What are the process in India on handbag and accompanied baggage clearance?
Customs guidelines under Indian Customs Manual 2023 clarify the following for international passengers arriving to India and leaving from India:
How to get the list of prohibited items, restricted items, list of endangered species in India?
Are items like flora and fauna such as ivory, musk, reptile skins, furs, antiques allowed to bring to India or can be taken out of India?
What are the dos and don’ts for Indian passengers? What are the Indian customs guidelines to international travelers?
What is Green Channel and Red channel under international passengers clearance in India?
How much amount of duty is exempted for International Passengers to India on arrival from foreign country for accompanied baggage?
Can an International passenger bring alcoholic liquor to Indian ports? How many liters of alcoholic liquor can be brought to India for an international passenger? Is cigarettes allowed to bring to India for international passenger? Is wines allowed to bring to India for an international passenger along with baggage?
Is an International passenger to India required to pay duty against firearms, cartridges of firearms, cigarettes, cigars, tobacco or alcoholic liquor and wines that is in excess of what is allowed within the free allowance, gold or silver?
Can an international passenger to India bring gold, silver or jewellery ? If yes, How much? What are the guidelines from Indian customs?
What are the TR rules (Transfer of Residence) for India International passenger baggage rules?
Are Personal and Household articles of deceased person allowed to bring to India? What the procedures?
What the process and formalities in India under customs clearance of unaccompanied baggage for international passengers to India?
Are there any restrictions from India government to bring foreign exchange to India? What is the process in Indian customs?
What are the Indian rules and regulations to handle Indian Currency (INR) for international passengers ?
What are the Procedures and formalities in India under import of fire arms as baggage clearance (restricted goods)
How to bring pet animals as baggage clearance to India?
How do Indian customs handle detained baggage?
What are the process of Indian customs to handle mishandled baggage?
What is the departing passenger clearance process in India?
Can an International passenger carry gold and jwellery to out of India as baggage?
Can an International passenger in India carry currency out of India as baggage clearance?
The Chapter 26 of Indian Customs Manual 2023 updated till 31st December, 2022 explains in details about the following:
Customs Clearance process of arriving passengers in India
Duty free allowances and entitlements for Indian Residents and Foreigners Residing in India
Import of jewellery/gold/silver to India
Allowances and entitlements on Transfer of Residence (TR), Indian procedures
India rules for Import of baggage of deceased person
Import of unaccompanied baggage, Indian customs process
Rules related to Import of foreign exchange or currency
Import of Indian currency, Indian government rules
Indian Customs process on Import of fire arms as baggage
Import of pet animals as baggage, Indian customs rules
Detained baggage explained under Customs Manual of India
Mishandled baggage, what is the process in India customs
Explaining Clearance of departing passengers under Indian customs rules
Indian customs guidelines on Export of gold jewellery as baggage
Export of currency explained under India government rules
Customs Baggage Declaration Form, Indian customs process
Application of Baggage Rules to members of the crew under Customs guidelines of India 2023
Setting up of Help Desk, explained under Customs Manual of India, 2022
Chapter 26: International Passenger Facilitation
1. Introduction:
1.1 Customs is mandated to ensure passengers entering or leaving India carry on person/handbag or
accompanied baggage, goods in accordance with the permissible quantity/value and legal
provisions and do not attempt to smuggle prohibited or banned or sensitive goods. Also, all
passengers including businessmen, trade delegations, professionals expect speedy Customs
clearance. Thus, Customs officials at the airports have a challenging role of ensuring quick
clearance and passenger facilitation, as well as enforcing the Customs Act, 1962 and various
allied laws that protect the interests of society/economy/revenue.
1.2 Over the time Indian Customs have aligned its procedures in tune with the best international
practices in terms of duty free baggage allowances and other facilities and procedures. Steps have
also been taken to educate general public and incoming and outgoing passengers of the extant
Customs rules and regulations. In this direction Customs prominently display the relevant
provisions/baggage allowances and list of prohibited/restricted items (endangered species or
articles made from flora and fauna such as ivory, musk, reptile skins, furs, shahtoosh, antiques,
satellite phones, etc.) at all international airport, with the “dos and don’ts” for benefit of passengers.
A booklet on “Customs Guide to Travelers” is also brought out periodically and circulated at
airports as well as to our Embassies/Consulates abroad. Passenger related Customs information
is also made available on the CBIC's web-site www.cbic.gov.in.
2. Clearance of arriving passengers:
2.1 Airlines generally provide the Customs Baggage Declaration Form to the passengers in the aircraft
itself. All passengers who come to India and have anything to declare or are carrying dutiable or
prohibited goods must fill up the same clearly mentioning the quantity and value of goods brought.
On landing, the passenger takes delivery of baggage, if any, from the conveyer belt and
approaches the Customs where the passenger exercises the option of seeking clearance through
the Green Channel or through the Red Channel.
2.2 The Green Channel or Walk Through Channel applies to passengers who have nothing to declare
and are carrying dutiable goods within the prescribed free allowance. On the basis of their Oral
Declaration/Declaration on Customs Baggage Declaration Form such passengers cross the Green
Channel without any question being asked by Customs and exit the airport after handing over the
Customs Baggage Declaration Form to the Customs Officer/Sepoy at the exit.
2.3 The Red Channel is meant for passengers who have something to declare or are carrying goods
in excess of the duty free allowance. The passenger hands over Customs Baggage Declaration
Form to the officer on duty at this Channel. In case the Form is incomplete the Customs Officer
helps record the Oral Declaration (O.D) of the passenger and thereafter countersigns/stamps the
same, after taking the passenger's signature. In order to identify the frequent “short visit”
passengers the Customs Officer also scrutinizes the passport/ other travel documents of the
passengers. The declaration of goods and their values is generally accepted and duty assessed.
On payment of applicable duty the passenger is allowed clearance.
2.4 Any passenger found walking through the Green Channel with dutiable/prohibited goods or found
mis declaring the quantity, description or value of dutiable goods at the “Red Channel” (the
baggage is examined where misdeclaration is suspected), is liable to strict penal action including
arrest/prosecution apart from seizure/confiscation of the offending goods depending upon gravity
of violation detected. In case the passenger brings any goods in baggage that are essentially for
commerce and not for personal use, or imports goods in commercial quantity, these goods
become liable to confiscation and the passenger liable to strict penal action. Only bonafide
baggage items for personal use or use by members of his family are allowed to be imported as
baggage. In case of frequent “short visit” passengers and repeat offenders, the Customs officers
would impose higher levels of fines and penalties and for deterrent effect even consider
prosecution in a Court of law.
Refer Circular No. 08/2016-Customs dated 08.03.2018
3. Duty free allowances and entitlements for Indian Residents and Foreigners Residing in
India:
3.1 The duty free entitlement of passengers “Indian resident or a foreigner residing in India or a tourist
of Indian origin, not being an infant” includes articles in his bona fide baggage i.e. used personal
effects (excluding required for satisfying the daily necessities of life, and travel souvenirs. In
addition, articles other than those mentioned in Annexure I of the Baggage Rules, 2016 valued at
up to Rs. 50,000/- are allowed free of duty if carried as accompanied baggage of such passenger.
However, a tourist of foreign origin is allowed articles other than those mentioned in Annexure I
valued at up to Rs. 15,000/- free of duty if carried as accompanied baggage.
Passengers i.e. an Indian resident or a foreigner residing in India or a tourist, not being an infant
arriving from Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar, by routes other than by land, the free allowance for
articles other than those mentioned in Annexure I is Rs. 15,000/- and for such passengers arriving
by land, only used personal effects shall be allowed duty free. An infant passenger (child not more
than two years of age) shall be allowed only personal effects duty free.
The free allowance of a passenger shall not be allowed to pool with the free allowance of any other
passenger.
3.2 In addition to the above, such passengers are allowed the following quantities of tobacco products
and alcohols within the aforesaid duty free allowances:
(i) 100 cigarettes sticks or 25 cigars or 125 gms tobacco.
(ii) Alcoholic liquor and wines upto 2 litres.
3.3 The items that are not allowed free of duty include firearms, cartridges of firearms, cigarettes/
cigars/ tobacco or alcoholic liquor and wines that is in excess of what is allowed within the free
allowance, gold or silver, in any form(other than ornaments) unless specified otherwise.
3.4 The bonafide baggage items that are in excess of the duty free allowance can be cleared on
payment of a uniform rate of Customs duty that is currently @35%+ Cess, as applicable, except
for items like liquor, cigarette etc. that are charged to a higher rate of duty as applicable to imports
other than as baggage.
3.5 Duty free baggage allowances and entitlements for Indian Residents and Foreigners Residing in
India has been disallowed in respect of Flat Panel (LCD/LED/Plasma) Television. [Refer
Notification No. 84/2013-Cus(N.T.), dated 19-8-2013]
4. Import of jewellery/gold/silver:
An Indian passenger who has been residing abroad for over 1 year is allowed to bring jewellery,
free of duty, in bonafide baggage upto a weight of twenty grams with a value cap ofRs.50,000/- in
the case of a male passenger or forty grams with a value cap of Rs.1 lakh in the case of a lady
passenger.
5. Allowances and entitlements on Transfer of Residence (TR):
A person who is engaged in a profession abroad, or is transferring his residence to India shall, on
return, be allowed clearance free of duty in addition to what he is allowed under Rule 3 or as the
case may be, under Rule 4, articles in his bonafide baggage to the extent mentioned in column (2)
subject to the conditions, if any, as mentioned in column (3) and the relaxation to the extent
mentioned in column 4 of the given Appendix in Baggage Rules,2016 given as per Notification No.
30/2016-Customs (N.T.) dated 1.3.2016 as amended by Notification No. 43/2016-Customs
(N.T)dated 31.3.2016 read with corrigendum dated. 1.4.2016.
6. Import of baggage of deceased person:
6.1 In terms of Notification No.21/2002-Cus, dated 1-3-2002 used, bonafide personal and household
articles of a deceased person are allowed free of duty subject to the condition that a certificate
from the concerned Indian Embassy / High Commission is produced regarding the ownership of
the goods by the deceased person.
7. Import of unaccompanied baggage:
7.1 The unaccompanied baggage is required to have been in the possession abroad of the passenger
and dispatched within 1 month of his/her arrival in India or within such further period as the
Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of Customs may allow. The unaccompanied baggage may land
in India upto 2 months before arrival of the passenger or within such period, not exceeding 1 year,
as may be permitted by the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of Customs by recording the reasons
if he is satisfied that the passenger was prevented from arriving in India within the period of 2
months due to circumstances beyond his control which necessitated a change in the travel
schedule of the passenger.
7.2 No free allowance is admissible in respect of unaccompanied baggage, which is charged the
normal baggage rate of duty (35% ad valorem + GST+ Cess, at present).
8. Import of foreign exchange/currency:
8.1 Any person can bring into 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:
(a) Where the value of foreign currency notes exceeds US$ 5000/- or equivalent; and
(b) Where the aggregate value of foreign exchange (in the form of currency notes, bank notes,
traveler cheques etc.) exceeds US$10,000/- or its equivalent.
9. Import of Indian currency:
9.1 The import of Indian currency is prohibited, however, passengers i.e. any person resident in India
who are returning from a visit abroad (other than from Nepal and Bhutan) may bring Indian
currency not exceeding Rs.25000/-.
9.2 A person resident outside India, not being a citizen of Pakistan and Bangladesh and also not a
traveller coming from and going to Pakistan and Bangladesh, and visiting India, may bring notes
of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes up to an 25,000 (Rupees twenty five
thousand only) while entering only through an airport [Refer Circular No 3/2015- Customs, dated
16.01.2015]
10. Import of fire arms as baggage:
10.1 Import of firearms is strictly prohibited. Import of cartridges in excess of 50 is also prohibited.
However, in the case of persons transferring their residence (as per conditions specified in the
rules) to India for a minimum period of 1 year, one firearm of permissible bore can be allowed to
be imported subject to the conditions that:
(i) The firearm was in possession and use abroad by the passenger for a minimum period of 1
year and also subject to the condition that such firearm, after clearance, shall not be sold,
loaned, transferred or otherwise parted with before 10 years of import of such firearm;
(ii) The firearm is subjected to applicable duty; and
(iii) The passenger has a valid arms licence from the local authorities in India.
10.2 The facility is import of firearm through baggage route under transfer of residence shall be
available only once in the lifetime.
10.3 Passengers importing a firearm as baggage on transfer of residence are permitted to dispose the
same after 10 years of import. The disposal will be to persons legally entitled to possess the
firearm. The condition that no disposal can take place till ten years of import may be endorsed on
the arms licence of the passenger at the time of granting the facility under transfer of residence.
[Refer Circular No.4/2013-Cus, dated 15-1-2013]
11. Import of pet animals as baggage:
11.1 Import of domestic pets like dogs, cats, birds etc. (two numbers) is allowed as baggage only by
persons transferring their residence to India after two years of continuous stay abroad subject to
production of the required health certificate from the country of origin and examination of said pets
by the concerned Quarantine Officer at this end.
11.2 Re-import of pets as baggage is allowed subject to establishment of identity of pets by Customs
authorities, production of the required health certificate from the country of export and examination
of said pets by the concerned Quarantine Officer at this end.
[Refer Circular No.15/2013-Cus, dated 8-4-2013, Circular No. 25/2013-Cus dated
01.07.2013]
12. Detained baggage:
12.1 There may be occasions when the passenger is not in a position to clear his baggage for any
reason e.g. inability to pay the Customs duty demanded. In such a situation, the 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 its full details inventoried before being taken in the custody of Customs.
13. Mishandled baggage:
13.1 There are numerous occasions when passenger baggage gets lost or mishandled by the Airlines.
In all such cases the passenger is required to obtain a certificate to that effect from the airlines
and get it countersigned by Customs indicating specifically the unutilized portion of the free
allowance. This would enable the passenger to avail the unutilised portion of the duty free
allowance when his baggage is delivered by the airlines.
14. Clearance of departing passengers:
14.1 On the departure side, the principal task of Customs is enforcement related. These include checks
to prevent narcotic drug trafficking, smuggling of other sensitive items such as Indian including
foreign currency, wild life products, antiques etc. Customs also plays an important role in
facilitating the re-import of the high valued articles including jewelry, being carried out of the
country by issuing to the departing passengers a re-export certificate.
15. Export of gold jewellery as baggage:
15.1 There is no value limit on the export of gold jewellery by a passenger through the medium of
baggage so long as it constitutes the bonafide baggage of the passenger
16. Export of currency:
16.1 Export of Indian currency is strictly prohibited. However, Indian residents going abroad are allowed
to carry Indian currency not exceeding Rs.25,000/-
16.2 Indians going abroad are permitted to take with them foreign currency without any limit so long as
the same has been purchased from an authorized foreign exchange dealer
16.3 Tourists while leaving India are allowed to take with them foreign currency not exceeding the
amount brought in by them at the time of their arrival in India.
16.4 A person resident outside India, not being a citizen of Pakistan and Bangladesh and also not
traveller coming from and going to Pakistan and Bangladesh, and visiting India may take outside
India notes of Government of India and Reserve Bank of India notes up to an amount not
exceeding Rs. 25,000 (Rupees twenty five thousand only while exiting only through an airport.
[Refer Circular No 3/2015- Customs, dated 16.01.2015]
17. Customs Baggage Declaration Form:
17.1 The Customs Baggage Declaration Regulations, 2013 which is notified to be effective from 1-3-
2014 prescribes a Baggage Declaration Form that will be required to be filled up by all incoming
passengers. This new Form has been necessitated on account of the BOI/ MHA deciding to
dispense with the common Immigration/Customs declaration form.
[Refer Notifications No. 90/2013-Cus(N.T.), dated 29-8-2013,No.133/2013-Cus(N.T.), dated
30-12-2013, No. 30/2016- Customs (N.T.), dated the 01.03.2016, No. 31/2016Customs dated
01-03-2016, No. 43/2016- Customs dated 31.03.2016 and Circular No. 5/2014- Cus., dated
27-2-2014 ]
18. Application of Baggage Rules to members of the crew.
1) These rules shall also apply to the members of the crew engaged in a foreign going
conveyance for importation of their baggage at the time of final pay off on termination of their
engagement.
2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), a member of crew of a vessel or an
aircraft other than those referred to in sub-rule(1), shall be allowed to bring articles like
chocolates, cheese, cosmetics and other petty gift items for their personal or family use
which shall not exceed the value of one thousand and five hundred rupees.
19. Setting up of Help Desk:
19.1 For a renewed emphasis on improving the efficiency of Customs officers as well as their behaviour
towards international passengers, it was decided that:
(i) The Chief Commissioners of Customs with international airports in their charge shall ensure
that every Customs officer newly posted at the international airports mandatorily undergoes
training in the relevant rules and regulations as well as in the manner of dealing with
international passengers. The emphasis should be on sensitizing the Customs officers to
deal with all arriving passengers and especially international passengers in a polite,
professional and pro-active facilitative manner. These training programmes should be
repeated on 6-monthly intervals. Since multiple agencies function at international airports, it
would also be useful to coordinate interactive sessions involving officials of other agencies
so that collectively a good impression is made on international passengers. The Chief
Commissioner of Customs should coordinate these training programmes with NACEN, but
should also take initiative to organize in-house programmes. ‘
(ii) Customs should set up a “Help Desk” in a prominent place immediately after immigration in
the arrival hall and similarly in the departure hall of international airports. There should also
be a signboard to guide the international passengers to the “Help Desk”. Further, the
Customs officer(s) manning the “Help Desk” should be properly selected and must have in
his/her possession required forms and information to guide international passengers.
Refer Instruction dated 19-9-2014
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