Many documents are used in import business. The important documents used in import business are:

1. Trade Enquiry: A letter of enquiry or a trade enquiry is a letter written by an importer to an exporter requesting him to provide information regarding the price and various terms and conditions on which the exporter is willing to export the goods required by the importer.

2. Proforma Invoice: A proforma invoice is a document sent by the exporter to the importer stating the details as to the quality, grade, design, size, weight and price of the export goods and the terms and conditions on which those goods will be exported. It is similar to a quotation give by the exporter to the importer.

3. Indent or Import Order: An import order or indent is a document which the importer sends to the exporter in which he orders the supply of required goods.

4. Letter of Credit: In shot, a letter of credit is a document that contains guarantees from the importers bank to hour the payment upto a specified amount of the bill of exchanged drawn by exporter fro importer goods to the importer.

5. Shipment Advice: Shipment advice is a document sent by the importer to the importer stating that the shipment of goods has been made.

6. Bill of Lading: As explained in the context of export documents, a bill of lading is a documents, a bill of lading is a document prepared and signed by the master of the ship, acknowledging the receipt of goods on board the ship. The also contain the terms and conditions in which the goods are to be taken to the port of destination.

7. Bill of Entry: A bill of entry is form supplied by the customs office to the importer it is to be filled in by the importer at the time of receiving the goods. It is prepared and is submitted to the customs office.

8. Bill of exchange: In the context of export trade, a bill of exchange to drawn by the exporter on the importer asking him to pay a certain amount to a certain person or the bearer of the instrument.

9. Import general Manifest: Import general manifest is a document that contains the details of the imported goods is the document on the basis of which unloading of cargo takes place.

10. Dock Challan: Dock charges are required to be paid when all the formalities of customs are completed. So, the importer or his clearing agent pays the dock dues or charges.