The NRI Guides Team regularly reviews this article to ensure the content is up-to-date and accurate. The last editorial review and update were on 30 October 2023.
From gold jewellery gifted at weddings to investments in gold coins, Indians have a deep-seated affection for the yellow metal, driven by several factors.
A significant advantage of gold as an asset is its high liquidity and portability. It can be easily converted to cash in emergencies and readily exchanged as needed.
Indian expatriates, in particular, have a penchant for purchasing gold from abroad due to its lower prices and superior quality. Nevertheless, in recent years, stringent conditions and customs duties on gold imports have dissuaded many from bringing gold to India.
This article explains the Indian Customs gold duty, the latest rules, regulations, and procedures to follow while taking gold in and out of India.
Table of Contents
The below information has been prepared after studying the Indian Baggage Rules and traveller guidelines issued by the Central Board of Indirect Customs and Taxes.
Indian Customs Gold Duty Rules
To answer your questions, we will divide this into two parts:
- Part 1: Carrying gold to India during travel (duty-free allowance)
- Part 2: Importing gold to India as baggage (by paying customs duty)
Part 1: Carrying Gold To India During Travel
Let’s start with the most obvious question:
1. Is carrying gold to India legal?
Yes, it is entirely legal for Indian nationals to carry gold jewellery to India. However, the amount you can bring and the customs duty you need to pay depend on your residency status and the time you’ve spent abroad.
2. How much gold can I carry to India without paying customs duty?
If you have lived abroad for more than a year, you can bring gold jewellery up to a certain weight without paying customs duty.
- For male passengers, the limit is 20 grams, with a maximum value of Rs. 50,000.
- For female passengers, the limit is 40 grams, with a maximum value of Rs. 100,000.
Please note that since the current market price of gold per gram is more than Rs 5,000/gram, you cannot take 20/40 grams. So the limit will be the value of Rs 50,000/Rs 100,000.
| Passenger Type | Stay Abroad | Gold Type | Maximum Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male Indian passenger | More than one year | Gold Jewellery | Up to a value of Rs 50,000 |
| Female Indian passenger | More than one year | Gold Jewellery | Up to a value of Rs 100,000 |
| Male or Female | Less than one year | Any | No free allowance |
3. Is the allowance applicable to children as well?
Yes, the duty-free allowance on gold jewellery also applies to children, provided they have stayed abroad for one year or more.
4. Can I bring a gold coin, gold biscuit or gold bar within the allowance?
No, the duty-free allowance only applies to gold jewellery. Other forms of gold, like coins, biscuits, or bars, are subject to customs duty.
5. What are the conditions for carrying gold to India as a duty-free allowance?
Here are the main conditions you need to know:
- You must be an Indian citizen.
- You should have stayed abroad for one year.
- The gold must be in the form of jewellery, not in the form of coins, biscuits, or bars.
- The maximum duty-free allowance is Rs. 50,000 for men and Rs. 100,000 for women.
- Gold above this limit is subject to customs duty.
6. How much is the customs duty on excess gold jewellery?
If you’ve stayed abroad for more than a year and carry gold beyond the duty-free allowance, you will be required to pay a discounted duty of 13.75%.
7. Do I have to declare the gold if I am not asked about it?
Yes, if you have gold exceeding the standard duty-free allowance, you must declare it. Failing to declare it can lead to confiscation, penalties, and even legal consequences.
8. Do I have to pay duty if I bought the jewellery from India?
Any gold jewelry purchased in India is exempt from duty if you declare it correctly and obtain an export certificate at the customs desk before leaving the country.
Part 2: Importing Gold As Baggage
1. Who can import gold as baggage?
“Passengers of Indian origin or a passenger holding a valid Indian passport, coming to India after a minimum of six months abroad, can import gold as baggage.
Short visits within six months are not considered if they total less than 30 days. Additionally, the passenger should not have utilized the exemption under this scheme during such short visits.
Apart from these passengers, others are not permitted to import gold as baggage.
2. How much is the Customs Duty for importing gold?
The customs duty for imported gold depends on the duration of your stay abroad:
- One year or more: Duty-free allowance is Rs. 50,000 for males and Rs. 100,000 for females, and for gold above this limit, a 13.75% duty applies.
- Six months to one year: No duty-free allowance, but gold up to 1 kg can be imported by paying a 13.75% duty.
- Less than six months: No duty-free allowance and a 38.5% duty applies.
| Period of Stay Abroad | Duty-free Allowance | Duty Payable |
|---|---|---|
| One year and above | Maximum value of Rs 50,000 for males; Maximum value of Rs 100,000 for female | Up to 1 kg: 13.75% |
| Six months to one year | No Allowance | Up to 1 kg: 13.75% |
| Less than six months | No Allowance | 38.5% |
3. What is the maximum gold I can bring above the free allowance?
If you’ve stayed abroad for at least a year, you can bring up to 1 kg of gold on payment of duty, which can be in various forms such as jewelry, crude gold, gold coins, or gold biscuits.
4. I have visited India for a few days in the last six months. Can I qualify to bring gold?
Short visits to India (less than 30 days) within the preceding six months are not counted when determining eligibility to bring gold. You can import up to 1 kg of gold on payment of duty.
5. What if I did not complete six months of stay abroad?
If you haven’t stayed abroad for six months, a duty of 38.5% may be charged on all the gold you bring with you.
6. Do I have to carry the gold with me while travelling?
You can either bring the gold yourself upon arrival or import it as unaccompanied baggage within fifteen days of your arrival in India. There are no restrictions on selling gold in India.
The passenger can also obtain the permitted quantity of gold from the Customs bonded warehouse of the State Bank of India and Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation. This is subject to the same conditions.
8. How is the gold price calculated? Can I show the purchase receipt?
The price of gold is calculated based on the value notified by the government of India at the time of travel. While a purchase receipt can help prove the source, the value of the gold is determined based on the date of travel.
Payment of Gold Duty
To pay customs duty at a discounted rate, you must use foreign currency. Paying in Indian Rupees incurs a duty rate of 38.5%.
If you can’t provide authentic information about the gold jewellery or the means to pay the duty, customs officials may detain the jewellery and offer you the choice of paying the duty or re-exporting the gold when leaving India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I allowed to carry small jewellery for daily use?
Generally, customs officials usually do not object to ladies wearing small, daily-use jewelry (e.g., a small chain, a pair of earrings, etc.). To ensure a smooth experience, you can obtain an export certificate before leaving India.
Is jewellery studded with stones included in the duty-free allowance?
The duty-free allowance applies exclusively to pure gold jewelry. Jewelry adorned with stones does not qualify for this allowance.
How much gold is allowed on international flights to India?
The duty-free gold allowance for male passengers is 20 grams (with a maximum value of Rs. 50,000), while for female passengers, it’s 40 grams (with a maximum value of Rs. 100,000).
How much gold is allowed from Dubai to India?
Male passengers returning to India from Dubai can bring gold jewelry weighing up to 20 grams, valued at not more than Rs. 50,000. Female passengers are permitted to bring up to 40 grams of gold jewelry, valued at no more than Rs. 1 lakh. Exceeding these limits requires payment of customs duty.
How much gold jewellery can I carry to the USA from India?
According to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), there is no specific limit on the amount of gold jewelry that can be brought into the United States. However, if the value of the jewelry exceeds $10,000, it must be declared to a CBP officer on a FINCEN 105 form upon entry. If the jewelry is a personal possession being brought back to the US, there is no need to declare it.
Related Articles:
- Duty-Free Allowance At Indian Airports
- Indian Airport Customs Duty On LCD/LED TV
- Indian Customs Rules for Electronic Items
- Transfer of Residence to India: Customs Rules for NRI
- Indian Customs Cash Limit And Rules
- Indian Customs Declaration Form
Copyright © NRIGuides.com – Unauthorized reproduction of this article in any language is prohibited. The information provided on this website is intended for general guidance and informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice, and travellers are encouraged to verify visa requirements and travel advisories through official government sources before making any travel arrangements.
Reference: Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, Baggage Rules 2016
Aneesh, the Founder & Editor of DG Pixels, holds a Master’s Degree in Communication & Journalism, and has two decades of experience living in the Middle East. Since 2014, he and his team have been sharing helpful content on travel, visa rules, and expatriate affairs.
Hai sir I am in Qatar 2.5 years finish I am going to India I will bring gold biscuit 25gm
Can allowed in Hyderabad airport
Hai sir I am in Qatar 2.5 years finish I am going to India I will bring gold biscuit 25gm
Can allowed in Hyderabad airport
Dear sir , I have jewellery 36 gram. This free allowed
Note : u hav allowed to carry is 20 gram but here extra 16 gram u should to pay value f gold @ time to time value on gold at indian market condition.
So..today rate :- 6386
Dear Sir,
For your kind information I would like to suggest to avoid bribery to custom officer , the gold jewelry essentially should be allowed duty free allowance Gold up to 80gm for men and 150gm for women, duty free Gold 20gm for men and 40gm for women is not realistic and regret to say that the GOVT itself is encouraging for bribe policy.
Kindly review the duty free allowance up to 80gm for men and 150gm for women or duty free for all types of Gold Jewelry with no limit,
Dear Ajay, The maximum amount of gold a passenger can take to India is limited to one kilogram only.
Dear Sir
I have been staying in oman last two and half years in between two times I went to india and came back 30 days stay. now i am going to indai still i eligible for the 20 gram allowance, as I did not purchase any gold in the last two years
Also if I buy 200 gm gold in oman whether it is profitable after 10.3% customs?
Dear Sir
I have been staying in oman last two and half years in between two times I went to india and came back 30 days stay. now i am going to indai still i eligible for the 20 gram allowance, as I did not purchase any gold in the last two years
Also if I buy 200 gm gold in oman whether it is profitable after 10.3% customs?
Hi Sudakar, As you have been staying out of India for 2.5 years (with two short visits), you are eligible to carry 20 grams. Regarding purchase of gold, you have to compare the current gold price in Oman + tax with that in India (including making charges) to see if that is profitable.
Sir,my self ajay Singh ,at that time I am in keneya I wants to bring 20 kg gold bar ,tell me how much custom duty pay on the Indian airport Delhi ,I have export import license also.can I bring gold bar in India or not
Sir,my self ajay Singh ,at that time I am in keneya I wants to bring 20 kg gold bar ,tell me how much custom duty pay on the Indian airport Delhi ,I have export import license also.can I bring gold bar in India or not
Sir give me reply
Dear Ajay, The maximum amount of gold a passenger can take to India is limited to one kilogram only.
I want to buy a necklace of 40 Gms with bill. Is their any custom charge ?
I want to buy a necklace of 40 Gms with bill. Is their any custom charge ?
Hi Saleem, Only 20 gram is duty free for men. Rest will be charged at 10%.
Hai sir iam from India working Doha now 2years finish I go back India I want 20gram gold biscuit airport inside allowed or not allowed please tell me
“Jewelry studded with diamonds not allowed as part of free allowance” – Does this mean we can carry these sets without worrying about declaring?
“Jewelry studded with diamonds not allowed as part of free allowance” – Does this mean we can carry these sets without worrying about declaring?
Hi,I live in Australia for long time and I am planning to buy some gold for my family from Dubai on my way.coukd you tell me how much gold will be free of duty n how much duty will be after free allowance at the Indian airports??
Hi,I live in Australia for long time and I am planning to buy some gold for my family from Dubai on my way.coukd you tell me how much gold will be free of duty n how much duty will be after free allowance at the Indian airports??
Hi Vicky, Gold allowance is Rs 50,000 for men and Rs 100,000 for women. The duty above this will be 10%.
Hi there,
Would like to know how can we get the export certificate?
What if I want to take only certain jewellery one time and then again another time, do we need to have separate export certificates for each piece or one document should be fine?
There are few ornaments which are purchased/made some 20+ yrs back and hand down as gifts and there are no receipts available. How should we produce them or keep paying customs duty every time we bring in?
Thats really awful..:(
Also to add, the export certificate was recently came into existence (earlier it was passport endorsement) and by this time we might hv few pieces of jewellery, and that we stay abroad how can we get the certificate at customs when going to india to attend function??
Just went thru the website (http://bangalorecustoms.gov.in/expcerti_instructions.htm) and they mentioned that we need to produce the items along with purchase bill or option while leaving india,
But why is it not mentioned for the ppl who hvnt visited india long time will be having jewellery to be taken to attend functions and bring back, in that case, how can we get an export certificate before entering india?
Will indian highcommissions around the places gives this kind of certificate?
so troublesome to carry our own jewellery.. 🙁
Hi, We have combined all your comments to be one 🙂
1. While leaving, you will get export certificate for all items taken at once. You can take some of them or all of them back while entering India.
2. As of now there is no such option for people visiting to attend functions. However the officials are aware of this and discussions are on to have this option. Please see below news :
http://nricafe.com/2016/06/india-ease-customs-clearance-expatriates-gold/
I am in abu dhabi now. I will return to India after completing 3 months. I wanted to know if i buy gold chain or any other gold ornament, then what will be the amount of duty i need to pay ? Also i would like to know if the amount of duty will vary with the weight of the gold ornament or the price of the ornament at which i will buy from abu dhabi. Is there any concession on a limited weight of gold ornament ?
Hi Subhra, The amount depends on the weight of the ornaments. Free gold allowance is Rs 50,000 for men and Rs 100,000 for women who stayed 1 year only. Duty rate above free allowance is 10% of current value (weight).
Hi sir i have 15 garm bikit haw mch. Dutty pey
Hi Ramesh, Coin/Biscuit is not allowed under free allowance. You have to pay 10% duty on the value.
Hi wilson here I brought some gold from India 1year back around 50grm should I pay customs since I didn’t buy it from uae