Wearable glasses and Extended Reality (XR) hardware — audio-first glasses, camera-equipped smart glasses, augmented reality (AR) glasses, and mixed reality (MR) headsets — don't map neatly onto the product categories BIS built its Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) around years ago. A pair of glasses with a built-in camera looks, on paper, like it could be registered as a "digital camera," a "wearable device," or something else entirely — and until recently, manufacturers and importers had no official BIS position telling them which one was correct.
That ambiguity is now resolved. The Bureau of Indian Standards, through its Compulsory Registration Certification Department, has issued classification guidance specifically addressing wearable glasses and XR products under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. The guidance sets out exactly which category, sub-category and product name applies to Audio Glasses, Smart Glasses, AR Glasses and MR Glasses — and makes clear that manufacturers should expect a separate BIS licence for each distinct product name.
BIS's 2026 classification guidance clarifies BIS CRS registration for wearable glasses and Extended Reality products. Audio Glasses fall under the existing "Wireless Earphones and Headphones" category. Smart Glasses fall under "Digital Camera" (photo-only) or "Video Camera" (photo and video) depending on camera capability. AR Glasses and MR Glasses fall under a new "Extended Reality Products" category, alongside Other AR Devices, VR Headset, and Other MR Devices. The guidance took effect on 13 August 2026, and BIS grants a separate licence for each distinct product name.
📑 Quick Navigation
- What Is This BIS CRS Guidance?
- Why This Guidance Matters
- Classification Table: Audio, Smart, AR & MR Glasses
- Extended Reality Products: Sub-Categories
- Why Separate Licences Matter
- How to Determine Your Product's Classification
- What This Means for Manufacturers & Importers
- Common Classification Mistakes
- How Rego Services Can Help
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is This BIS CRS Guidance?
The guidance was issued by BIS's Compulsory Registration Certification Department under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021 — the parent order behind the BIS CRS scheme that mandates registration for a wide range of IT and electronics products before they can be sold in India. It does not create a new legal requirement from scratch; rather, it clarifies how existing and newly recognised product categories apply to wearable glasses and XR hardware specifically.
Bureau of Indian Standards, Compulsory Registration Certification Department.
Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021.
13 August 2026 — effective immediately upon issue.
Audio Glasses, Smart Glasses, AR Glasses, MR Glasses, and other Extended Reality devices.
Why This Guidance Matters
Before this clarification, manufacturers and importers of newer wearable and immersive technology products faced genuine ambiguity when filing a BIS CRS application: which existing product category should an AR headset be registered under? Was a camera-equipped pair of smart glasses a "digital camera," a "wearable," or something else? Choosing the wrong category risks application queries, delays, or a registration that doesn't actually match how the product will be marketed and used.
By explicitly naming Audio Glasses, Smart Glasses, AR Glasses and MR Glasses — and introducing a dedicated "Extended Reality Products" category — BIS has closed that gap for one of the fastest-growing segments of consumer electronics entering the Indian market.
Classification Table: Audio, Smart, AR & MR Glasses
BIS has specified how each product type should be classified based on its features and functionality:
| Product | BIS Category | Sub-Category | Product Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Glasses | Wireless Earphones and Headphones | Audio Glasses | Audio Glasses |
| Smart Glasses — camera for photographs only | Digital Camera | Smart Glasses | Smart Glasses |
| Smart Glasses — camera for photographs and videos | Video Camera | Smart Glasses | Smart Glasses |
| AR Glasses | Extended Reality Products | AR Glasses | AR Glasses |
| MR Glasses | Extended Reality Products | MR Glasses | MR Glasses |
Extended Reality Products: Available Sub-Categories
Beyond AR Glasses and MR Glasses specifically, BIS has clarified the full set of sub-categories and product names available under the "Extended Reality Products" category:
Augmented reality glasses overlaying digital content on the physical environment.
AR-capable devices that don't fit the specific "AR Glasses" form factor.
Virtual reality headsets providing fully immersive digital environments.
Mixed reality glasses blending physical and digital environments interactively.
MR-capable devices outside the specific "MR Glasses" form factor.
Manufacturers should select the sub-category and product name that actually matches their product's nature and functionality — not simply the closest-sounding label.
Not sure which sub-category fits your wearable or XR product?
Get a Classification ReviewWhy Separate Licences Matter
One of the most consequential parts of this guidance is procedural rather than descriptive: BIS grants a separate licence for each product name specified in the classification framework. This has direct commercial implications:
A manufacturer selling both Smart Glasses and AR Glasses needs a separate BIS CRS licence for each product name — not a single combined registration.
The product name used in the CRS application must match BIS's specified naming exactly, since licensing is tied to that specific name.
Multiple product names mean multiple testing cycles, applications, and fees — this should be factored into go-to-market planning early.
Before filing any application, businesses should map their full wearable/XR product range against the applicable product names.
How to Determine Your Product's Classification
Determine whether the product is Audio Glasses, Smart Glasses, AR Glasses, MR Glasses, or another XR device such as a VR headset.
For Smart Glasses specifically, confirm whether the camera captures photographs only or both photographs and video.
Assess the product's wireless, audio, display and other functional characteristics against the guidance's category definitions.
Map the product to the correct BIS category — Wireless Earphones and Headphones, Digital Camera, Video Camera, or Extended Reality Products — and sub-category.
Choose the exact product name specified in the BIS guidance for the CRS application.
Where a product range spans multiple product names, plan and budget for a separate BIS CRS licence for each.
Submit the CRS application under the correctly identified product name, with applicable testing and documentation.
What This Means for Manufacturers & Importers
Clear category guidance reduces the risk of application queries caused by ambiguous or incorrect product classification.
Businesses launching multiple wearable or XR products need to plan certification timelines and costs per product name, not as a single project.
For Smart Glasses, the camera's actual recording capability — not its marketing description — determines the applicable BIS category.
The "Extended Reality Products" category and its named sub-categories give manufacturers a clearer reference point for future AR/MR/VR product launches in India.
Common Classification Mistakes
Treating Audio Glasses, Smart Glasses and AR Glasses as interchangeable for CRS purposes, when each requires its own category and licence.
Filing a video-capable Smart Glasses product under the "Digital Camera" category rather than "Video Camera."
Submitting a marketing name rather than the exact product name specified in BIS's classification framework.
Assuming a single BIS licence will cover a multi-product wearable or XR range, rather than planning for separate licences per product name.
How Rego Services Can Help
Classifying a genuinely new hardware category against an evolving regulatory framework is exactly the kind of task where getting expert input early avoids costly missteps. Rego Services can assist businesses with:
- Product Feature Assessment — reviewing your product's actual functionality against BIS's category and sub-category definitions
- Classification Determination — identifying the correct category, sub-category and product name for each item in your wearable or XR range
- Portfolio Mapping — planning licence requirements, testing needs, and timelines across a multi-product line
- Documentation & Testing Coordination — preparing the technical documentation and coordinating testing at BIS-recognised laboratories
- BIS CRS Application Management — submitting and managing the registration process under the correctly identified product name
- Ongoing Regulatory Monitoring — tracking further BIS clarifications as the Extended Reality product category continues to evolve
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BIS CRS Guidance 2026 for wearable glasses and XR products?
It is guidance issued by BIS's Compulsory Registration Certification Department clarifying the correct product category, sub-category and product name for Audio Glasses, Smart Glasses, AR Glasses and MR Glasses under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021.
When did the BIS CRS wearable glasses guidance take effect?
BIS issued the classification guidance on 13 August 2026, and it is effective immediately.
How are Audio Glasses classified under BIS CRS?
Audio Glasses are classified under the existing "Wireless Earphones and Headphones" category, with "Audio Glasses" as both the sub-category and product name.
How are Smart Glasses classified under BIS CRS?
Smart Glasses with a camera for photographs only are classified under the "Digital Camera" category, while Smart Glasses with a camera for both photographs and videos are classified under the "Video Camera" category. In both cases, the sub-category and product name are "Smart Glasses."
How are AR and MR Glasses classified under BIS CRS?
AR Glasses and MR Glasses fall under the "Extended Reality Products" category, with their respective product names — AR Glasses, Other AR Devices, VR Headset, MR Glasses, and Other MR Devices — as the applicable sub-categories.
Does one BIS licence cover all wearable glasses product types?
No. BIS grants a separate licence for each distinct product name specified in the guidance. A manufacturer producing both Smart Glasses and AR Glasses, for example, would need separate BIS CRS licences for each.
✓ Key Takeaways
- BIS's 2026 guidance clarifies BIS CRS classification for Audio Glasses, Smart Glasses, AR Glasses and MR Glasses, effective 13 August 2026
- Audio Glasses fall under "Wireless Earphones and Headphones"; Smart Glasses fall under "Digital Camera" or "Video Camera" depending on whether the camera records video
- A new "Extended Reality Products" category covers AR Glasses, Other AR Devices, VR Headset, MR Glasses, and Other MR Devices
- BIS grants a separate licence for each distinct product name — multi-product ranges need multi-product planning
- Correct classification depends on actual product functionality, not marketing terminology
- This guidance is issued under the existing Electronics and IT Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021 — it clarifies application, not a new legal mandate
Bringing a Wearable or XR Product to the Indian Market?
Correctly classifying your product before filing is the single biggest factor in a smooth BIS CRS registration for wearable glasses and Extended Reality hardware. Contact Rego Services to review your product's features and plan a clear certification pathway.
Rego Services Compliance Team
August 2026
Sources & References
- Bureau of Indian Standards — BIS CRS Portal
- BIS Compulsory Registration Certification Department — Guidance on Product Categories Under the Compulsory Registration Scheme, issued 13 August 2026
- BIS CRS Registration — Complete Guide (Rego Services)