India duty-free allowance

What arriving travelers can bring into India without paying duty — from official customs guidance.

Alcohol

2 L

Full rule

2 litres of alcoholic liquor or wine within the free allowance

Tobacco

100 cigarettes

or 25 cigars / 125 g

Full rule

100 cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 125g tobacco within the free allowance

Goods & gifts

INR 50,000

residents · INR 15,000 tourists

Full rule

INR 50,000 general free allowance for Indian residents / foreigners residing in India (air arrivals); INR 15,000 for foreign-origin tourists and arrivals from Nepal/Bhutan/Myanmar; infants: used personal effects only

Cash · declare from

USD 5,000+

in notes · USD 10,000 total forex

Full rule

foreign currency NOTES over USD 5,000 or total forex over USD 10,000 must be declared; INR import prohibited for non-residents (residents may carry INR 25,000)

Depends on: resident vs foreign tourist; origin country (Nepal/Bhutan/Myanmar lower); 6-months-abroad rule for dutiable gold (1kg at 13.75%); 1-year-abroad jewellery allowance 20g men / 40g women

Good to know

third-party sources cite 'Baggage Rules 2026' raising allowances to INR 75,000 resident / INR 25,000 tourist, but the official Chennai Customs FAQ still states INR 50,000/15,000 - verify before shipping; gold is a major special case for this corridor

From India's official customs guidance, checked 2026-07-31 ·verify at the source · Guidance, not law — allowances change and the customs officer has the final say. Verify before you fly.

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