FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Passenger related)

1.  What are the Channels of Clearance?

There are two Channels for Customs Clearance:

• Green Channel for passengers not having any dutiable goods
• Red Channel for passengers having dutiable goods

2. What is the limit for Duty Free Allowance?
3. a) The ‘Duty Free Allowance’ for an Indian resident / foreigner residing in India / a tourist of Indian origin, not being an infant and arriving from any country other than Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar is Rs. 50,000/- including two litres of alcoholic liquor/wine and 100 Cigarettes or 25 Cigars or 125 gms of tobacco.

b)The ‘Duty Free Allowance’ for an Indian resident / foreigner residing in India / a tourist of Indian origin, not being an infant and arriving from Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar is Rs. 15,000/-.

c)The ‘Duty Free Allowance’ for a tourist of foreign origin, not being an infant entering into India is Rs. 15,000/-.

1. d) For Infants, of all the above three categories, only used personal effects shall be allowed duty free. Infant means a child not more than 2 years of age.
2. e) No pooling. It may also be noted that the duty free allowances of two or more passengers cannot be added up (pooled or combined). In other words, each passenger is considered to be travelling separately with his/her own baggage and the duty is assessed on an individual basis not on the basis of a group or a family.
3. f) Flat Panel Television (LCD / LED / Plasma) is chargeable to Customs duty at 38.5 % and is not part of the Duty Free Allowances mentioned above.

3.  Who can bring Jewellery as baggage?

An Indian passenger who has been residing abroad for over one year is allowed to bring jewellery, free of duty in his bonafide baggage upto an aggregate value of Rs. 50,000/- (in the case of a male passenger) or Rs. 100,000/- (in the case of a lady passenger).

4.  What are the norms for the import of Alcoholic drinks / Cigarettes as baggage?

Following quantities of Alcoholic drinks and Tobacco products may be included for import within the duty free allowances admissible to various categories of incoming passengers:

Alcoholic liquors or Wines upto 2 litre, 100 Cigarettes or 25 Cigars or 125 gms. of Tobacco.

The rate of duty applicable on these products over and above the above mentioned free allowance is as under:

• Cigarettes @ 256%
• Whisky @ 150%.

• Beer @ 110%

5.  Who can import gold as baggage?

Any passenger of Indian Origin or a passenger holding a valid passport, issued under the Passport Act, 1967, who is coming to India after a period of not less than six months of stay abroad. Short visits, if any, made by the passenger during the aforesaid period of six months shall be ignored if the total duration of stay on such visits does not exceed thirty days.

Other Conditions

• The duty shall be paid in convertible foreign currency
• The weight of gold (including ornaments) should not exceed 1 kg. per passenger.

RATE OF DUTY

The rate of duty applicable on Gold is 13.75% for eligible passengers. (Value of gold would be taken as per Tariff value fixed through notification from time to time).

6.  Who can import silver as baggage?

Any passenger of Indian Origin or a passenger holding a valid passport, issued under the Passport Act, 1967, who is coming to India after a period of not less than six months of stay abroad. Short visits, if any, made by the passenger during the aforesaid period of six months shall be ignored if the total duration of stay on such visits does not exceed thirty days.

Other Conditions

• The weight of the silver (including ornaments) should not exceed the quantity of 10 kgs. per passenger.

• The rate of duty applicable on Silver is 13.75% for eligible passengers. (Value of Silver to be taken as per Tariff value fixed through notification from time to time).

7.  What are the norms for Import of Foreign Exchange / Currency?

Any person can bring into India from a place outside India foreign exchange without any limit. However, declaration of foreign exchange/currency is required to be made in the prescribed Currency Declaration Form in the following cases:

• Where the value of foreign currency notes exceeds US$ 5000/- or equivalent.
• Where the aggregate value of foreign exchange (in the form of currency notes, bank notes, traveller cheques etc.) exceeds US$ 10,000/- or its equivalent

8.   What are the norms for the Import of Indian Currency?

Import of Indian Currency is prohibited. However, in the case of passengers normally resident in India who are returning from a visit abroad, import of Indian Currency upto Rs. 25,000 is allowed.

9.   While coming into India how much foreign exchange can be brought in by NRIs?

An NRI coming into India from abroad can bring with him foreign exchange without any limit provided if foreign currency notes, travellers cheques, etc. exceed US$ 10,000/ – or its equivalent and/or the value of foreign currency exceeds US$ 5,000/- or its equivalent, it should be declared to the Customs Authorities at the Airport in the Currency Declaration Form (CDF), on arrival in India.

10.  What are the norms for the Import of firearms?

• Import of firearms is prohibited.
• Import of Cartridges in excess of 50 numbers is also prohibited.
• However, import of 0.177 bore air guns and air pistols will be free for shooters registered with Rifle Clubs or District/State/National Rifles Association. Free import of 0.177 bore air guns and air. For further details, Chapter 93 of the Import Policy may be referred. https://dgft.gov.in/sites/default/files/chap93.pdf

11.  What are the norms for the Import of Pet Animals?

Domestic pets (only dogs and cats) are permitted to be imported upto two numbers per passenger who has stayed abroad continuously for 2 years and is transferring his/her residence, subject to production of required health certificate from country of origin and examination of the said pets by the animal quarantine officer. (Please refer to the CBIC Circular No. 15/2013-Cus dated 08.04.2013)

12.  What is Detained Baggage?

A passenger may request the Customs to detain his baggage either for re-export at the time of his departure from India or for clearance subsequently on payment of duty.

The detained baggage would be examined and full details will be inventorised.

Such baggages are kept in the custody of the Customs.

13.  What am I supposed to do in case of Mishandled Baggage?

In case the baggage has been lost or mishandled by the Airlines, a simplified procedure is in place for clearance of such baggage which allows the passenger to have delivery of his baggage at his door step by the Airlines.

There is no need to handover the passport or the keys of the baggage to the airlines. The passenger has to first file a property irregularity report (PIR) with the airlines for the missing baggage. At the same time, he has to file a declaration indicating contents in the missing baggage. The passenger is required to obtain a certificate to that effect from the airlines and get it countersigned by Customs. The passenger is required to submit all these documents with the concerned airlines for clearance and delivery of goods on his behalf.

In case of any examination in relation to dutiable goods/ restricted items, such examination of the mishandled baggage would be carried out in the presence of the passenger.

14.  What are the norms for clearance of Airlines Crew members?

Crew members are required to submit the correct declaration before Customs authorities with respect to the currency gold ornaments and electronic goods etc. in their possession on departure as well as arrival. Crew member is allowed to bring items like chocolates, cheese, cosmetics and other petty gift items for their personal or family use upto a value of Rs. 1500 only on their return from foreign journey.

15.  Whether a passenger can import satellite phone?

As per Board’s Circular No. 37/2010-Customs dated 24.09.2010 any kind of satellite phone in India is permissible only after obtaining a licence from the Department of Telecommunication. Unauthorised use of satellite phone in India attracts penal provisions under section 20 & 21 of Telegraph Act, 1885 for violation of provisions of section 4 of the said act.

16.  What should you do when you leave India for 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 the 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 you are entitled to, when you return are not affected.

As regards jewellery, the passenger is required to avail the services of a licensed goldsmith before the departure day itself and produce the certificate/ photos certified by the goldsmith before the departure terminal officer for getting the export certificate while travelling abroad.

LIST OF AUTHORISED VALUERS FOR JEWELLERY

OTHER INFORMATION

#Export of most species of wild life and articles made from wild flora and fauna, such as ivory, musk, reptile skins, furs etc. is prohibited.

#Trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is prohibited.

#Exports of goods purchased against foreign exchange brought in by foreign passengers are allowed except for prohibited goods.

#Export of Indian Currency is strictly prohibited. However Indian residents when they go abroad are allowed to take with them Indian currency not exceeding Rs. 25,000/

#Tourists while leaving India are allowed to take with them foreign currency not exceeding an amount brought in by them at the time of their arrival in India. As no declaration is required to be made for bringing in foreign exchange / currency not exceeding equivalent of U.S. $ 10000, 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 as per RBI Master Circular no. 6/ 2015-16 dated July 1, 2015.

# Any passenger of Indian origin coming to India after a period of not less than six months of stay abroad is eligible to import 1 Kg of Gold / 10 Kgs of Silver on payment of the prevailing import duty in “convertible foreign currency”.

# Any Indian passenger who has been residing abroad for more than a year is allowed to bring jewellery free of duty, upto a weight of 40 grams with a value cap of Rs 1,00,000/- in case of a lady passenger and upto a weight of 20 grams with a value cap of Rs 50,000/- in case of a gentleman passenger.

# For Currency: Passengers should fill the ‘Currency Declaration Form’ (available with Customs), in the following cases:

1. Where the value of foreign currency notes exceed US$ 5,000/- or equivalent.
2. Where the aggregate value of foreign exchange including currency notes, bank notes or travelers cheques exceeds US $ 10,000/- or equivalent.

# Import of Indian Currency is prohibited, however, the passengers normally resident in India are permitted to carry with them Indian Currency upto Rs 25,000/-.

# Import of Goods in commercial quantity / Narcotic Drugs and Psycotropic Substances / Wild life and its products / Meat and meat products / fish / Dairy products / poultry products / Seeds / Plants /Fruits / Flowers and other planting material / Satellite phone / Gold and Silver / arms & ammunition/ drones, are prohibited/restricted. Attempting to import these goods illegally will lead to ‘PENAL CONSEQUENCES’, including ‘ARREST/PROSECUTION’.

# Passengers having prohibited goods / restricted goods/goods in commercial quantity/ goods in excess of the ‘DUTY FREE ALLOWANCES’ mentioned above should declare the same at the “RED CHANNEL’ counters.

# Persons transferring their residence to India after two years of continuous stay abroad are allowed import of two pets as baggage (only dogs & cats) subject to production of required Health Certificate from the Country of Origin and examination of the pets by the Quarantine Officer at this end.

# Crew members are allowed in their baggage only gift items/souvenirs such as Chocolates, Perfumes, etc., upto the maximum value of Rs.1,500/-.

# Passengers whose baggage is found to be mis-handled (Not delivered) on arrival, should ensure getting a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) issued by the Airlines and obtain the Customs endorsement on it.

# In case of any difficulty / clarification, please contact the Public Relations Officer (PRO) available on duty in the arrival