Country Guide: India
Updated: November 25, 2015
Household Goods and Personal Effects
Documents Required
- Original Passport (copy of Passport duly certified is accepted for Diplomats)
- Valued list of articles with date of purchase
- Baggage Customs Declaration signed by owner
- Packing list
- List of electronic items
- Authority Letters (Diplomats)
- Duty-free Exemption Certificate issued by Diplomatic Mission in India (Diplomats)
- Original Ocean Bill of Lading (OBL) / Copy of Air Waybill (AWB)
- Original Residence Permit (foreigners)
- Visa (foreigners)
Specific Information
- The shipper must be present for Customs clearance.
- All shipments are subject to Customs examination unless a diplomatic shipment.
- All containers (except Diplomat) are offloaded at the point of entry (POE) / (TOE) and reloaded into vans.
- Foreign nationals must possess a Visa valid for 1 year.
- Indian nationals must have lived abroad for at least 2 years preceding transfer to India and intend to reside in India for a period of at least 1 year.
- Air shipments must be dispatched from the origin airport within 15 days after the arrival of the shipper in India.
- Sea shipments must be dispatched from the origin seaport within 1 month after the arrival of the shipper in India.
- Shipments may arrive at the India airport / seaport 2 months prior to arrival of the shipper; however, the shipment will be subject to demurrage or detention as applicable.
- Electronic items should be loaded in the front (opening side) of the container or lift-van
- A list of electronic items should be provided on a separate sheet. Note: Customs regulations are the same throughout India. However, the regulations may be interpreted differently amongst the various Customs offices.
Motor Vehicles
Documents Required
- Original Passport
- Original Manufacturer’s Invoice
- Import License
- Insurance Policy
- Certificate of Title / Registration
- OBL
- Duty Exemption Certificate
Specific Information
- The import of motor vehicles is a detailed, conditional and complicated procedure and is not recommended.
- Duties are generally higher than 100%.
- Diplomatic motor vehicles are allowed to be imported free of duty if covered by a Duty Exemption Certificate issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, subject to the Ministry approval.
- Left-hand drive vehicles cannot be imported.
- New vehicles may only be imported from the country of manufacture.
- Used vehicles can only be imported through the Customs port at Mumbai.
Pets
Documents Required
- Vaccination Record
- Veterinary Health Certificate
Specific Information
- Only one cat, dog or parrot may be imported at the time of shipment.
Restricted/Dutiable Items
- New items are subject to duties (invoice must be supplied).
- Customs duties are approximately 15-15.3% to be levied on the following items:
- Televisions
- Digital video disc players
- Video home theatres
- Music systems
- Microwaves
- Dishwashers
- Air conditioners
- Refrigerators above 300 L or equivalent
- Deep freezers
- Fax machines
- Word processors
- Video cameras
- Portable photocopying machines
- Gold or silver in any form other than ornaments
- Cinematographic films of 35 mm and above
- Firearms, ammunition and weapons (a license must be obtained prior to import)
- Duplicate items or items in sums of excess of Rs. 150,000 (Rs. 500,000 in Delhi and Mumbai) are duties of approximately 35 to 61%.
- The following items may qualify for free import if within the limits indicated:
- Foodstuffs import duty free (excluding fruit products) up to cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value of INR 50,000
- Alcohol (2 L) – transport is recommended as part of the shipment, not as accompanied baggage
- Wine (2 L)
- Perfume (59 ml)
- Cigarettes (200), cigars (50), tobacco (250 g)
Prohibited Items
- Beef and beef products
- Narcotics, non-branded drugs and psychotropic substances
- Obscene literature, photographs or films
- Politically subversive literature
Consignment Instructions
Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.
Helpful Website(s):
http://www.state.gov/p/sca/ci/in
http://www.indianembassy.org