Bringing gold from abroad? Know the rules

Kolkata: Buying gold ornaments (or coins/bars) during their trips abroad is a practice followed by many. The main attraction is that, gold is cheap in several countries that Indians visit frequently. West Asian destinations such as Dubai is an example. However, buying gold abroad and carrying them into the country might not always be very smooth. Often one gets to read news about customs officials raising objections at the airports. Most of these objections surround the question, whether the gold ornaments that one is wearing is personal or whether one must pay duty on these items.

According to baggage rules Indians can bring the following quantity of the yellow precious metal into the country:

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Men: 20 gms of gold free of duty. The value ceiling Rs 50,000.

Women: 40 gms of gold duty-free. The value ceiling is Rs 1,00,000.

In case of non-resident Indians who have stayed abroad for more than a year: Not more than 1 kg of gold (jewellery/bars) after paying duty.

Tourists: No allowance, but ornaments worn for personal use can be declared and temporarily detained for re-export.

One must note that if you bring gold bars/biscuits and coins, you have to pay duty, irrespective of the quantity of gold.

There are some thumb rules that experts point out in this regard. These are:

One must avoid carrying bars/biscuits and coins. Ornaments worn by an individual are usually regarded as items of personal use. Bars/biscuits and coins trigger suspicion. Also a few items of the same jewellery piece suggest that they are for selling. 

One should declare jewellery at the red channel or through the ATITHI app. (This app is one managed by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs. Through it international travelers can file their customs and currency declarations before arriving at Indian airports. It helps transparency and makes customs clearance quick.)

One could carry invoices/photos showing a particular item belongs to the traveller. Ornaments must not be concealed.

One must ask for a detention receipt if jewellery is meant for re-export.

Another point to note is that Indian travellers can bring up to 1 kg of gold from Dubai upon staying there for more than six months. But it entails payment of customs duty.

The custom duty rates on gold are the following:

3% when the quantity of gold is 20 grams to 50 grams

6% when the quantity of gold is 50 grams to 100 grams

10% when the quantity of gold is over 100 grams