airline or freight forwarder, after filing Air IGM, can track the status on the ICEGATE portal. The portal shows whether the Air IGM is under customs clearance, kept on hold or cleared by customs.

The status helps importers or freight forwarders to track the updates using the airway bill number to check whether the Air IGM is cleared or awaiting validation.

Why is Air IGM Tracking Important?

Air IGM tracking is critical because customs clearance is entirely dependent on the successful validation of the Air IGM. Even trivial errors in the name of the parties, airway bill details, or cargo description can result in rejection of the Air IGM.

Delayed or incorrect Air IGM can lead to cargo being held at the airport, resulting in demurrage charges, storage costs, and delivery failures at enterprise customers. For time-sensitive or high-value shipments, such delays can also disrupt supply chain management.

Air IGM tracking allows importers to maintain better control over their supply chain. It also enables coordination with airlines and freight forwarders to rectify issues to avoid penalties and other charges.

Benefits of Tracking Air IGM Status

The benefits of Air IGM status tracking are aplenty. Some of the key benefits are given below-

• Real-time visibility into shipping progress
• Early detection of errors and correction
• Helps avoid penalties and fines from ICEGATE authorities
• Cost savings through faster clearance
• Enhances customer service with timely status updates
• Improves inventory management and operations

How to Track Air IGM Status on the ICEGATE Portal?

An enterprise can visit the ICEGATE portal, where under “Tracking at ICES”, select “AIR IGM”.  The enterprise will be required to select the airport and enter the airway bill number to track the status of Air IGM.

Types of Air IGM Status on the ICEGATE Portal