The government on Sunday announced that it has increased the limit for travelers bringing duty-free goods into India ₹50,000 up to ₹75,000, a move aimed at easing travel norms and aligning baggage rules with growing overseas travel and consumption.
Under the Baggage Rules 2026, announced on Sunday, Indian residents and tourists of Indian origin arriving in India by air or sea can bring goods worth up to ₹75,000 without paying any duty if the items are for personal use and are carried with them in their luggage.
“A passenger, including an infant, arriving in India shall be allowed duty exemption on used personal property required for daily necessities and travel souvenirs carried with him or in his bona fide baggage,” the official notification said.
The new baggage rules will come into effect from midnight on February 2, replacing a decade-old regulation.
What are the rules?
Meanwhile, a tourist of foreign origin, but not an infant, arriving in India will be allowed duty-free clearance of items up to the value of ₹25,000. This limit was ₹15,000 in Baggage Rule, 2016.
In case a resident or tourist of Indian origin stays abroad for more than 1 year, he will be allowed duty free clearance of jewelery weighing up to 40 grams on return to India if brought by a woman. The limit will be 20 grams if carried by someone other than a passenger in “bona fide” luggage, meaning their intent should not be to deceive.
Jewelery for the purposes of this rule means ornamental articles ordinarily worn by a person made of gold, silver, platinum or other precious metals, whether studded or not as specified in the notification.
The rules also apply to crew members
These rules will also apply to crew members who are involved in overseas transport, allowing them to import their luggage duty-free at the time of their final pay after their employment ends.
A member of the crew of the vessel or aircraft will also be permitted to bring goods such as chocolate, cheese, cosmetics and other gift items for personal or family use not exceeding the value ₹2,500.
