Hlo,There are many steps for documentation,Exporters should seriously consider having the freight forwarder handle the formidable amount of documentation that exporting requires; freight forwarders are specialists in this process. The following documents are commonly used in exporting; which of them are actually used in each case depends on the requirements of both our government and the government of the importing country.1. Commercial invoice2. Bill of lading3. Coninvoice4. Certificate of origin5. Inspection certification6. Dock receipt and warehouse receipt7. Destination control statement8. Insurance certificate9. Export license10. Export packing listSTEP1: Enquiry :The starting point for any Export Transaction is an enquiry.An enquiry for product should, inter alia, specify the following details or prthe following dataSize details - Std. or oversize or undersizeDrawing, if availableSample, if possibleQuantity requiredDelivery scheduleIs the price required on FOB or C& F or CIF basisMode of Dispatch - Sea, air or Sea/airMode of PackingTerms of Payment that would be acceptable to the Buyer - If the buyer proposes to open any Letter of Credit, any specific requirement to be complied with by the ExporterIs there any requirement of Pre-shipment inspection and if so, by which agencyAny Certificate of Origin required - If so, from what agency.STEP 2: - Proforma generation :After studying the enquiry in detail, the exporter - be it Manufacturer Exporter or Merchant Exporter - will pra Proforma Invoice to the Buyer.STEP 3: Order placement :If the offer is acceptable to the Buyer in terms of price, delivery and payment terms, the Buyer will then place an order on the Exporter, giving as much data as possible in terms of specifications, Part No. Quantity etc. (No standard format is required for such a purchase order)STEP 4: Order acceptance :It is advisable that the Exporter immediately acknowledges receipt of the order, giving a schedule for the delivery committed.STEP 5: Goods readiness & documentation :Once the goods are ready duly packed in Export worthy cases/cartons (depending upon the mode of despatch), the Invoice is prepared by the Exporter.If the number of packages is more than one, a packing list is a must.Even If the goods to be exported are excisable, no excise duty need be charged at the time of Export, as export goods are exempt from Central Excise, but the AR4 procedure is to be followed for claiming such an exemption.Similarly, no Sales Tax also is payable for export of goods.STEP 6: Goods removal from works :There are different procedures for removing Export consignments to the Port, following the AR4 procedure, but it would be advisable to get the consignment sealed by the Central Excise authorities at the factory premises itself, so that open inspection by Customs authorities at the Port can be avoided.If export consignments are removed from the factory of manufacture, following the AR4 procedure, claiming exemption of excise duty, there is an obligation cast on the exporter to prproof of export to the Central Excise authoritiesSTEP 7: Documents for C & F agent :The Exporter is expected to prthe following documents to the Clearing & Forwarding Agents, who are entrusted with the task of shipping the consignments, either by air or by sea.InvoicePacking ListDeclaration in Form SDF (to meet the requirements as per FERA) in duplicate.AR4 - first and the second copyAny other declarations, as required by CustomsOn account of the introduction of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system for processing shipping bills electronically at most of the locations - both for air or sea consignments - the C&F Agents are required to file with Customs the shipping documents, through a particular format, which will vary depending on the nature of the shipment. Broad categories of export shipments are:Under claim of Drawback of dutyWithout claim of DrawbackExport by a 100% EOUUnder DEPB SchemeSTEP 8: Customs Clearance :After assessment of the shipping bill and examination of the cargo by Customs (where required), the export consignments are permitted by Customs for ultimate Export. This is what the concerned Customs officials call the u2018LET EXPORTu2023 endorsement on the shipping bill.STEP 9: Document Forwarding :After completing the shipment formalities, the C & F Agents are expected to forward to the Exporter the following documents:Customs signed Export Invoice & Packing ListDuplicate of Form SDFExchange control copy of the Shipping Bill, processed electronicallyAR4 (original duplicate) duly endorsed by Customs for having effected the ExportBill of Lading or Airway bill, as the case may be.STEP 10: Bills negotiation :With these authenticated shipping documents, the Exporter will have to negotiate the relevant export bill through authorized dealers of Reserve Bank, viz., Banks.Under the Generalized System of Preference, imports from developing countries enjoy certain duty concessions, for which the exporters in the developing countries are expected to furnish the GSP Certificate of Origin to the Bankers, along with other shipping documents.Broadly, payment terms can be:DP TermsDA TermsLetter of Credit, payable at sight or payable at... days.Step11: Bank to bank documents forwarding :The negotiating Bank will scrutinize the shipping documents and forward them to the Banker of the importer, to enable him clear the consignment.It is expected of such authorized dealers of Reserve Bank to ensure receipt of export proceeds, which factor has to be intimated to the Reserve Bank by means of periodical Returns.STEP 12: Customs obligation discharge :As indicated above, Exporters are also expected to prproof of export to the Central Excise authorities, on the basis of the Customs endorsements made on the reverse of AR4s and get their obligation, on this score, discharged.STEP 13: Receipt of Bank certificate :Authorized dealers will issue Bank Certificates to the exporter, once the payment is received and only with the issuance of the Bank Certificate, the export transaction becomes complete.It is mandatory on the part of the Exporters to negotiate the shipping documents only through authorized dealers of Reserve Bank, as only through such a system Reserve Bank can ensure receipt of export proceeds for goods shipped out of this country.