Every country has laid down certain rules and regulations regarding the import of goods. It is important to know them before travelling to the particular nation. The customs officers understand that few travellers violate the law. So, do not hesitate to ask for their assistance and do not be offended if your baggage is examined.
The following rules apply on tourists to India:
q Tourists are permitted duty-free import of personal effects and travel souvenirs, regardless of their monetary value. These items should be for personal use by the tourist and re-exported when the tourist leaves India.
Personal effects is defined as clothing and other articles that a tourist may personally and reasonably require during his stay, taking into account the circumstances of his visit.
q Gifts upto the value of Rs. 4,000 (approximately $89) can be imported duty-free. However, for tourists of Indian origin, the duty-free value limit for gift articles is Rs. 12,000 (approximately $267).
q The import of the items included in the above two points do not require endorsement on passport by the customs authorities.
q Merchandise imported for commercial purposes will not be permitted duty-free.
The following articles are not permitted duty-free into the country:
1. Firearms.
2. Cartridges of firearms exceeding 50.
3. Cigarettes exceeding 200 / cigars exceeding 50 / tobacco exceeding 250gms.
4. Alcoholic liquor and wines in excess of 1 litre each.
5. Gold or silver in any form other than ornaments.
q Nepalese and Bhutanese tourists, arriving from Nepal and Bhutan respectively, are not granted free allowance of any article.
q A license is required for sporting arms and ammunitions. This can be issued on arrival.
q Items of very high value can be imported duty-free by submitting a written undertaking for their re-export on departure from India. Otherwise, customs duty would have to be paid.
q Tourists may bring their domestic pets subject to the fulfillment of stringent health certificate regulations.
Warning: Import of goods in excess of the permitted value and false declaration / concealment of goods may result in their confiscation and the tourist may be liable to a fine, penalty or even prosecution proceedings.
Passengers returning from countries other than Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar or China shall be allowed duty-free import of articles in their bonafide baggage to the extent mentioned below.
APPENDIX A
| (1) |
Articles allowed free of duty |
| (a) All passengers of and above 12 years of age, returning after stay abroad of more than three days. |
(i) Used personal effects, excluding jewellery, required for satisfying daily necessities of life.
(ii) Articles other than those mentioned in Annex. I, upto a value of Rs. 12000 if these are sported by the passenger or are in the accompanied baggage.
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| (b) All passengers of and above 12 years of age, returning after stay abroad of three days or less. |
(i) Used personal effects excluding jewellery, required for satisfying daily necessities of life.
(ii) Articles other than those mentioned in Annex. I, upto a value of Rs. 6000 if these are sported by the passenger or are in the accompanied baggage.
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| (c) All passengers upto 12 years of age, returning after stay abroad of more than three days. |
(i) Used personal effects excluding jewellery, required for satisfying daily necessities of life.
(ii) Articles other than those mentioned in Annex. I, upto a value of Rs. 3000 if these are sported by the passenger or are in the accompanied baggage.
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| (d) All passengers upto 12 years of age, returning after stay abroad of three days or less |
(i) Used personal effects excluding jewellery, required for satisfying daily necessities of life.
(ii) Articles other than those mentioned in Annex. I, upto a value of Rs. 1500 if these are sported by the passenger or are in the accompanied baggage.
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q Passengers returning from Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar or China shall be allowed duty-free import of articles in their bonafide baggage to the extent mentioned below.
APPENDIX B
| (1) |
Articles allowed free of duty |
| (i) Passengers of and above 12 years of age, returning after stay abroad of more than three days. |
(i) Used personal effects, excluding jewellery, required for satisfying daily necessities of life.
(ii) Articles other than those mentioned in Annex. I, upto a value of Rs. 3000 if these are sported by the person or are in the accompanied baggage. |
| (ii) Passengers upto 12 years of age, returning after stay abroad of more than three days. |
(i) Used personal effects, excluding jewellery, required for satisfying daily necessities of life.
(ii) Articles other than those mentioned in Annex. I, upto a value of Rs. 750 if these are sported by the person or are in the accompanied baggage. |
q Professionals returning to India shall be allowed duty-free import of articles in their bonafide baggage to the extent mentioned in Appendix A as well as those mentioned below.
APPENDIX C
| (1) |
Articles allowed free of duty |
| (a) Indian passenger returning after atleast 3 months. |
(i) Used household articles upto an aggregate value of Rs. 6000.
(ii) Professional equipments upto a value of Rs. 10000. |
| (b) Indian passenger returning after at least 6 months. |
(i) Used household articles upto an aggregate value of Rs. 6000.
(ii) Professional equipments upto a value of Rs. 20000 |
| (c) Indian passenger returning after a stay of maximum 365 days on termination of his work and who has not availed this concession in the preceding three years. |
(i) Used household articles and personal effects, (which have been in possession and used abroad by him or his family for at least six months), and which are not mentioned in Annex. I or Annex. II upto an aggregate value of Rs. 30000. |
q Passengers returning to India shall be allowed duty-free clearance of jewellery in their bonafide baggage to the extent mentioned below.
APPENDIX D
| (1) |
Jewellery |
| Indian passenger who has been residing abroad for over one year. |
(i) Jewellery upto an aggregate value of Rs. 10000 by a gentleman passenger, or
(ii) Upto an aggregate value of Rs. 20000 by a lady passenger.
|
q Tourists arriving in India shall be allowed duty-free import of articles in their bonafide baggage to the extent mentioned below.
APPENDIX E
| (1) |
Articles allowed free of duty |
| (a) Tourist of Indian origin |
(i) Used personal effects and travel souvenirs, if-
(a) these goods are for personal use of the tourist, and
(b) these goods, other than those consumed during the stay in India, are re-exported when the tourist leaves India for a foreign destination
(c) articles are allowed to be cleared under rule 3 or rule 4.
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| (b) Tourists of foreign origin other than Nepal or Bhutan. |
(i) Used personal effects and travel souvenirs, if-
(a) these goods are for personal use of the tourist, and
(b) these goods, other than those consumed during the stay in India, are re-exported when the tourist leaves India for a foreign destination
(ii) articles other than those mentioned in Annex. I upto a value of Rs. 4000 for making gifts.
|
| (c) Tourists of Nepalese origin coming from Nepal or of Bhutanese origin coming from Bhutan. |
No free allowance. |
q Persons getting transferred to India shall be allowed duty-free import of articles in their bonafide baggage to the extent mentioned in Appendix A or B, as the case may be as well as those mentioned below.
APPENDIX F
| Articles allowed free of duty |
Conditions |
Relaxation that may be considered |
| (a) Used personal and household articles, other than those listed at Annex. I or Annex. II, but including jewellery upto Rs. 10,000 by a genteleman passenger, and Rs. 20,000 by a lady passenger. |
(1) Minimum stay of two years abroad, immediately preceding the date of his arrival on TR.
(2) Total stay in India on short visit during the 2 preceding years should nor exceed 6 months, and
(3) Passenger has not availed this concession in the preceding three years. |
(a) For condition (I) a shortfall of upto 2 months on stay abroad can be condoned by Assistant Commissioner of Customs if the early return is on account of:
(1) terminal leave or vacation being availed of by the passenger;or
(2) any other special circumstances.
(b) for condition (2) Commissioner of Customs may condone short visits in excess of 6 months in deserving cases.
(c) For condition (3) no relaxation. |
| (b) Jewellery taken out earlier by the passenger or by a member of his family from India. |
Satisfaction of the Asstt. Commissioner of Customs that the jewellery had been taken out earlier from India. |
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