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.
if my seller can shipping 50 gm gold from burkina faso then how much custom duty i want to pay?
It seems u had not declared the said bangles as required before the customs authorities. If u had declared them as baggage they wouldnt have been confiscated. If u had declared them u can take back at the time of leaving for ur country. If u had not declared u should pay the duty. Moreover it is the discretion of the adjudicating authority. He may confiscate the bangles and release the same on payment of fine/penalty or he may release it on payment of duty. I hope this will clarify ur doubt.
Can we bring gold jewelry (duty free allowance) with us during multiple visits to India. Is there any restrictions on numbers of visits ?
Dear
how about children (Male & Female ) is there gold allowance for them too. please clearify
Dear
how about the children (male & Female) , how much gold allowance for them.
Is there any rules to take gold for visitors?
As British female citizen I had gold bangles confiscated by customs even though they were valued by them at 80,000 rupees. They gave me a declaration form and kept the bangles and told me I could collect when I leave the country. When leaving they said I still had to pay the duty. Are the customs right ?
I am going on final exit from the middle east country to india after two years , Is how much gold jewellery is allowed to myself for taking to India as per Indian custom rule???
Bro..u should give that officer thight slap also
Bro..u should give that officer thight slap also
LED not covered under personal effect and you have to pay 36.05% duty under baggage rule in INDIA.
I have come on visiting visa to Oman for 45 days.. and my mother has come on residential visa.. she has also got the Oman resident card.. what will be the allowance for us? We have some gold that we brought while coming from India.. so when we take it back do we have to pay customs?
Hi Rhea, The above gold allowance is valid only if passenger stays 1 year abroad. However small amount of gold for daily use (ear rings, small chain, bangle etc) is exempted for ladies.
I have a LED of 32″ is this allowed bring to India from Saudi without any duty or if any duty pls tell me how much we have to pay tax on 32″ LED
I have 125 grams gold jewelry. can I bring to India from Saudi without any custom/duty. And how much I can bring gold without any tax.
HOw much gold grams can carry man for traving india from abudabhi for marrage purpose
Hi Shan, The allowance for men is Rs 50,000. There is no special allowance for marriage purpose.
hello, I am coming from Germanyy and would like to carry a builion (100gm) what would be the import duty?
I am coming from Saudi Arabia after 23month how much can I bring gold in india
Im in Oman cum to India.I need 60-gram gold,so how much pay tax in airport please gaid me thanks
I am a US citizen living in US. I had brought all my jewelry with me when I moved to US from India right after marriage (about 17 yrs back) when nobody cared how much gold you took with you. I want to bring a couple of sets back to india as I’m attending a family function. I will be taking it back to US with me. What are the rules? Do I still have to pay taxes?
I am in doha qatar after 2 or 3 years how much gold can buy by Malabar