The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) has announced a change in the application process for the Manufacturing and Other Operations in Warehouse (MOOWR) Scheme. As per Circular No. 18/2025 – Customs, dated July 22, 2025, the digitized application previously available on the Invest India microsite (https://www.investindia.gov.in/bonded-manufacturing) is no longer available for submissions. Previously, Circular No. 34/2019-Customs had highlighted this online platform for application submission and document upload. Now, businesses seeking a license under Section 58 and permission to operate under Section 65 of the Customs Act for the MOOWR Scheme must submit their applications in the prescribed format directly to their jurisdictional Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs. This change requires applicants to revert to a direct submission method, and field formations have been instructed to guide trade accordingly.
F. No: 473/02/2022-LC
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
Circular No. 18/2025 – Customs | Dated: 22nd July, 2025
To
All Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners of Customs
Principal Directors General/Directors General of Customs
All Principal Commissioners/Commissioners of Customs
Subject: Submission of applications under MOOWR Scheme — reg.
Attention is invited to Circular No. 34/2019-Customs dated 01.10.2019. Para 16 of the said Circular states that
“Board has partnered with Invest India under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India to launch a microsite for the promotion of the scheme and facilitation of investors. The same can be accessed at https://www.investindia.gov. in/bonded-manufacturing. The microsite also hosts a digitized application that an applicant can fill online, upload the supporting documents, submit online and also print the application form.”
2. It is hereby informed that, as communicated by Invest India, the digitized application hosted on the said microsite shall no longer be available for submission of applications.
3. Accordingly, applicants desirous of obtaining a license under section 58 and permission to operate under section 65 of the Customs Act are advised to submit the application in the prescribed format directly to the jurisdictional Principal Commissioner / Commissioner of Customs.
4. Field formations may take note of the above and guide the trade accordingly.
Hindi version follows.
(Prabhjot Kaur)
OSD (Customs & EP)
