India Duty-Free Allowance Increased: New Baggage Rules 2026

New baggage rules went into effect in India on Sunday, February 2nd, increasing the value of duty-free goods passengers can bring into the country. The changes, formalized under the Baggage Rules, 2026, represent a significant update to regulations that were a decade old.

Increased Duty-Free Allowances

The government has raised the limit for duty-free imports for residents and tourists of Indian origin arriving in India – excluding those entering by land – from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000. This applies to articles carried on the person or in accompanied baggage. For foreign tourists, the allowance has increased from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000.

Jewellery Provisions

Specific provisions have been made for jewellery. Residents or tourists of Indian origin who have resided abroad for more than one year are now permitted to bring in up to 40 grams of jewellery if they are female passengers. The limit is 20 grams for all other passengers.

Did You Know? The new Baggage Rules, 2026, supersede a previous set of rules that had been in place for ten years.

Jewellery is defined as articles of adornment made of precious metals like gold, silver, or platinum, whether studded or not.

Potential Implications

The increase in duty-free allowances could stimulate consumer spending among travelers. A possible next step for businesses could be adjusting their pricing strategies to account for the increased purchasing power of inbound travelers. We see also likely to reduce congestion at customs checkpoints as fewer passengers will need to declare goods.

Expert Insight: Adjusting duty-free allowances is a common tool governments use to influence trade and tourism. Increasing these limits can be seen as a signal of economic confidence and a desire to encourage international travel and spending.

The changes may also impact the volume of goods declared at customs, potentially requiring adjustments to staffing and processing procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new duty-free allowance for residents of Indian origin?

Residents or tourists of Indian origin arriving in India, other than by land, are now allowed duty-free clearance of articles up to ₹75,000.

What is the duty-free allowance for foreign tourists?

A tourist of foreign origin, not being an infant, arriving in India, is allowed duty-free clearance of articles up to the value of ₹25,000.

What are the jewellery allowance rules?

A female passenger who is a resident or tourist of Indian origin residing abroad for more than 1 year can bring in up to 40 grams of jewellery duty-free. All other passengers can bring in up to 20 grams.

How might these changes affect your travel plans to and from India?