Last Updated:February 08, 2026, 16:04 IST

India’s Baggage Rules 2026 raise duty-free limits to Rs 75,000, introduce weight-based jewellery allowances, allow one laptop duty-free, and simplify customs for arrivals.

Items that exceed the Rs 75,000 limit will attract customs duty (typically around 10% + social welfare surcharge on the duty), which is significantly lower than earlier effective rates.

India has updated its customs and baggage rules affecting what international passengers, including people arriving from the UAE, can bring into the country without paying duty. These changes are part of the Baggage Rules, 2026, and the Customs Baggage (Declaration & Processing) Regulations, 2026, which came into effect from February 2, 2026, following announcements in the Union Budget 2026.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of what’s changed and what it means:

1. Higher Duty-Free Allowance for Personal Items

Passengers arriving by air or sea can now bring goods worth up to Rs 75,000 duty-free, higher than the Rs 50,000 limit earlier.

This limit applies to Indian residents, people of Indian origin (PIO/OCI), NRIs, and foreign nationals with valid visas. It covers personal effects and items carried in bona fide accompanied baggage — personal use items, not for commercial sale.

Foreign tourists have a separate duty-free cap of Rs 25,000 (up from Rs 15,000 earlier).

For crew members, the limit is Rs 2,500.

2. Simplified Jewellery Rules

The old value-based limits on jewellery imports have been replaced with weight-based allowances for returning residents/PIOs:

• Women: up to 40 grams of jewellery duty-free

• Men/Others: up to 20 grams duty-free

This applies to passengers who have stayed abroad for at least a year and are bringing jewellery in bona fide baggage.

Earlier, jewellery allowances were defined by value rather than weight, which often caused confusion and disputes at customs.

3. Laptop and Electronics Allowances

• One laptop can be brought in duty-free, separate from the Rs 75,000 general limit, for travellers aged over 18 years (excluding airline crew).

• Other electronics (smartphones, watches, cameras, etc.) are counted within the Rs 75,000 allowance.

This dual-bucket system (laptop + Rs 75,000 limit) is particularly beneficial for travellers bringing gadgets from the UAE, where prices are often lower.

4. Simplified Customs Process

The new regulations also introduce:

• Advance and electronic baggage declaration to streamline arrival processing.

• Unified digital declaration linked to immigration systems, reducing paperwork.

• Clearer rules around temporary imports / re-imports and Transfer of Residence (ToR) benefits for long-term expatriates.

5. What Still Requires Duty or Has Restrictions

Even under the new rules, certain items remain outside duty-free allowances and must be declared:

• Alcohol beyond allowed limits

• Tobacco products above the limits

• Cars, TVs, and other large goods

• Gold bars/coins or precious metals in non-jewellery form

• Commercial quantities of any item

Items that exceed the Rs 75,000 limit will attract customs duty (typically around 10% + social welfare surcharge on the duty), which is significantly lower than earlier effective rates.

Example (From UAE To India)

If an NRI returning from Dubai brings:

• One laptop: duty-free separate allowance

• A phone (Rs 50,000), watch (Rs 15,000) & clothes: these total Rs 65,000 — all duty-free within the Rs 75,000 limit

• Gold jewellery (30 g): duty-free under the new weight limits

The above would be cleared without duty. Only items or values above these thresholds may attract charges. However, for updated and item-specific rules, check customs rules from official government website.

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Silver prices remained volatile but stable compared to recent swings, trading at about Rs 2.85 lakh per kilogram. The metal has seen sharp movements in recent weeks, reflecting changing global demand and investor sentiment.

The correction in gold prices comes after the metal reached an all-time high of nearly Rs 1.79 lakh per 10 grams last month, driven by strong global demand for safe-haven assets. Since then, some investors have booked profits, leading to a decline in prices.

Market experts say precious-metal prices are currently being influenced by international economic conditions, currency fluctuations, and expectations around interest-rate decisions by major central banks. These factors often affect global bullion prices, which in turn impact domestic rates in India.

Despite the recent dip, demand for gold remains steady, especially with the wedding season and festive purchases supporting jewellery sales. Analysts believe gold and silver prices may continue to move cautiously in the coming weeks as global markets remain uncertain.

Overall, the bullion market is entering a phase of consolidation after a strong rally, with investors closely watching global trends for the next direction in prices.