Customs regulations for your trip to India

Customs regulations

Import regulations:

Free import by non-residents. Is only permitted if they enter India for a stay of not less than 24 hours, not more than 6 months, and not more than once a month.

• persons of 17 years of age and older: 100 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 125 grams of tobacco; 2 liters of alcoholic liquor or wine;
• medicines in reasonable quantities;
• 2 ounces of perfume and 1/4 liter of eau de toilette;
• jewelry, up to a combined value of INR 50,000.- for male travelers or INR 100,000.- for female travelers;
• travel souvenirs imported by:
  – nationals and residents of India or if being of Indian origin and being over 9 years of age:
  – if returning from Bhutan, China (People’s Rep.), Myanmar or Nepal: up to INR 6,000.- if stayed outside for more than 3 days. If stayed outside up to 3 days: nil.
  – if returning from other countries: up to INR 45,000.- if stayed outside for more than 3 days. If stayed outside up to 3 days: INR 17,500.-.
  For persons under 10 years of age:
  – nationals of, or being of origin, Bhutan and Nepal and coming from respective countries: nil. If coming from other countries: up to INR 8,000.-
  – nationals of, or being of origin, Pakistan and coming from Pakistan: up to INR 6,000.-. If coming from other countries: up to INR 8,000.-.
  – all other nationals: up to INR 8,000.-. If coming from Pakistan: up to INR 6,000.-.
• goods for personal use.

Prohibited: e-cigarettes.

Goods in excess of the maximum permitted amount will be subject to an import duty of 60%.

Arms and Ammunition regulations:

Import Permit required from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in India.

Additional Information on regulations:

Remote controlled drones and helicopters: import is allowed with a WPC license issued by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

Seeds and plants: the import of seeds and plants for the purpose of sowing, planting and propogation, consumption, research and breeding requires an import permit. Import is restricted to the airports of Amritsar (ATQ), Bengaluru (BLR), Chennai (MMA), Delhi (DEL), Guwahati (GAU), Kolkata (CCU), Mumbai (BOM), Patna (PAT), Hyderabad (HYD), Thiruvananthapuram (TRV), Tiruchchirapalli (TRZ), Varanasi (VNS).

Livestock and livestock products: the import of these, by any means including cargo or baggage is restricted and requires a sanitary import permit, as well as a “No Objection Certificate” (NOC). A NOC must be obtained in advance from the Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS). Products include:
– meat and meat products of all kinds of fresh, chilled and frozen meat, tissue or organs;
– egg and egg powder;
– milk and milk products;
– bovine, ovine and caprine embryos, ova or semen;
– pet foods of animal origin;
– gelatin, fur, animal skin, wool, leather, carpets, horns, bone and bone grist, feathers, shuttle cock etc.
Prohibited: the following livestock and livestock products:
– all kinds of birds and bird products (incl. eggs, feathers, meat etc.); and
– pigs and pig meat products.

A minimum of 48 hours is required by the Airport Health Office for the importation of human remains or ashes. A death certificate is also required (in English or translated into English). A death certificate indicating cause of death as unknown or pending will not be accepted. Please contact airline for further requirements that apply to the carriage and importation of bodies.

Export regulations:

Prohibited:

• Indian coins which are covered by the Antique and Art Treasure Act of 1972;
• e-cigarettes.

Crew members customs regulations:

Gifts up to a value of INR 1,500.-.Crew members must declare all dutiable goods on the PPL (Private Property List). Import of alcohol and tobacco is not allowed.

Pets:

Pets being (re-)imported by an owner who is transferring residence to India, after a minimum two years of continuous stay abroad:

• import of a max. of two pets per passenger as baggage is allowed only through Bengaluru (BLR), Chennai (MAA), Delhi (DEL), Kolkata (CCU), Mumbai (BOM) and Hyderabad (HYD); and:
• holding a Veterinary health certificate from country of export. The health certificate must contain name/address of the passenger in both country of origin as well as country of arrival. The name of the owner mentioned on the health certificate must match with the name on the ticket; and
• holding a “No Objection Certificate” (NOC) arranged at least 7 days prior to import from the Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS).

Temporary visitors require:

• Import license issued by the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), see www.dgft.gov.in .
  Entry would be possible only from airports where there are Animal Quarantine and Certification Services officers (AQCS) posted for inspection. This would be mentioned on the license;
• Veterinary health certificate, issued by country of export;
• “No Objection Certificate” (NOC) arranged at least 7 days prior to import from the Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS).

Upon arrival all pets will be examined by the Quarantine Officer .

Baggage Clearance regulations:

Baggage is cleared at the first airport of entry in India.

Exempt: baggage of transit passengers with a destination outside India.

Currency

Currency Import regulations:

Local currency (Indian Rupee-INR): up to max. INR 25,000.-.

• not allowed for nationals of Bangladesh or Pakistan residing outside India;
• if arriving from Bhutan or Nepal, only currency notes in denominations of max. INR 100,- are allowed.

Foreign currencies : unlimited. However, amounts exceeding USD 5,000.- (or equivalent) in cash, or USD 10,000.- (or equivalent) in traveler’s cheques must be declared.

Foreign currencies include currency notes, traveler’s cheques, cheques, drafts etc. (Re)exchange only through banks and authorized money exchange points.

Currency Export regulations:

Local currency (Indian Rupee-INR): up to max. INR 25,000.-.

Foreign currencies : up to the amount imported and declared.

Foreign currencies include currency notes, traveler’s cheques, cheques, drafts etc. (Re)exchange only through banks and authorized money exchange points.

Airport Tax

No airport tax is levied on passengers upon embarkation at the airport.

Learn all about regulations for your destination country. From airport tax to be paid on departure, to importing pets, as well as rules on how much currency you may bring into and out of a country.