India’s Union Finance Ministry has quietly rewritten the rule-book for anyone flying into the country. Gazetted late on 2 February and effective immediately, the New Baggage Rules 2026 replace a web of more than 30 circulars with a single master document and two accompanying regulations.
The headline change is financial: the general duty-free allowance for residents, persons of Indian origin and most work-visa holders arriving by air or sea has been lifted from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000. Tourists of foreign origin keep a lower ₹25,000 ceiling, while crew members are capped at ₹2,500. The rules also overhaul transfer-of-residence concessions, allowing returning Indians who have lived abroad for more than two years to import personal effects valued up to ₹7.5 lakh without duty—more than double the previous ceiling. (financialexpress.com)
Jewellery has moved to a pure weight-based system: women may now bring back up to 40 grams of gold (or other precious metal content) duty-free, while men are limited to 20 grams. By scrapping the rupee value cap, the government hopes to end quarrels at customs counters over fluctuating bullion prices and to speed passenger flow at busy gateways such as Delhi and Mumbai. (financialexpress.com)
![India raises duty-free allowance to ₹75,000 under New Baggage Rules 2026]()
Whether you are a returning resident, a first-time tourist or a corporate transferee, VisaHQ can simplify the pre-departure maze. Its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) not only processes e-visas but also tracks the latest Baggage Rules 2026, walks you through the new QR-code customs declaration and offers live support to keep you clear of costly surprises at the arrivals hall.
Digitalisation is the other pillar of the reform. Travellers can file electronic advance customs declarations through a revamped portal and generate a QR code that replaces the paper declaration form. Officials say the move will shorten average clearance times by 30 percent and reduce face-to-face contact—a lingering pandemic lesson.
Corporate mobility managers should update pre-departure checklists immediately. The higher allowance makes it cheaper for assignees to ship personal tech such as laptops (one remains duty-free) and small household items in checked baggage rather than using cargo. Those relocating with families can time their return to maximise the new transfer-of-residence slabs. Airlines, meanwhile, have been asked to display the revised limits at check-in areas to cut disputes at destination airports.
The headline change is financial: the general duty-free allowance for residents, persons of Indian origin and most work-visa holders arriving by air or sea has been lifted from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000. Tourists of foreign origin keep a lower ₹25,000 ceiling, while crew members are capped at ₹2,500. The rules also overhaul transfer-of-residence concessions, allowing returning Indians who have lived abroad for more than two years to import personal effects valued up to ₹7.5 lakh without duty—more than double the previous ceiling. (financialexpress.com)
Jewellery has moved to a pure weight-based system: women may now bring back up to 40 grams of gold (or other precious metal content) duty-free, while men are limited to 20 grams. By scrapping the rupee value cap, the government hopes to end quarrels at customs counters over fluctuating bullion prices and to speed passenger flow at busy gateways such as Delhi and Mumbai. (financialexpress.com)
Whether you are a returning resident, a first-time tourist or a corporate transferee, VisaHQ can simplify the pre-departure maze. Its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) not only processes e-visas but also tracks the latest Baggage Rules 2026, walks you through the new QR-code customs declaration and offers live support to keep you clear of costly surprises at the arrivals hall.
Digitalisation is the other pillar of the reform. Travellers can file electronic advance customs declarations through a revamped portal and generate a QR code that replaces the paper declaration form. Officials say the move will shorten average clearance times by 30 percent and reduce face-to-face contact—a lingering pandemic lesson.
Corporate mobility managers should update pre-departure checklists immediately. The higher allowance makes it cheaper for assignees to ship personal tech such as laptops (one remains duty-free) and small household items in checked baggage rather than using cargo. Those relocating with families can time their return to maximise the new transfer-of-residence slabs. Airlines, meanwhile, have been asked to display the revised limits at check-in areas to cut disputes at destination airports.
