Tourist

BAGGAGE RULES FOR TOURISTS

These rules are not applicable to Tourists of Nepalese and Bhutanese origin coming from these countries.

"WHO IS A TOURIST”

A Tourist is a passenger

a)    who is not normally a resident in India;
b)    who enters India for a stay of not more than six months in the course of any twelve months period for legitimate non-immigrant purposes, such as Touring / Recreation  / Sports / Health / Family reasons / Study / Religious pilgrimage / Business.

ITEMS ALLOWED DUTY-FREE

Personal Effects

All your personal effects like clothing and other articles new or used which you reasonably require, excluding merchandise for commercial purposes will be allowed free of duty.  Personal effects, which are not consumed during your stay in India are required to be taken back on leaving the country.

GIFTS (FREE ALLOWANCE FOR TOURISTS)

A Tourist of foreign origin visiting India can bring articles up to a value of Rs. 4000/- (Rupees Four Thousand) free of duty [Rs. 12,000/- (Rupees Twelve Thousand) for tourists of Indian Origin] which are intended as gifts, or even for personal use.

CIGARETTES, CIGARS, TOBACCO, ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS 

Tourists whether of foreign or Indian origin, are allowed the following items duty-free

(a)    200 sticks of cigarettes or 50 sticks of cigars or 250 gms of Tobacco
(b)    Alcoholic Liquor & wine upto 1 litre each

SPECIAL CONCESSIONS FOR TOURISTS OF INDIAN ORIGIN TO BRING ARTICLES ON PAYMENT OF DUTY

Tourists of Indian origin can also import items of personal and household effects for presentation as gifts and souvenirs, and such articles which are in excess of the free allowance or which cannot be cleared under free allowance can be cleared on payment of duty at prevailing rates

FOREIGN EXCHANGE/CURRENCY FOR TOURISTS

You are not allowed to take out or bring into India, any Indian Currency, as export and import of Indian Currency without permission of the Reserve Bank, is prohibited Declaration of Foreign Exchange/Currency is required to be made before the Customs Officer in the following cases.

i.   Where the value of the Foreign Currency notes exceeds US$ 5,000 or equivalent.
ii.  Where the aggregate value of Foreign Exchange including (i) above exceeds US$ 10,000 or its equivalent.

MISHANDLED BAGGAGE

Steps to be taken in the case of the baggage being mishandled certificate from the Airlines regarding mishandled baggage has to be produced to Customs. A Property Irregularity Report from the Customs specifically indicating the unutilized portion of the free allowance will be endorsed on the certificate issued by the Airlines Import of firearms as baggage is prohibited. Taking out exotic birds, wild orchids and other wildlife (both flora and fauna) is prohibited. Possession of narcotic drugs is strictly prohibited.  The quantum of punishment will be decided in accordance with the law of the country where the passenger is caught carrying such drugs.  The punishment can extend to even death sentence.

PLEASE ALSO 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.
                                                                                                                                          

1          Any person may bring into India from any place outside India without limit, foreign exchange (other than unissued notes) provided such person on arrival in India, makes a declaration to the Customs Authorities in a Currency Declaration Form.

2.                   However, it shall not be necessary to make such a declaration where the aggregate value of the foreign exchange in the form of currency notes/bank notes or traveler’s cheques brought in by such person at any one time does not exceed US$ 10,000 (US Dollars Ten Thousand) or its equivalent and/or the aggregate value of foreign currency notes brought in by such person at any one time does not exceed US$ 5,000 (US$ Five Thousand) or its equivalent.

3.                   Any person may take or send out of India

               i.  Cheques drawn on foreign currency account maintained in accordance with FEMA Regulations,
               ii.  2000 foreign exchange obtained by him by drawal from an authorized person in accordance with the rules and regulations.
              iii.  currency in the safes of vessels or aircrafts brought into India or which has been taken on board a vessel or aircraft with the permission of the Reserve Bank.

      4.         Any person may take out of India.

i.     Foreign exchange possessed by him in accordance with FEMA Regulations, 2000

ii.    Unspent foreign exchange brought back by him to India while returning from travel abroad and retained in accordance with the FEMA Regulations, 2000

      5.       Any person resident outside India may take out of India unspent foreign exchange not exceeding the amount brought in by him and declared in accordance with (1) and (2) above

6.       Any person resident in India

      7.         No person shall take or send out of India, the Indian coins which are covered by the Antique and  Art Treasure Act, 19728.Any person may

CURRENCY DECLARATION FORM (CDF)

Instructions for passengers

1.                   This form need not be completed in cases where the aggregate value of the foreign exchange brought in by the passenger in the form of currency notes, bank notes or travelers cheques does not exceed US$ 10,000 (US Dollars Ten Thousand) or its equivalent and/or the value of foreign currency notes does not exceed US$ 5,000 (US$ Five Thousand) or its equivalent.

2.                   Passengers are advised to produce this form to a bank authorized to deal in foreign exchange or money changer, at the time of conversion of foreign exchange into Indian rupees or reconversion of rupees into foreign exchange.

3.                   Visitors to India may please note that in case they do not wish to encash all the foreign exchange declared above, they should retain this form with them for production to the Customs at the time of their departure from India to enable them to take with them the unutilized balance

4.                   Details of traveller’s chequers/currency notes need not be furnished.

5.                   Foreign tourists need not indicate their address.

Steps to be taken in the case of the baggage being mishandled       
A certificate from the Airlines regarding mishandled baggage has to be produced to Customs.       
 A Property Irregularity Report from the Customs specifically indicating the unutilized portion of the free allowance will be endorsed on the certificate issued by the Airlines.
CURRENCY DECLARATION FORM

Obtaining this form is necessary where the aggregate value of foreign exchange brought in by the passenger in the form of currency notes, bank notes or travelers cheques exceeds US$ 10,000 (US Dollars Ten Thousand) or its equivalent and/or the value of foreign currency notes exceeds US$ 5,000 (US Dollars Five thousand) or its equivalent This form can be obtained from Customs on arrival
3.   Strictly import of firearms as baggage is prohibited.
4.    Taking out exotic birds, wild orchids and other wildlife (both flora and fauna) is prohibited.
5.   Possession of narcotic drugs is strictly prohibited.The quantum of punishment will be decided in accordance with the law of the country where the passenger is caught carrying such drugs.  The punishment can extend to even death sentence.