First Day Abroad

Customs and duty-free allowances in India

Part of the India arrival guide.

This information may change. Always check the official source.Last verified: August 2026 by

Bringing things into India

Leave at home

  • E-cigarettes and vapes
  • Satellite phones
  • Drones without a permit
Duty-free allowance
  • 100 cigarettes
  • 2 L of spirits
  • INR 25,000 of other goods
Cash to declare
USD 5,000 or more

The threshold covers cash and equivalents carried by one traveller. Not declaring it is what causes the money to be seized, not the amount itself.

The INR 25,000 is the allowance for a foreign tourist; Indian residents and nationals returning home get INR 75,000. Neither applies at a land border, where there is no free allowance for goods at all. The two litres of alcohol are for arrivals aged 25 and over.

A satellite phone in your luggage is an arrest at an Indian airport, and vapes have been banned outright since 2019.

  • Satellite phones are illegal without a licence. Travellers have been detained at arrival for carrying an Iridium or Thuraya handset, including ones being taken on to a trek.
  • E-cigarettes and vaping devices are banned. The 2019 prohibition covers import and possession, and devices are seized.
  • Drones need prior permission from the authorities before they are brought into the country.
  • The allowance is 100 cigarettes and 2 litres of alcohol per adult, plus a duty-free value on other goods that depends on where you have come from.
  • Cash equivalent to USD 5,000 or more must be declared, and there is a separate and stricter rule on carrying Indian rupees in and out.
  • Gold above the personal allowance is dutiable, and the jewellery you are wearing is included in the calculation.
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Sources (1)

What this guide was checked against. Rules and prices change — follow the official link before you rely on a detail.