Import restrictions for India 🇮🇳

Updated: July 2026

Customs rules can change. Before sending a parcel or travelling, check the current requirements on the customs authority's website. This material is for reference only and is not legal advice.

General information

These rules are useful both for people carrying items across the border themselves and for those sending a parcel with a fellow traveller. Under the new Baggage Rules 2026, the duty-free allowance for new goods in baggage depends on the passenger's status (for air or sea arrivals):

• foreign tourist — up to INR 25,000;
• Indian resident, person of Indian origin, or OCI cardholder — up to INR 75,000.

For infants (under 2 years), only used personal items are carried duty-free. No duty-free allowance is provided for entry across a land border. Allowances of different passengers may not be combined. Goods above the limit are entered on a declaration — which can be filled out at the border or in advance through the ATITHI app or the ICEGATE portal (English is accepted).

✅ Allowed with restrictions

💰 Cash

Foreign currency may be imported in any amount, but you must declare: foreign currency cash over USD 5,000, or a total amount of foreign exchange (cash + cheques) over USD 10,000. This requires a Currency Declaration Form (CDF), which you should keep until departure.

Import of Indian rupees by foreigners is generally not allowed. Gold and silver in any form other than personal jewellery (bars, coins, ingots) are not imported duty-free — they are subject to duty and specific conditions.

🚬 Tobacco and alcohol

Within the duty-free allowance you may bring one tobacco option: 100 cigarettes, or 25 cigars, or 125 g of tobacco. In addition — up to 2 L of alcohol (spirits or wine).

Note: if these limits are exceeded, the entire excess is subject to duty, not just the portion above the limit. Allowances of two passengers may not be combined.

💊 Medicines

There are no strict restrictions on importing medicines for personal use in India. However, if you carry a large quantity of medicines or products containing psychotropic or narcotic substances, include a doctor's prescription issued in the name of the person carrying the medicine.

🐶 Pets

Import of any animals other than cats and dogs is prohibited. You may enter with pets (up to 2 animals) only through the entry points in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad.

To import, you must provide a health certificate and a veterinary passport with rabies vaccination records. The owner's name in the documents must match the name in the passport. The animals must not have any infectious diseases.

🌸 Plants

Importing plants into India is governed by quarantine rules; endangered plants may not be imported. For a number of plants and seeds, a phytosanitary certificate and a permit are required.

❌ Prohibited without special permits:

• satellite phones;
• drones;
• pornographic material;
• weapons and ammunition;
• maps and books that incorrectly depict India's borders;
• antiques;
• rare animals, plants and goods made from them, etc.

This service provides information for reference purposes only, is not a customs authority, and does not guarantee its completeness or accuracy. Responsibility for complying with customs rules and for the contents of the goods being moved lies with the person importing or exporting them. Before moving goods, check the current requirements in official sources.

Sources:

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)

National Portal of India

Animal Quarantine and Certification Service, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying