Customs Baggage Rules 2026: Higher Duty-Free Allowance for Indians Returning from Abroad, Gold Import Limit Revised

New Delhi: Indian travelers returning from abroad can now bring more goods without paying customs duty. The government has increased the duty-free allowance by ₹25,000, effective immediately. This change applies to Indian residents and tourists arriving via air or sea.

What the Government Decided

The Ministry of Finance announced on social media that the Baggage Rules, 2026 have been notified. Under the new rules, Indian residents returning from abroad can bring goods worth up to ₹75,000 duty-free. This means travelers will not have to pay any customs tax on foreign goods up to this value.

Previous Allowance

Earlier, under the Baggage Rules, 2016, the duty-free limit was ₹50,000. The new rules, effective from 2 February 2026 midnight, supersede the old regulations and apply to Indian-origin travelers arriving via air or sea (not by land).

Higher Limits for Foreign Tourists

The government has also increased the duty-free allowance for foreign tourists. Non-infant foreign tourists visiting India can now bring goods worth up to ₹25,000 duty-free, up from the previous limit of ₹15,000.

Revised Limits for NRIs

For Indian residents or Indian-origin travelers who have been abroad for extended periods, the duty-free limits have been revised as follows:

• 12 months abroad: ₹1.5 lakh worth of goods duty-free
• 1–2 years abroad: ₹3 lakh duty-free
• Over 2 years abroad: ₹7.5 lakh duty-free

Gold Import Rules for Long-Term Residents

Special provisions apply to gold and other precious metals for Indian residents returning after one year or more abroad. Female travelers can bring up to 40 grams of gold or other precious metal jewelry duty-free. Other travelers can bring up to 20 grams duty-free. Jewelry includes decorative items normally worn by travelers, made of gold, silver, platinum, or other precious metals, and may or may not include precious stones.

This revision in customs baggage rules provides greater flexibility for travelers and encourages the regulated import of goods and jewelry from abroad.