Oman

New baggage allowance rules for expats travelling to India

Published: 06:02 AM,Feb 05,2026 | EDITED : 11:02 AM,Feb 05,2026

 

 Muscat: The Indian government has raised the limit for passengers bringing duty-free imported goods into India from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000, according to the official statement of the country's Ministry of Finance.   

New rules are expected to simplify procedures, enhance transparency, enable electronic and advanced declarations, and ensure smooth clearance, the statement said.

Under the Baggage Rules, 2026, a resident or a tourist of Indian origin arriving in India other than by land, shall be allowed clearance free of duty articles, up to Rs 75,000, if such articles are carried on the person or in the bona fide accompanied baggage of the passenger.    
The new baggage rules, 2026, came into effect on February 2 and replaced a decade-old baggage rule.    
A tourist of foreign origin, not being an infant, arriving in India, shall be allowed duty-free clearance of articles up to the value of Rs 25,000.  
This limit was Rs 15,000 in the Baggage Rule, 2016.    
In case of a resident or tourist of Indian origin residing abroad for more than one year, on return to India, they shall be allowed duty-free clearance of jewellery up to a weight of 40 grams, if brought by a female passenger.
The limit will be 20 grams if brought by anyone other than a female passenger in bona fide baggage.    
Jewellery, for this Rule, means articles of adornment ordinarily worn by a person, made of gold, silver, platinum, or such other precious metals, whether studded or not.  

The duty-free exemption applies only to personal jewellery. Gold or silver brought in other forms, such as bullion or bars, will be subject to separate rules and must be declared at customs.

 Transfer of residence benefits:

Upto 12 months:  Rupees 150,000

1–2 years: Rupees 300,000 

Above 2 years: Rupees 750,000.

Transfer of residence refers to a resident or tourist of Indian origin, engaged in a profession abroad, who transfers his residence to India. On return, he shall be allowed clearance free of duty.

A foreigner with a valid visa, other than a tourist visa, engaged in any profession in India or transferring his residence to India, on arrival, shall be allowed clearance free of duty.

Special allowances for jewelry have been prescribed solely on a weight basis by removing outdated value caps, under which eligible returning residents/tourists of Indian origin (after stay abroad for more than one year), are allowed to duty-free jewelry purely on a weight basis:

Female: up to 40 grams;

Other than female: up to 20 grams

New provisions for temporary import/Re-import:

The facility of issuance of temporary baggage import certificate or export certificate for temporary carriage of goods brought in or taken out, respectively have been envisioned for hassle-free clearance at arrival and to avoid unnecessary detention of goods.

Consolidated Concessions:

Duty-free import of one laptop (for passengers above 18 years) and pets is incorporated into the rules.