Free import by non-residents is only permitted if they enter India for a stay of not less than 24 hours, not more than 6 months, and not more than once a month.
a. persons of 17 years of age and older: 100 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 125 grams of tobacco; 2 liters of alcoholic liquor or wine;
b. medicines in reasonable quantities;
c. 2 ounces of perfume and 1/4 liter of eau de toilette;
d. jewelry, up to a combined value of INR 50,000.- for male travelers or INR 100,000.- for female travelers;
e. travel souvenirs imported by:
– nationals and residents of India or if being of Indian origin and being over 9 years of age:
– if returning from Bhutan, China (People’s Rep.), Myanmar or Nepal: up to INR 6,000.- if stayed outside for more than 3 days. If stayed outside up to 3 days: nil.
– if returning from other countries: up to INR 45,000.- if stayed outside for more than 3 days. If stayed outside up to 3 days: INR 17,500.-.
f. goods for personal use.
Prohibited:
– E-cigarettes;
– Remote controlled drones and helicopters, without a WPC license issued by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology;
– Satellite phones and GPS devices, without specific permission from Department of Telecommunication, Government of India.
Goods in excess of the maximum permitted amount will be subject to an import duty of 60%.
Seeds and plants: the import of seeds and plants for the purpose of sowing, planting and propogation, consumption, research and breeding requires an import permit. Import is restricted to the airports of Amritsar (ATQ), Bengaluru (BLR), Chennai (MMA), Delhi (DEL), Guwahati (GAU), Kolkata (CCU), Mumbai (BOM), Patna (PAT), Hyderabad (HYD), Thiruvananthapuram (TRV), Tiruchchirapalli (TRZ), Varanasi (VNS).
Livestock and livestock products: the import of these, by any means including cargo or baggage is restricted and requires a sanitary import permit, as well as a “No Objection Certificate” (NOC). A NOC must be obtained in advance from the Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS). Products include:
– meat and meat products of all kinds of fresh, chilled and frozen meat, tissue or organs;
– egg and egg powder;
– milk and milk products;
– bovine, ovine and caprine embryos, ova or semen;
– pet foods of animal origin;
– gelatin, fur, animal skin, wool, leather, carpets, horns, bone and bone grist, feathers, shuttle cock etc.
Prohibited: the following livestock and livestock products:
– all kinds of birds and bird products (incl. eggs, feathers, meat etc.); and
– pigs and pig meat products.
A minimum of 48 hours is required by the Airport Health Office for the importation of human remains or ashes. A death certificate is also required (in English or translated into English). A death certificate indicating cause of death as unknown or pending will not be accepted. Please contact airline for further requirements that apply to the carriage and importation of bodies.
1. Local currency (Indian Rupee-INR): up to max. INR 25,000.-.
a. not allowed for nationals of Bangladesh or Pakistan residing outside India;
b. if arriving from Bhutan or Nepal, only currency notes in denominations of max. INR 100,- are allowed.
2. Foreign currencies : unlimited. However, amounts exceeding USD 5,000.- (or equivalent) in cash, or USD 10,000.- (or equivalent) in traveler’s cheques must be declared.
Foreign currencies include currency notes, traveler’s cheques, cheques, drafts etc. (Re)exchange only through banks and authorized money exchange points.