CUSTOMS

IMPORT REGULATIONS

Pets

Temporary visitors with pets must hold the following:

• An import license issued by the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The licence will specify which airports may be used for entry;
• A Veterinary health certificate issued by country of departure;
• A ‘No Objection Certificate (NOC) arranged at least seven days prior to departure from the Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCD).
• Upon arrival all pets will be examined by the quarantine officer.

Residents of India with pets returning to India after at least two years abroad must meet the following requirements:

• They may import a maximum of two pets per passenger through Bengaluru (BLR), Chennai (MAA), Delhi (DEL), Kolkata (CCU), Mumbai (BOM), or Hyderabad (HYD);
• The owner must hold a veterinary health certificate from their departure. The health certificate must contain the name and address of the passenger in both country of departure 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
• The owner must hold a ‘No Objection Certificate (NOC) arranged at least seven days prior to departure from the Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCD).

Free to Import

Residents

For passengers coming from countries other than Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, 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 ₹17500 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, 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

One of following:

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

Alcohol

• 2 litres of alcoholic beverages.

Currency

• 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.
• Jewellery (residences who have been living abroad for over one year) up to the value of ₹50000 for men and ₹100000 for women.
• Silver or gold (for residences who are returning less than six months after leaving India).

All other Non Resident passengers

Tobacco

One of following:

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

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

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

• Electronic cigarettes.
• Firearms (excluding those planning to transfer their permanent residence to India, who may have one firearm with a valid licence from the local Indian authorities).
• 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

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.

EXPORT REGULATIONS

Free to Export

• Foreign currency can be taken out by tourists as long as it does not exceed the amount brought in with them.

Prohibited

The following are goods which cannot be taken out of the country.

• All items on the prohibited to import list.

Restricted

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

• Passengers travelling to Bhutan and Nepal may carry any amount of Indian currency, however notes no bigger than ₹100 may be taken out of the country.
• Residents of India may take up to ₹7500 of Indian currency out of India.