The new baggage rules, 2026, come into effect from midnight on February 2 and replace a decade-old baggage rule.
Key Points
- New Baggage Rules, 2026, replace decade-old rules and are effective from February 2.
- Duty-free allowance for foreign tourists increased from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000.
- Duty-free jewellery allowance for returning residents is 40 grams for female passengers and 20 grams for others.
The government on Sunday raised the limit for passengers bringing duty-free imported goods into India from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000.
Under the Baggage Rules, 2026, notified on Sunday, 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, come into effect from midnight on February 2 and replace a decade-old baggage rule.
Duty-free allowance for foreign tourists increased
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 1 year, on return to India, shall be allowed duty-free clearance of jewellery upto 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 the purpose of 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.
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