India customs regulations

Duty-free allowance

Residents

For passengers coming from countries other than Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, China or Pakistan:

• Other articles, if stay abroad was more than 3 days, to a value of ₹45000 for passengers 10 years and over, and ₹17000 for passengers under 10 years.
• Other articles, if stay abroad was less than 3 days, to a value of ₹17500 for passengers 10 years and over, and ₹3000 for passengers under 10 years.

For residents coming from Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, China or Pakistan:

• Other articles, if stay abroad was more than 3 days, to a value of ₹6000 for passengers 10 years and over, and ₹1500 for passengers under 10 years.

For all Residents

Tobacco limit

One of following:

• 100 cigarettes;
• 25 cigars;
• or 125 grams tobacco.

Bringing alcohol

• 2 litres of alcoholic beverages.

Cash limit

• Indian currency up to ₹250000.
• Any amount of foreign currency may be brought into India, however amounts over US$5000 in cash and US$10,000 in a combination of cash and travellers cheques must be declared.

Other Goods

• Used personal effects necessary for daily necessities.
• One laptop computer for passengers 18 years or older.

All other Non Resident passengers

Tobacco limit

One of following:

• 200 cigarettes;
• 50 cigars;
• or 250 grams tobacco.

Bringing alcohol

• 2 litres of alcoholic beverage.

Other goods

• Used personal effects and travel souvenirs if they are for personal use, and will leave India when the traveller departs.
• Any amount of foreign currency may be brought into India, however amounts over US$5000 in cash and US$10,000 in a combination of cash and travellers cheques must be declared.

Prohibited items

The following are goods which cannot be brought into the country.

• Firearms.
• Pornographic and obscene materials.
• Maps and literature where Indian external boundaries have been shown incorrectly.
• Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
• Counterfeit goods and goods violating legally enforceable intellectual property rights.
• Chemicals mentioned in Schedule 1 to the Chemical Weapons Convention of U.N. 1993.
• Wildlife and derivative products and endangered species of plants and animals whether live or dead.
• Specified live birds and animals.
• Wild animals, their parts and products.
• Exotic birds, except a few specified species.
• Beef and any beef products.
• Specified sea shells.
• Human skeletons.
• Reptiles skin
• Sex determination kits
• Import of mobile handsets without IMEI number or with all zeros IMEI and CDMA mobile phones without electronic serial number (ESN)/Mobile equipment Identifier (MEID) or with all zeros as ESN/MEID.
• Any other items as notified from time to time.

Restricted items

These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to arrival.

• Radio transmitters not approved for normal usage.
• Arms and ammunition.
• Medicines and drugs.
• Vintage products, replicas of antiques or weapons.
• Whole human blood plasma and certain products derived from human blood.
• Sandalwood, with the exception of handicraft products & oil.
• Multichannel GSM/CDMA receivers, transmitters and transreceivers capable of receiving or transmitting or both in two or more frequencies simultaneously.
• Export and import of Indian currency in excess of permissible limits.
• Dogs and cats may be imported, subject to certain restrictions.
• Passengers travelling with any feline animal must ensure the animal has taken a RT-PCR test within 72 hours prior to arrival in India.