🛍️Duty-Free Allowance for Indians (2026) — Alcohol, Tobacco, Electronics & Customs Rules
Duty-Free Allowance for Indian Travelers (2026 Guide)
When arriving back in India from an international trip, travelers can bring certain goods without paying customs duty — this is known as duty-free allowance.
This guide covers India’s 2026 duty-free limits, including:
✔ Alcohol & tobacco allowance
✔ Electronics & gadgets
✔ Gifts & personal use items
✔ Currency rules
✔ Customs declaration rules
✔ Green vs Red channel
✔ Limits for NRIs, students & children
🇮🇳 1. General Duty-Free Allowance for Indians (2026)
All arriving passengers (Indian or NRI) can bring goods up to:
✔ ₹50,000 in total value
Age conditions apply:
| Traveler Category | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Adults (18+ yrs) | ₹50,000 |
| Children (up to 10 yrs) | ₹15,000 |
📌 This applies for travelers staying abroad more than 3 days.
For stays less than 3 days, allowance may reduce.
🍾 2. Alcohol Duty-Free Allowance (India)
Travelers can bring duty-free:
✔ 2 liters of alcohol
Examples permitted:
✔ Whisky
✔ Wine
✔ Rum
✔ Vodka
✔ Gin
✔ Champagne
📌 No age exception — must be 18+ years old to bring alcohol.
🚬 3. Tobacco Duty-Free Allowance
Allowed duty-free per passenger:
✔ 100 cigarettes or
✔ 25 cigars or
✔ 125 grams of tobacco
Cannot combine multiple categories.
📱 4. Electronics & Gadgets Rules
Personal gadgets like:
✔ Mobile phones
✔ Laptops
✔ Cameras
✔ Smartwatches
✔ Headphones
are allowed for personal use and not counted as gifts.
However:
📌 Second mobile phone rule
India allows one used personal phone free.
If carrying new sealed phone, it may attract duty beyond allowance.
Popular cases:
📌 iPhone purchased abroad
— duty may apply if value > ₹50,000 total allowance.
🎁 5. Gifts & Shopping Duty-Free Rules
Typical duty-free gift items include:
✔ Perfumes
✔ Chocolates
✔ Watches
✔ Handbags
✔ Clothing
✔ Souvenirs
Total must still be within ₹50,000 allowance.
💰 6. Duty on Excess Goods (If Over Limit)
If you exceed allowance:
Duty Rate = 35% + Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS) 3%
Total effective duty = 38.5% approx.
💴 7. Foreign Currency Rules (2026)
Outbound & inbound currency rules differ:
Inbound to India (bringing foreign currency)
✔ Up to USD 5,000 cash allowed
✔ Above USD 5,000 must be declared
For currency + traveler’s cheques:
✔ Up to USD 10,000 must be declared.
💎 8. Gold & Jewelry Rules
Gold duty rules are different:
✔ Duty applies even within allowance
✔ Rates vary for gold bars vs ornaments
✔ NRI concessions may apply for longer stays
Gold is a high-risk customs category, not fully duty-free.
🧒 9. Allowance for Children & Students
✔ Children below 18 years cannot bring alcohol or tobacco
✔ Children allowance = ₹15,000
Students studying abroad qualify as Indian residents returning and can use ₹50,000 allowance.
🛂 10. Green Channel vs Red Channel
At arrival airport:
Green Channel = Nothing to declare
✔ stays within allowance
✔ no restricted goods
Red Channel = Goods to declare
✔ over-limit
✔ restricted/prohibited items
False declaration may lead to:
❌ Seizure
❌ Penalty
❌ Duty payment
📌 Common Restricted or Prohibited Items
✔ Satellite phones
✔ Drones (require DGCA approval)
✔ Firearms
✔ Narcotics
✔ Explosives
✔ Wildlife items
Drones are often detained unless pre-approved.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I bring duty-free alcohol from Dubai to India?
✔ Yes, up to 2 liters per adult.
Q2. Do perfumes count under duty-free?
✔ Yes, within ₹50,000 allowance.
Q3. Can I bring 2 phones?
✔ 1 used + 1 new may attract duty if value exceeds allowance.
Q4. Is there duty on chocolates?
✔ Not if within allowance.