New Delhi | February 3, 2026
International travelers arriving in India have received major relief as the Ministry of Finance has notified new Baggage Rules, increasing the duty-free allowance for personal items and easing restrictions on gold jewellery.
The revised rules aim to simplify customs procedures and reduce inconvenience for passengers returning from overseas.
💼 Duty-Free Baggage Limit Raised to ₹75,000
Under the updated regulations, passengers can now bring personal goods worth up to ₹75,000 into India without paying customs duty, up from the earlier ₹50,000 limit.
The enhanced duty-free limit applies to international travelers who have stayed abroad for more than three days before returning to India. Officials said the change reflects higher global prices and evolving travel patterns.
💍 Gold Jewellery Rules: No Value Cap
The government has also relaxed rules related to gold jewellery brought by travelers:
Women passengers: Up to 40 grams of gold jewellery duty-free
Male passengers: Up to 20 grams of gold jewellery duty-free
No value cap applies within these weight limits
Eligibility Condition
To avail of the duty-free gold jewellery benefit, the traveler must have resided abroad for at least one year prior to arrival in India.
Customs officials clarified that while weight limits remain unchanged, removing the value cap provides relief amid rising gold prices.
🍷 Alcohol and Cigarettes: No Change
There is no change in the duty-free allowance for alcohol and tobacco products. Travelers are still permitted to bring:
2 liters of alcoholic beverages, and
100 cigarettes or 25 cigars
These limits continue under existing customs regulations.
📌 What Travelers Should Know
Authorities have advised passengers to declare goods accurately and comply with eligibility conditions to avoid penalties. The revised baggage rules are expected to reduce airport disputes, streamline customs checks, and improve overall passenger experience.
