Hassle-free customs clearance for travelers to India

Hassle-free Customs clearance for travelers to India- select GREEN or RED CHANNEL depending on the type and value of items carried in your baggage.

For having a hassle-free Customs clearance, for travelers to India a two-channel system is adopted. Passengers are advised to report at the appropriate channel for Customs Clearance. In India, a Customs Green Channel means you are self-declaring that you have no dutiable goods to declare. You will still have to go through a baggage inspection but that could be as simple as an X-Ray machine pass. If something dutiable is found during this fast, simple inspection, your baggage will now be searched thoroughly.

Any person entering India has to pass through a Customs check. The passenger has to declare the contents of his baggage in the prescribed Indian Customs Declaration Form. At airports the passenger has the option of seeking clearance through the Green Channel or through the Red Channel subject to the nature of goods being carried.

However, Green channel passengers must deposit the Customs portion of the disembarkation card to the Customs official at the exit gate before leaving the terminal.

A Red Channel is used when you have something to declare or are not aware whether you have dutiable goods. Any goods which you think might attract Customs duty, any restricted/prohibited goods, any plants, seeds, live animals, foreign currency above $10000, Indian currency above Rs. 25000, any goods whose total value exceeds free allowance, alcohol more than 2 liters, cigarettes more than 1 carton, gold, silver, diamonds, goods in commercial quantity etc. should be cleared on payment of duty through red channel.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

When a customs inspector asks- Do you have anything to declare? what exactly do they mean?

Governments inspect goods and property entering their country, to collect taxes and customs duties and to prevent the entry of forbidden items that can harm people or the country. They usually allow travelers to enter the country with dutiable or forbidden items, without penalty if the items are willingly declared upon arrival. Travelers are subject to penalties or having items confiscated if the inspector finds them as the result of search of the passenger and baggage.

What does “nothing to declare” mean when going through customs?

It means that you do not have any goods with you that are liable for import duty to be paid and that you do not have any goods that need to be inspected or required for duty to be paid. Rather, it means that you are claiming that you do not have any of these things.

In what cases, declaration foreign exchange/currency before the customs officers is to be done?

1.when the value of foreign currency notes exceeds US $ 5000 or equivalent self-declaration is done to the customs
2. when the aggregate value of foreign exchange including currency exceeds US $ 10,000 or equivalent self-declaration is done to the customs.

Who can bring Jewlery as baggage?

An Indian passenger who has been residing abroad for over one year is allowed to bring jewelry, free of duty in his Bonafide baggage up to an aggregate value of Rs. 50,000/- (in the case of a gentleman passenger) or Rs.1,00,000/- (in the case of a lady passenger).

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

Alcoholic drinks and Tobacco product can be carried within the duty-free allowances, admissible to limited quantities mentioned-(1) Alcoholic liquors or Wines up to 2 litres. (2) 100 Cigarettes or 25 Cigars or 125 gms. of Tobacco.

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;

Other Conditions
(i) The duty shall be paid in convertible foreign currency.
(ii) The weight of gold (including ornaments) should not exceed 1 kg. per passenger.
(iii) The passenger can either bring the gold himself at the time of arrival or import the same within fifteen days of his arrival in India as unaccompanied baggage.
(iv) The passenger can also obtain the permitted quantity of gold from Customs bonded warehouse of State Bank of India and Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation subject to conditions (i) and (ii) above.

He is required to file a declaration in the prescribed Form before the Customs Officer at the time of arrival in India stating his intention to obtain the gold from the Customs bonded warehouse and pay the duty before clearance. Value of gold and silver is to be taken as per the Tariff value fixed for the item through notification from time to time.

Who can import silver as baggage?

(a) Any passenger of India origin. holding a valid passport issued under the Passport Act, 1967.

Conditions
(i) The weight of silver (including ornaments) should not exceed the quantity of 10 kgs. per passenger.
(ii) Such passenger is coming to India after a period of not less than six months of stay abroad.
(iii) The duty shall be paid in convertible foreign currency.
(iv) The passenger can either bring the silver himself at the time of arrival or import the same within fifteen days of his arrival in India.
(v) The passenger can also obtain the permitted quantity of silver From Customs bonded warehouse of State Bank of India and Metal and Mineral Trading Corporation subject to conditions (i) and (iii). He is required to file a declaration in the prescribed Form before the Customs Officer at the time of arrival in India stating his intention to obtain the silver from the Customs bonded warehouse and pay the duty before clearance.

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:

(a) Where the value of foreign currency notes exceeds US$ 5,000/- or equivalent
(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

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 up to Rs. Rs. 25,000/- is allowed.

What are the norms for the Import of firearms?

• Import of firearms is strictly prohibited.
• Import of Cartridges in excess of 50 is also prohibited.

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 inventoried. Such baggage is kept in the custody of the Customs.

Whether a passenger can import satellite phone or drone equipment?

Satellite phone& drone equipment is not permitted to be imported except against a license to be issued by the
WPC wing of Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

what is custom check for outgoing PASSENGERS leaving a country??

All the passengers leaving India are subject to clearance by Custom 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 jewelry from the Custom 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, are not affected, when you return.

OTHER INFORMATION

Export of most species of wildlife 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.

Carrying of Indian currency notes in the denomination of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 to Nepal is prohibited. 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/-

As no declaration is required to be made for bringing in foreign exchange / currency not exceeding equivalent of U.S. $ 10,000, 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 without any limit so long as the same has been purchased from an authorized foreign exchange dealer.

what are PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED GOODS?

Certain goods are prohibited (banned) or restricted (subject to certain conditions) for import and/or export. These are goods of social, health, environment, wildlife and security concerns.

goods, that are prohibited

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances.

Pornographic material.

Counterfeit and pirated goods and good infringing any of the legally enforceable intellectual property rights.

Antiquities.

Firearms and ammunition.

Live birds and animals including pets.

Plants and their produce e.g. fruits, seeds.

Endangered species of plants and animals, whether live or dead.

Any goods for commercial purpose: for profit , gain or commercial usage.

Radio transmitters not approved for normal usage.

Gold and Silver, other than ornaments (For import only)

other Prohibited items

PENAL PROVISIONS

Please note that non-declaration, misdeclaration and concealment of imported goods is an offence under the Customs Act which may result in confiscation, fine, penalty and even prosecution”.