Departure Passenger Guidelines
All the passengers leaving India are subject to clearance by Custom Authorities. Only bona fide baggage is allowed to be cleared by passengers. There is a procedure prescribed whereby the passengers leaving India can take the Export Certificate for various high value items such as camera, video camera, as well as jewellery, from the Customs authorities.
Such an Export Certificate facilitates re-importation of such goods while bringing back the things to India as no duty is charged. The advantage of having the Export Certificate is that the concessions passengers are entitled to, when they return are not affected.
Prohibited & Restricted Goods
Prohibited and Restricted Goods for Export Due to Social, Health, Environmental, Wildlife, and Security Concerns
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 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Pornographic material, fake currency etc. More Details (2.3 MB)
Currency Rules
Currency Limits for Passengers Traveling Abroad from India
- Export of Indian Currency is strictly prohibited. However Indian residents when they go abroad are allowed to take with them Indian currency notes not exceeding Rs.25,000.
- Tourists/NRIs while leaving India are allowed to take with them foreign currency not exceeding an amount brought in by them i.e. unspent foreign exchange left from the amount declared in the Currency Declaration Form at the time of their arrival in India. Also, as no declaration is required to be made for bringing in foreign exchange / currency not exceeding equivalent of U.S. $5,000 in currency notes, or its equivalent or foreign exchange in form of currency notes, bank notes or travellers cheques not exceeding US$ 10,000 or its equivalent, generally tourists can take out of India with them at the time of their departure foreign exchange/ currency not exceeding the above amount.
- Indian residents going abroad are permitted to take with them foreign currency without any limit so long as the same has been purchased/issued by RBI approved/authorized foreign exchange dealer as per norms.
- Carrying of Indian currency notes in the denomination of Rs.500 to Nepal is prohibited.
Norms for duty free re-import of personal jewellery carried with the passengers while travelling abroad
All the passengers leaving India are subject to clearance by Customs Authorities. Only bonafide baggage is allowed to be cleared by passengers. There is a procedure prescribed whereby the passengers leaving India can take the Export Certificate for various high value items such as jewellery, from the Customs authorities. Such an Export Certificate facilitates re-importation of such goods while bringing back the things to India as no duty is charged. The main advantage of obtaining an Export Certificate is that it will not affect any other duty free concessions available when they return as arriving passengers. For further details, Passenger Facilitation Notice 01/2020 dated 29.10.2020 may be referred.
Passenger Facilitation Notice 01/2020Norms for duty free re-import of costly items like camera, etc. carried with the passengers while travelling abroad
For costly items that can be identified by serial numbers, marks, or other distinctive features, passengers travelling abroad may approach the Customs Officer at departure area for an Export Certificate at the time of passenger’s departure. The Customs officer after physical verification of the said goods and supporting documents/evidences, if any, will issue an Export Certificate. While returning back, the passenger requires to present the said goods along with respective Export Certificate to the Customs Officer at the red channel for examination/identification of the said goods and allowing the passage of the imported items without payment of any duty. The main advantage of obtaining an Export Certificate is that it will not affect any other duty free concessions available when they return as arriving passengers.
(However, this arrangement doesn't hold for jewellery items, which has a separate procedure as detailed above)
For further details, Customs Circular 02/2002 dated 08.01.2002 may be referred.
Flora and Fauna
Export of most species of wildlife and articles made from wild flora and fauna, such as ivory, musk, reptile skins, furs, shahtoosh etc. is prohibited.
CBIC Guidelines for International Travellers
https://www.cbic.gov.in/entities/internationalTravellers