BIS CRS Update Clarifies Smart and AR Glasses Classification
20. August 2026The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has clarified the BIS CRS classification for wearable glasses covered by India’s Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. The guidance provides manufacturers, importers and brand owners with more specific information on how audio glasses, smart glasses and extended reality devices should be categorized under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS).
The clarification is particularly relevant because the applicable product category depends on the functions incorporated into the glasses, including wireless audio, cameras and display technologies. Wearable and smart glasses usually require BIS CRS registration in order to be approved for import and sale in India.
BIS Classification Depends on Device Functionality
Under the BIS guidance, Audio Glasses with Bluetooth or other wireless connectivity, microphones, speakers, calling or music functions are classified under the product category “Wireless Earphones and Headphones,” with Audio Glasses as the sub-category. This also includes devices incorporating functions such as AI-based voice assistants.
Smart glasses equipped with cameras are classified according to their imaging capabilities. Devices featuring a camera that captures photographs only fall under the “Digital Camera” product category, with Smart Glasses as the sub-category. If the camera can capture both photographs and videos, the applicable product category is “Video Camera,” again using Smart Glasses as the sub-category. These products may also incorporate the functions typically found in Audio Glasses.
For extended reality functionality, AR Glasses are categorized as Extended Reality Products when they provide an overlay display visible through the lenses. MR Glasses are likewise classified under Extended Reality Products.
BIS has specified several product names within the Extended Reality Products category, including AR Glasses, Other AR Devices, VR Headset, MR Glasses and Other MR Devices.
Separate BIS CRS Licenses and Market Access Implications
The clarification has practical implications for companies placing smart and extended reality glasses on the Indian market. BIS specifies separate product names within the relevant categories, and a separate BIS CRS license is required for each applicable product name identified in the notification.
Manufacturers and importers should therefore determine the correct classification before beginning testing and registration. Features such as audio connectivity, camera functionality and augmented or mixed reality displays can determine which BIS CRS product category and sub-category applies.
Accurate classification at an early stage can help companies select the appropriate testing route and submit the correct BIS registration application. This is particularly important for multifunctional wearable devices, where differences in technical capabilities may result in different classifications and licensing requirements for market access in India.
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