Arrival Passengers
Every passenger entering India has to pass through a Customs check after being first cleared by an Immigration Officer and taking delivery of his/her baggage, if any, from the conveyor belts. The passenger can seek Customs clearance through either of the two channels.
- Green Channel for passengers not having any dutiable or prohibited/restricted goods.
- Red Channel for passengers having dutiable or prohibited/restricted goods.
Prohibited & Restricted Goods
Prohibited Goods
Any goods the import or export of which is subject to any prohibition under the Customs Act, 1962 or any other law for the time being in force but does not include any such goods in respect of which the conditions subject to which the goods are permitted to be imported or exported have been complied with. Such goods includes Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Pornographic material, fake currency etc. More Details
(2.3 MB)
Restricted Goods
All goods, import of which is permitted only with an Authorization / Permission / License or in accordance with the procedure prescribed in a notification / public notice are ‘Restricted’ goods. Such goods includes Firearms & ammunition, live birds and animals, Radio transmitters etc. More Details (2.3 MB)
Important Requirements
- Customs Declaration Form is mandatory for passengers having prohibited or dutiable goods in their possession or goods in excess of their eligible Duty Free allowance. Such passengers shall ensure to file a correct declaration of their baggage in the Customs Declaration Form and opt for the Red Channel. The passengers can also file a declaration of dutiable items as well as currency with Indian Customs even before boarding the flight to India by using the ATITHI mobile app.
- Declaration of foreign exchange/currency has to be made before the Custom officers in the following cases:
- Where the value of foreign currency notes exceeds US $5,000 or equivalent.
- Where the aggregate value of foreign exchange including currency exceeds US $10,000 or equivalent.
- Passengers opting for the Green Channel with dutiable/prohibited goods are liable to prosecution/penalty and confiscation of goods.
- Trafficking of Narcotics and Psychotropic substances is a serious offence punishable with imprisonment.
Duty free Allowances for Arrival Passengers are as follows
Indian Residents and Foreigners Residing in India
- Used personal effects and travel souvenirs
- Articles up to the value of Rs.50,000 carried on person or accompanied baggage, excluding the following
- Firearms
- Cartridges of Firearms exceeding 50.
- Cigarettes exceeding 100 sticks or cigars exceeding 25 or tobacco exceeding 125 gms.
- Alcoholic liquor or wines in excess of two litres.
- Gold or silver in any form other than ornaments.
- Flat Panel (Liquid Crystal Display/Light-Emitting Diode/ Plasma) television.
Tourist of Foreign Origin
- Used personal effects and travel souvenirs
- Articles up to the value of Rs.15,000 carried on person or as accompanied baggage.
Indian Residents and foreigners residing in India or a tourist
- Used personal effects and travel souvenirs
- Articles up to the value of Rs.15,000 carried on person or as accompanied baggage.
Notes
- Resident means a person holding a valid passport issued under the Passports Act, 1967 and normally residing in India.
- Only used personal effects are allowed duty free in the case of infants.
- The free allowance shall not be pooled with the free allowance of any other passenger.
- The free allowance is not applicable to the following goods:
- Firearms
- Cartridges of Firearms exceeding 50.
- Cigarettes exceeding 100 sticks or cigars exceeding 25 or tobacco exceeding 125 gms.
- Alcoholic liquor or wines or beer in excess of 2 litres.
- Gold or silver, in any form, other than ornaments.
- LCD/LED/Plasma television of any screen size.
- One laptop computer (notebook/computer) over and above the said free allowances mentioned above is also allowed duty free if imported by any passenger of the age of 18 years and above.
- The goods over and above the free allowances shall be chargeable to Basic Customs Duty @ 35%.
- Alcoholic drinks and tobacco products imported in excess of free allowance are chargeable to Customs duty at the rates applicable to their commercial imports as per the Customs Tariff Act, 1975.
- Passengers normally resident of India who are returning from a visit abroad are allowed to bring in Indian currency up to Rs.25,000.
- In case, the value of one item exceeds the free allowance, the duty shall be calculated only on the excess of the free allowance.
- Any goods, not restricted or prohibited, under the rules, may be brought only for bonafide personal use and not in commercial quantity.
- The cost of alcoholic liquor or wines is included in free allowance of Rs. 50,000 /- . Applicable duty will be charged on excess amount/cost of the liquor or wines(2 Ltrs).
Transfer of Residence
Depending on minimum time period stayed abroad and fulfilment of other conditions by the passengers, various articles are allowed free of duty up to a specified limit as detailed below.
- 3-6 months: aggregate value of Rs.60,000
- 6 months- l year: aggregate value of Rs.1,00,000
- Minimum 1 year during preceding two years: aggregate value of Rs.1,00,000
- Minimum stay of two years or more: up to a value of Rs. 5 lakhs.
These allowances are subject to fulfilment of conditions and are only available on specific items. For further details, Rule 6 of the Baggage Rules, 2016 may please be referred.
Baggage Rules, 2016 (227 KB) Guidelines for Airlines Crew Members
Crew members are required to submit the correct declaration before Custom authorities with respect to the currency, gold ornaments and electronic goods etc. in their possession on arrival as well as departure. Crew members are allowed to bring items like chocolates, cheese, cosmetics and other petty gift items for their personal or family use up to a value of Rs. 1,500 only at the returning of the aircraft from foreign journey. However, a crew member on final payoff or at the termination of his engagement with the airline/vessel shall be eligible for allowances as a common passenger
CBIC Guidelines for International Travellers
https://www.cbic.gov.in/entities/internationalTravellers