When travelling to India, you may be required to complete the Indian Customs Declaration Form. This article explains what information is required on the form, and provides some tips on how to complete it accurately.
By following these simple guidelines, travellers can help make sure that their arrival in India goes as smoothly as possible.
- What is a Customs Declaration Form?
- Is the Customs Declaration Form Mandatory for all Travellers to India?
- How to Get the Indian Customs Declaration Form
- Contents of Indian Customs Declaration Form
- Indian Customs Declaration Form Sample
- Tips for Filling up Indian Customs Declaration Form
- What to do With the Customs Declaration Form
- Customs Declaration Through ATITHI Mobile App
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Customs Declaration Form?
In order to help ensure that the country’s customs process runs smoothly, travellers may be required to fill out a customs declaration form. This form will provide officials with information about the traveller and the items they are bringing into the country.
Is the Customs Declaration Form Mandatory for all Travellers to India?
Since 2016, Customs Declaration Form is mandatory only for passengers having prohibited or dutiable goods in their possession or goods in excess of their eligible duty-free allowance.
Earlier it was mandatory for all passengers and known as a disembarkation card.
How to Get the Indian Customs Declaration Form
If you are travelling to an Indian airport from outside India, you can request the cabin crew for Customs Declaration Form. Most airlines will have copies of the form to distribute if needed. In case you don’t get it from your flight, you can get it at the port of entry before Immigration Counter.
If you have goods above the duty-free limit, make sure to file the correct declaration of your baggage in the Customs Declaration Form and opt for the Red Channel.
Contents of Indian Customs Declaration Form
The Customs Declaration Form asks for the following details:
- Name of the Passenger
- Passport Number
- Nationality
- Date of Arrival
- Flight No.
- Number of Baggages (including hand baggage)
- Country from which coming
- Countries visited in the last six days
- The total value of dutiable goods being imported (Rs.)
- Are you bringing the following items into India? (please tick Yes or No)
Prohibited Articles
- Gold jewellery (over Free Allowance)
- Gold Bullion
- Meat and meat products/dairy products/fish/poultry products
- Seeds/plants/seeds/fruits/flowers/other planting material
- Satellite phone
- Indian currency exceeding Rs. 10,000
- Foreign currency notes exceed US$ 5,000 or equivalent
- The aggregate value of foreign exchange including currency exceeds US$ 10,000 or equivalent.
In case the answer to any of the above questions is ‘Yes’, you have to report to Customs Officer at the Red Channel counter.
READ: Guide: Duty-Free Allowance For Travellers To India
Indian Customs Declaration Form Sample
Here is the updated sample form, extracted from the CBIC Travellers Guide.


You can download a sample of the Indian Customs Declaration Form in PDF here.
Tips for Filling up Indian Customs Declaration Form
Before filling out the form, read the instructions on the form. Make sure you are aware of the prohibited goods and duty-free allowance.
It is important to be as accurate and detailed as possible when filling out the form, as providing false or incomplete information can result in delays or other problems. It is a legal offence not to declare dutiable items.
Visitors are also required to declare if they are carrying any currency in excess of the allowed limits.
READ: Indian Customs Rules For Carrying Currency
What to do With the Customs Declaration Form
While exiting the airport terminal you have to go through the Red Channel. At the exit give the form to the customs official who will stamp the form and return it back to you. If there is any item that you need to pay the duty on, you can pay the duty here.
Additionally, visitors should be aware that they may be asked to open their luggage for inspection at any time. However, if everything is in order, the process of clearing customs should be fairly straightforward.
It is important to keep this form safe, as you may need to show it when exiting the country. For those who lose their form, replacement copies can be obtained from the customs office at the airport.
Customs Declaration Through ATITHI Mobile App
Passengers with dutiable goods can also file a declaration of dutiable items as well as currency even before boarding the flight to India by using the ATITHI mobile app.
READ NEXT: Guide To ATITHI App For Indian Customs Declaration
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Red and Green Channels in Indian airports?
For the purpose of Customs clearance of arriving passengers, a two-channel system has been adopted: Green Channel is for passengers not having any dutiable goods. Red Channel is for passengers having dutiable goods.
Can I use the Customs Declaration Form for currency declaration?
A declaration of foreign exchange/currency above the prescribed limit is required to be made in the prescribed Currency Declaration Form.
Should crew members fill Customs Declaration Form?
Yes, crew members are also required to submit the correct declaration before customs authorities.
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Source: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
I want to bring gold coins / Bars … I have read in travellers guide for NRI gold coins / Bar are allowed limit is 20 grams.NRI who stay in abroad more than six months they have to pay concessional rate of duty 12.5% + 2.5% surcharge will be pay in convertible foreign currency.
Since ATITHI app is not working. We are struggling to file declarations.Request you to advise alternative ways to file online declaration .
Is a online copy that can be downloaded
Hi I have 60000 Indian currency ,can I bring that back from Canada to India, is there a duty for that if so how much pls helo
Very useful information..
Thanks for your kind words Suneel 🙂