Baggage (Amendment) Rules, 2006 (Baggage Rule, 1998)
[ Notification No. 30/98-Cus. (N.T.), dated 2-6-1998 amended vide Notification No. 37 /2012-Customs (N.T.); Notification No.
21/2012- Customs (N.T.) dated 17-03-2012; Notification No. 71/2011- Customs (N.T.) dated 14-11-2012; Notification No.
76/2006 - Customs (N.T.) dated 30/06/2006; Notification No. 30/2005 - Customs (N.T.) dated 04/04/2005; Notification No.
05/2004 - Customs (N.T.) dated 08/01/2004; Notification No. 13/2004 - Customs (N.T.) dated 03/02/2004; Notification No.
11/2002 - Customs (N.T.) dated 01/03/2002; Notification No. 50/2000 - Customs (N.T.) dated 09/08/2000; Notification no.
29/1999-Cus (N.T.) dated 11-05-1999)]
1.
(i) These rules may be called the Baggage Rules, 1998.
(ii) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
1. 2. Definitions- In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(i) "appendix" means an Appendix to these rules;
(ii) "resident" means a person holding a valid passport issued under the Passports Act, 1967 (15 of 1967) and normally
residing in India;
(iii) "tourist" means a person not normally resident in India, who enters India for a stay of not more than six months in the course
of any twelve months period for legitimate non-immigrant purposes, such as touring, recreation, sports, health, family reasons,
study, religious pilgrimage or business;
(iv) "family" includes all persons who are residing in the same house and form part of the same domestic establishment;
(v) "professional equipment" means such portable equipments, instruments, apparatus and appliances as are required in his
profession, by a carpenter, a plumber, a welder, a mason, and the like and shall not include items of common use such as
cameras, cassette recorders, dictaphones, personal computers, typewriters, and other similar articles.
1. 3. Passengers returning from countries other than Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar or China. - An Indian resident or
a foreigner residing in India, returning from any country other than Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar or China, shall be allowed
clearance free of duty articles in his bona fide baggage to the extent mentioned in column (2) of Appendix A.
Provided that such Indian resident or such foreigner coming by land route as specified in Annexure IV, shall be allowed
clearance free of duty articles in his bonafide baggage to the extent mentioned in column (2) of Appendix 'B'."
1. 4. Passengers returning from Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar or China. - An Indian resident or a foreigner residing in
India, returning from Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar or China, other than by land route, shall be allowed clearance free of duty
articles in his bona fide baggage to the extent mentioned in column (2) of Appendix B.
1. . - An Indian passenger who was engaged in his profession abroad shall on his return to India be allowed clearance free
of duty, in addition to what he is allowed under rule 3 or, as the case may be, under rule 4, articles in his bona fide
baggage to the extent mentioned in column (2) of Appendix C.
2. 6. Jewellery. - A passenger returning to India shall be allowed clearance free of duty jewellery in his bona fide
baggage to the extent mentioned in column (2) of Appendix D.
3. 7. Tourists. - A tourist arriving in India shall be allowed clearance free of duty articles in his bona fide baggage to
the extent mentioned in column (2) of Appendix E.
4. 8. Transfer of residence. - (1) A person who is transferring his residence to India shall be allowed clearance free of
duty, in addition to what he is allowed under rule 3 or, as the case may be, under rule 4, articles in his bona fide baggage
to the extent mentioned in column (1) of Appendix F, subject to the conditions, if any, mentioned in the corresponding
entry in column (2) of the said Appendix.
(2) The conditions may be relaxed to the extent mentioned in column (3) of the said Appendix.
1. 9. Provisions regarding unaccompanied baggage. - (1) Provisions of these Rules are also extended to
unaccompanied baggage except where they have been specifically excluded.
(2) The unaccompanied baggage had been in the possession abroad of the passenger and is dispatched within one month of
his arrival in India or within such further period as the Assistant Commissioner of Customs or Deputy Commissioner of
Customs may allow.
(3) The unaccompanied baggage may land in India upto 2 months before the arrival of the passenger or within such period, not
exceeding one year, as the Assistant Commissioner of Customs or Deputy Commissioner of Customs may allow, for reasons
to be recorded, if he is satisfied that the passenger was prevented from arriving in India within the period of two months due to
circumstances beyond his control such as sudden illness of the passenger or a member of his family, or natural calamities or
disturbed conditions or disruption of the transport or travel arrangements in the country or countries concerned or any other
reasons, which necessitated a change in the travel schedule of the passenger.
10. (1) Application of these Rules to members of the crew. - The provisions of these Rules shall apply in respect of
members of the crew engaged in a foreign going vessel for importation of their baggage at the time of final pay off on
termination of their engagement.
Provided that except as specified in this sub-rule, a crew member of a vessel shall be allowed to bring items like chocolates,
cheese ,cosmetics and other petty gift items for their personal or family use which shall not exceed the value of rupees six
hundred.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules a crew member of an aircraft shall be allowed to bring items gifts like
chocolates, cheese, cosmetics and other petty gift items at the time of the returning of the aircraft from foreign journey for their
personal or family use which shall not exceed the value of rupees six hundred.
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Appendix A
(See rule 3)
(1) Articles allowed free of duty (2)
(a) All passengers of and above 10 years of age
and returning after stay abroad of more than three
days.
(i) Used personal effects, excluding jewellery, required for satisfying daily
necessities of life.
(ii) Articles other than those mentioned in Annex. I upto a value of Rs. 35,000
if these are carried on the person or in the accompanied baggage of the
passenger.
(b) All passengers of and above 10 years of age
and returning after stay abroad of three days or
less.
(i) Used personal effects, excluding jewellery, required for satisfying daily
necessities of life.
(ii) Articles other than those mentioned in Annex. I upto a value of Rs. 15,000
if these are carried on the person or in the accompanied baggage of the
passenger.
(c) All passengers up to 10 years of age and
returning after stay abroad of more than three
days.
(i) Used personal effects, excluding jewellery, required for satisfying daily
necessities of life.
(ii) Articles other than those mentioned in Annex. I upto a value of Rs. 15,000
if these are carried on the person or in the accompanied baggage of the
passenger.
(d) All passengers upto 10 years of age and
returning after stay abroad of three days or less.
(i) Used personal effects, excluding jewellery, required for satisfying daily
necessities of life.
(ii) Articles other than those mentioned in Annex. I upto a value of Rs. 3,000 if
these are carried on the person or in the accompanied baggage of the
passenger.
Explanation. - The free allowance under this rule shall not be allowed to be pooled with the free allowance of any other
passenger.
APPENDIX B (See rule 4)
(1) (2)
(i) Passengers of and above 10 years of age
and returning after stay abroad of more than
three days.
(i) Used personal effects, excluding jewellery, required for satisfying daily
necessities of life.
(ii) Articles other than those mentioned in Annex. I upto a value of Rs. 6,000 if
these are carried on the person or in the accompanied baggage of the
passenger.
(ii) Passengers upto 10 years of age and
returning after stay abroad of more than three
days.
(i) Used personal effects, excluding jewellery, required for satisfying daily
necessities of life.
(ii) Articles other than those mentioned in Annex. I upto a value of Rs. 1500 if
these are carried on the person or in the accompanied baggage of the
passenger.
Explanation. - The free allowance under this rule shall not be allowed to be pooled with the free allowance of any other
passenger.
APPENDIX C (See rule 5)
(1) Articles allowed free of duty (2)
(a) Indian passenger returning after at least 3
months.
(i) Used household articles upto an aggregate value of Rs. 12,000
(ii) Professional equipment upto a value of Rs. 20,000.
(b) Indian passenger returning after at least 6
months.
(i) Used household articles upto an aggregate value of Rs.12,000
(ii) Professional equipment upto a value of Rs. 40,000.
(c) Indian passenger returning after a stay of
minimum 365 days during the preceding 2 years on
termination of his work, and who has not availed this
concession in the preceding three years.
(i) Used household articles and personal effects, (which have been in the
possession and use abroad of the passenger or his family for at least six
months), and which are not mentioned in Annex I, Annexure II or Annexure
III upto an aggregate value of Rs.75,000.
(Item (c), in column(2), in entry (i), for the figures 30,000, the figures 75,000 has been substituted vide Notification No.
11/2002 - Customs (N.T.) dated March 1st, 2002)
(1) Articles allowed free of duty (2)
APPENDIX D (See rule 6)
(1)
Jewellery
(2)
Indian passenger who has been residing abroad for
over one year.
(i) Jewellery upto an aggregate value of Rs. 10,000 by a gentleman
passenger, or
(ii) Upto aggregate value of Rs. 20,000 by a lady passenger.
APPENDIX E (See rule 7)
(1) Articles allowed free of duty (2)
a) Tourists of Indian origin coming to India
other than tourists of Indian origin coming by
land routes as specified in Annexure IV;
(i) used personal effects and travel souvenirs, if -
(a) these goods are for personal use of the tourist, and
(b) these goods, other than those consumed during the stay in India,are re-
exported when the tourist leaves India for a foreign destination.
(ii) articles as allowed to be cleared under rule 3 or rule 4.
(b) Tourists of foreign origin, other than those
of Pakistani origin coming from Pakistan,
coming to India by air.
(i) used personal effects
(ii) articles other than those mentioned in Annexure I upto a value of ` 8000 for
personal use of the tourist or as gifts and travel souvenirs if these are carried on
the person or in the accompanied baggage of the passenger.
(c) Tourists - (i) of Pakistani origin coming
from Pakistan other than by land routes;
(ii) of Pakistani origin or foreign tourists
coming by land routes as specified in
Annexure IV;
(iii) of Indian origin coming by land routes as
specified in Annexure IV.
(i) used personal effects
(ii) articles other than those mentioned in Annexure I upto a value of ` 6000 for
personal use of the tourist or as gifts and travel souvenirs if these are carried on
the person or in the accompanied baggage of the passenger."
APPENDIX F (See rule 8)
Articles allowed free of duty Conditions Relaxation that may be considered
(a) Used personal and household articles, other than
those listed at Annex. I or Annex. II, but including the
article listed at Annexure III and jewellery upto ten
thousand rupees by a gentleman passenger or rupees
twenty thousand by a lady passenger.
(1) Minimum stay of two
years abroad,
immediately preceding
the date of his arrival on
TR,
(2) total stay in India on
short visit during the 2
preceding years should
not exceed 6 months, and
(3) passenger has not
availed this concession in
the preceding three years.
(a) For condition (1) Shortfall of upto 2
months in stay abroad can be condoned by
Assistant Commissioner of Customs or
Deputy Commissioner of Customs if the
early return is on account of :
(i) terminal leave or vacation being availed
of by the passenger; or (ii) any other special
circumstances.
(b) For condition (2)
Commissioner of Customs may condone
short visits in excess of 6 months in
deserving cases.
(c) For condition (3)
No relaxation
(b) Jewellery taken out earlier by the passenger or by a
member of his family from India.
Satisfaction of the Asstt.
Commissioner of
Customs regarding the
jewellery having been
taken out earlier from
India.
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Annexure I
1. Firearms. 2. Cartridges of fire arms exceeding 50. 3. Cigarettes exceeding 200 or cigars exceeding 50 or tobacco
exceeding 250 gms. 4. Alcoholic liquor or wines in excess of two litres . 5. Gold or silver, in any form, other than ornaments.
Annexure II
1. 1. Colour Television or Monochrome Television. 2. Digital Video Disc Player. 3. Video Home Theatre System.
4. Dish Washer. 5. Music System. 6. Air-Conditioner. 7. Domestic refrigerators of capacity above 300 litres or
its equivalent . 8. Deep Freezer. 9. Microwave Oven. 10. Video camera or the combination of any such video camera
with one or more of the following goods, namely:-
(a) Television Receiver; (b) Sound recording or reproducing apparatus; (c) Video reproducing apparatus.
11. Word Processing Machine. 12. Fax Machine. 13. Portable Photocopying Machine. 14. Vessel. 15. Aircraft. 16.
Cinematographic films of 35 mm and above. 17. Gold or Silver , in any form , other than ornaments.
Annexure III
1. Video Cassette Recorder or Video Cassette Player or Video Television Receiver or Video Cassette Disk Player. 2.
Washing Machine. 3. Electrical or Liquefied Petroleum Gas Cooking Range 4. Personal Computer( Desktop Computer) 5.
Laptop Computer( Notebook Computer) 6.Domestic Refrigerators of capacity up to 300 litres or its equivalent.
Annexure IV
Amritsar: (1) Amritsar Railway Station (2) Attari Road (3) Attari Railway Station (4) Khalra
Baroda: (5) Assara Naka (6) Khavda Naka (7) Lakhpat (8) Santalpur Naka (9) Suigam Naka
Delhi: (10) Delhi Railway Station
Ferozpur District:
(11) Hussainiwala
Jodhpur Division: (12) Barmer Railway Station (13) Munabao Railway Station
Baramullah District: (14) Adoosa
Poonch District: (15) Chakan-da-bagh
