What to Declare at Indian Customs

Arriving in India with gold, gifts, electronics, excess currency, alcohol, a television, drone, pet or other valuable goods? Indian customs declarations are now primarily digital under the Baggage Rules, 2026.

Passengers carrying dutiable or declarable goods should normally file the Indian Customs Declaration Form electronically through the official ATITHI 2.0 system and then report to the Red Channel. Passengers with nothing to declare may proceed through the Green Channel without filing the baggage declaration.

Quick answer: Declare goods above your applicable duty-free allowance, jewellery beyond ordinary personal use or an eligible special allowance, gold bullion, televisions, excess alcohol or tobacco, specified amounts of currency, drones, satellite phones, pets, agricultural products, commercial goods and anything prohibited or restricted.

What passengers must declare at Indian customs under the digital declaration system

What Changed Under the New Digital Rules?
Green Channel vs Red Channel
Who Must File a Customs Declaration?
How to File Through ATITHI 2.0
Current Duty-Free Allowances
Complete List of Goods to Declare
Gifts and Newly Purchased Goods
Gold and Jewellery
Cash and Foreign Currency
Alcohol and Tobacco
Phones, Laptops and Electronics
Televisions
Food, Plants, Seeds and Agricultural Products
Pets Entering India
Drones and Satellite Phones
Commercial Quantities and Resale Goods
Prohibited vs Restricted Goods
What Happens at the Red Channel?
What If ATITHI 2.0 Does Not Work?
Delayed or Missing Baggage
Penalties for Not Declaring
Customs Arrival Checklist
Official Indian Customs Sources
Related Indian Customs Guides
Frequently Asked Questions

What Changed Under the New Digital Customs Rules?

India introduced the Baggage Rules, 2026 and Customs Baggage Declaration and Processing Regulations, 2026 effective February 2, 2026.

The major changes include:

A higher ₹75,000 general duty-free allowance for eligible passengers
A ₹25,000 allowance for tourists of foreign origin
Electronic baggage and currency declarations
Advance declarations up to three days before arrival
A web and mobile system called ATITHI 2.0
Removal of the old monetary caps on eligible jewellery allowances
A specific duty-free provision for one new laptop for passengers aged 18 or older
Digital export certificates and temporary import certificates
Risk-based baggage verification rather than examination of every declaration

Important update: The paper form is no longer the primary declaration method. Passengers who must declare are expected to file electronically. Customs can permit an alternative method on arrival when electronic filing is not feasible.

The customs declaration is separate from India’s immigration e-Arrival Card. Completing an e-Arrival Card does not declare gold, currency, electronics or other goods to customs.

Green Channel vs Red Channel at Indian Customs

Question	Green Channel	Red Channel
Who should use it?	Passengers with nothing dutiable, prohibited, restricted or otherwise declarable	Passengers carrying goods or currency requiring declaration
Electronic declaration	Normally not required	Normally required through CBD-I, Currency Declaration Form or another applicable declaration
Customs duty	No duty expected	Duty may be assessed on dutiable goods
Baggage examination	Random or risk-based checks remain possible	Declared baggage is presented for risk-based verification and examination when required
Restricted goods	Should not be carried through this channel without declaration	Documents and permits are reviewed by customs

When uncertain, use the Red Channel. Voluntarily declaring an item allows customs to determine whether duty, documentation or another procedure is required.

Using the Green Channel does not prevent customs officers from stopping you, scanning your baggage or asking questions about the goods you are carrying.

Who Must File an Indian Customs Declaration?

You should file a declaration when carrying:

Goods above your applicable general duty-free allowance
Jewellery beyond ordinary daily personal use or an eligible special allowance
Gold bullion, gold bars or gold coins
A television
More than the permitted alcohol or tobacco allowance
Indian currency exceeding ₹25,000
Foreign currency notes exceeding US$5,000 or equivalent
Total foreign exchange exceeding US$10,000 or equivalent
Drones
Satellite phones
Meat, dairy, fish or poultry products
Seeds, plants, fruits, flowers or planting material
Pets
Commercial goods or quantities suggesting resale
Restricted goods requiring a licence, NOC or import authorization
Goods that may be prohibited from import

Filing a declaration does not guarantee that the goods can enter India. Prohibited goods may be seized or refused even when honestly declared.

How to File a Customs Declaration Through ATITHI 2.0

ATITHI 2.0 is the official CBIC platform for filing baggage, item, currency and certain other passenger declarations.

The declaration may be prepared:

Up to three days before arriving in India
On the day of arrival
Through the official ATITHI website
Through the ATITHI 2.0 Android app
Through the ATITHI 2.0 Apple iOS app

Open the official ATITHI platform. Use the CBIC website or the app published by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
Create or access your passenger account. Enter the requested contact and identification information.
Select Baggage and Currency Declaration. Choose the declaration applicable to an arriving passenger.
Enter the travel details. The form may request your passport number, nationality, arrival date, flight number, e-ticket number and PNR.
Enter baggage details. Include checked and cabin baggage where requested.
Declare the value of dutiable goods. Exclude ordinary used personal effects required for daily life.
Answer the item questions accurately. These cover jewellery, gold bullion, televisions, currency, drones, satellite phones, pets and agricultural products.
Upload supporting documents. Add invoices, permits, NOCs or other records where applicable.
Submit and save the acknowledgement. Keep the digital reference, QR code or acknowledgement available offline.
Update the declaration if necessary. Electronically filed accompanied-baggage details may be updated until the date and time of arrival.
Report to the Red Channel. Present your baggage and declaration to the customs officer.

Save an offline copy: Airport Wi-Fi, roaming service or the app may not work when you reach customs. Take screenshots and save receipts and supporting documents directly on your phone.

Current Indian Customs Duty-Free Allowances

Passenger Category	General Allowance	Important Condition
Indian resident	₹75,000	Arrival through a mode other than a land border; infants excluded
NRI or OCI cardholder	₹75,000	Treated as a tourist of Indian origin; infants excluded
Tourist of Indian origin	₹75,000	Arrival through a mode other than land; infants excluded
Foreigner with a valid visa other than a tourist visa	₹75,000	May include people residing or working in India on eligible visas
Tourist of foreign origin	₹25,000	Arrival through a mode other than land; infants excluded
Passenger arriving through a land border	No general monetary allowance	Used personal effects required for daily necessities may still qualify
Infant	No general monetary allowance	Used personal effects remain eligible

Allowances cannot be combined. A family cannot pool several passengers’ allowances to cover one expensive item or one passenger’s excess baggage.

The general allowance does not cover every type of product. Firearms, excess tobacco, excess alcohol, gold or silver other than ornaments, and televisions are specifically excluded from the general allowance.

Used personal effects

Used personal effects required for daily necessities of life and travel souvenirs may generally receive duty-free clearance, subject to the goods being genuine personal baggage.

Customs can examine the quantity, condition, packaging, value and purpose of the articles. Several sealed units of the same product may not be accepted as ordinary used personal effects.

One new laptop

A passenger aged 18 or older, other than a crew member, may bring one new laptop or notepad computer duty-free in bona fide baggage.

This laptop exemption is separate from the general allowance. It does not automatically cover multiple laptops, tablets, desktop computers or commercial quantities of electronic equipment.

Complete List of Goods to Declare

Item	Declaration Trigger	What to Do
General goods and gifts	Value exceeds your applicable allowance	File CBD-I and use the Red Channel
Jewellery	Beyond ordinary daily use or the eligible special allowance	Declare weight, purpose and value
Gold bullion	Any amount	Declare and present eligibility documents
Television	Any television	Declare because it is excluded from the general allowance
Alcohol	More than 2 litres	Declare the excess
Cigarettes	More than 100 sticks	Declare the excess
Cigars	More than 25	Declare the excess
Tobacco	More than 125 grams	Declare the excess
Foreign currency notes	More than US$5,000 or equivalent	File the Currency Declaration Form
Total foreign exchange	More than US$10,000 or equivalent	File the Currency Declaration Form
Indian currency	More than ₹25,000	Declare and allow customs to determine compliance
Drone	Any drone	Declare and carry applicable authorization
Satellite phone	Any satellite phone	Declare and carry required permission
Pet	Any pet entering India	Declare in advance with NOC or import authorization
Food or agricultural products	Meat, dairy, fish, poultry, seeds, plants, fruits or flowers	Declare and present quarantine documents if required
Commercial goods	Goods intended for sale or in commercial quantity	Declare; ordinary baggage clearance may not be available

Do Gifts and Newly Purchased Goods Need to Be Declared?

Gifts do not receive a separate customs allowance. Their value is included with other newly purchased or dutiable articles when calculating the passenger’s general allowance.

Examples can include:

New mobile phones
Smartwatches
Perfume and cosmetics
Designer bags
New clothing
Gaming consoles
Cameras
Jewellery
Electronic accessories
Gifts for relatives or friends

Example: An eligible NRI carrying ₹60,000 of new gifts and ₹30,000 of other dutiable new goods has ₹90,000 in relevant articles. Since the ₹75,000 allowance cannot cover the full amount, the passenger should declare the goods and allow customs to assess the excess.

Customs may use invoices, transaction records or reasonable market values when assessing goods. Removing tags, boxes or packaging does not automatically turn a newly purchased item into a used personal effect.

Read: How Much Worth of Gifts Can I Bring to India?

Declaring Gold and Jewellery at Indian Customs

The Baggage Rules, 2026 distinguish between ordinary used personal jewellery, an eligible special jewellery allowance and dutiable gold or jewellery.

Ordinary used personal jewellery

Used jewellery and valuables reasonably required for the passenger’s daily personal use may be treated as used personal effects, subject to risk-based customs verification.

This does not create an unlimited exemption for every item the passenger wears. Customs can examine the quantity, weight, design, packaging, travel history and apparent purpose.

Special jewellery allowance

A resident or tourist of Indian origin who has resided abroad for more than one year may receive a special duty-free jewellery allowance:

Eligible Passenger	Jewellery Weight Allowance	Value Cap
Female passenger	Up to 40 grams	No separate monetary cap under the 2026 rule
Passenger other than a female	Up to 20 grams	No separate monetary cap under the 2026 rule

This is not a universal gold allowance. The special jewellery exemption applies only to eligible residents or tourists of Indian origin who meet the required period abroad. It does not automatically apply to every visitor or every type of gold.

Gold bullion, bars and coins

Gold or silver in a form other than ornaments is excluded from the general allowance. Gold bullion is specifically listed on the Indian Customs Declaration Form and must be declared.

Special eligibility, quantity, payment and documentation requirements can apply when importing gold as baggage. Do not carry gold bars or coins through the Green Channel merely because their value is below ₹75,000.

Read:

Declaring Cash and Foreign Currency

There is no general prohibition on bringing foreign exchange into India, but a Currency Declaration Form is required when either threshold is exceeded.

Currency Carried	Declaration Required?	Threshold
Foreign currency notes	Yes when exceeded	More than US$5,000 or equivalent
Aggregate foreign exchange in currency notes, bank notes or travellers’ cheques	Yes when exceeded	More than US$10,000 or equivalent
Indian currency	CBD-I asks for declaration when exceeded	More than ₹25,000

The foreign-exchange calculation concerns money being physically carried. An ordinary credit-card limit or bank-account balance is not entered as cash on the Currency Declaration Form.

The Currency Declaration Form should be retained when necessary because a visitor may need it when converting funds or taking an unused declared balance out of India.

Do not split a single person’s currency between bags or family members to conceal who owns it. Each passenger must give an accurate declaration based on the actual ownership and possession of the funds.

See the complete currency guides:

Declaring Alcohol and Tobacco

Passengers arriving through a mode other than land may include the following quantities within the applicable duty-free rules:

Up to 2 litres of alcoholic liquor or wine
Up to 100 cigarettes
Up to 25 cigars
Up to 125 grams of tobacco

Quantities exceeding these limits should be declared. The general ₹75,000 or ₹25,000 allowance cannot be used to increase these quantity limits.

Customs clearance is not the only law that may apply. State alcohol age, possession and prohibition rules can be stricter than the national customs allowance.

Read:

Declaring Phones, Laptops and Electronics

Ordinary used electronics carried for personal use may qualify as personal effects. New electronics and gifts are generally considered when calculating the applicable general allowance.

One new laptop

One new laptop or notepad computer is specifically duty-free for a passenger aged 18 or older, excluding crew members.

A second or additional laptop should be declared. Customs will determine whether it is a genuine used personal effect, a dutiable article or part of a commercial quantity.

Mobile phones

A used personal phone normally presents less customs risk than several sealed phones. Additional new or sealed phones should be counted when calculating the value of new goods and declared when appropriate.

Tablets, smartwatches and cameras

These products do not receive the laptop’s separate exemption. Used personal devices may qualify as personal effects, while new units, gifts and additional devices can fall within the general allowance.

Carry proof of ownership: Receipts, photographs, serial-number records and an Indian export certificate can help show that an expensive device was previously owned or taken out of India.

Related guides:

Do You Have to Declare a Television?

Yes. Televisions are specifically excluded from the general duty-free allowance under the Baggage Rules, 2026, and the CBD-I form asks passengers whether they are bringing a television.

This means a television does not become duty-free merely because:

Its purchase price is below ₹75,000
It is included with household belongings
The passenger has no other new goods
Several family members are traveling together

The television should be declared, assessed and cleared through the Red Channel.

Read: TV Customs Duty in India: Rates and Rules

Food, Plants, Seeds and Agricultural Products

The digital customs declaration asks passengers whether they are carrying:

Meat and meat products
Dairy products
Fish
Poultry products
Seeds
Plants
Fruits
Flowers
Other planting material

These products can be subject to animal quarantine, plant quarantine, health or import restrictions even when intended for personal use.

Packaged does not mean automatically permitted. A sealed commercial package can still contain a restricted meat, dairy, seed or plant product.

Declare the product and carry any health certificate, phytosanitary certificate, import permit or other documentation required by the relevant Indian authority.

Do Pets Have to Be Declared?

Yes. Pet details and the applicable No Objection Certificate or import authorization should be declared in advance.

The customs declaration does not replace the requirements of:

Animal Quarantine and Certification Services
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade where applicable
The airline transporting the animal
Airport animal-handling authorities

Start the process well before departure. Do not arrive with an animal expecting the Red Channel officer to create missing veterinary or import documents.

Read: Importing Pets to India: Rules, Documents and Costs

Drones and Satellite Phones

Drones

The CBD-I form specifically asks whether the passenger is bringing a drone. Declare the drone even when it is small, used or intended only for vacation photography.

Import permission, equipment approval, registration and operating rules are separate issues. Customs declaration by itself does not grant permission to import or fly the drone.

Read: India Airport Customs: Traveling to India With a Drone

Satellite phones

Satellite phones are controlled communications equipment in India. The customs form asks passengers to declare them, and specific government permission may be required.

Do not carry a satellite phone through the Green Channel or assume that a foreign subscription makes it legal to possess or operate in India.

Commercial Quantities and Goods for Resale

Passenger baggage must be bona fide baggage. Products imported for profit, sale, business supply or commercial use are not ordinary personal effects.

Warning signs can include:

Several identical new phones
Large quantities of cosmetics or perfume
Multiple sealed watches or electronic products
Wholesale clothing quantities
Goods packed with invoices for customers
Many identical replacement parts
Products unrelated to the traveler’s reasonable personal needs

A marginal excess of otherwise genuine baggage may sometimes be cleared after duty assessment. Goods in commercial quantity may require formal import procedures and can attract confiscation, redemption fine, penalty or prosecution.

The ₹75,000 allowance does not legalize commercial imports. The quantity and intended purpose matter in addition to the value.

Prohibited Goods vs Restricted Goods

Prohibited goods

Prohibited goods cannot ordinarily be imported merely by declaring them or paying customs duty. The current declaration materials identify examples such as:

Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
Counterfeit Indian currency
Specified wildlife products
Goods violating enforceable intellectual-property rights
Specified live birds and animals
Maps or literature incorrectly showing India’s external boundaries

Restricted goods

Restricted goods may be imported only when the passenger satisfies applicable conditions, licences or permissions. Examples can include:

Pets
Drones
Satellite phones
Plants and seeds
Meat and animal products
Weapons or ammunition
Certain medicines
Gold bullion
Radio transmitters

Read:

What Happens at the Red Channel?

File the electronic declaration. Complete CBD-I and any required currency or pet information.
Collect all baggage. Include cabin bags and checked bags associated with the declaration.
Report to the Red Channel. Do not enter or pass through the Green Channel first.
Present your declaration. Show the acknowledgement and supporting documents.
Answer the officer’s questions. Explain the ownership, purpose, quantity, value and intended use.
Present the goods for verification. Customs examination is based primarily on risk evaluation.
Receive the customs assessment. The officer determines duty, permission or other action.
Pay assessed duty where applicable. Follow the payment instructions provided at that airport.
Collect an official receipt. Retain the assessment and payment records.
Obtain a detention receipt if goods are held. The receipt should identify the passenger, goods and customs officer.

Customs duty is generally calculated on the dutiable value exceeding the applicable allowance, except for products excluded from the allowance or assessed under a separate tariff treatment.

Read: How to Pay Customs Duty at Indian Airports

What If ATITHI 2.0 Does Not Work?

Technical problems do not remove the obligation to declare. The 2026 regulations allow the Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of Customs to permit another declaration method on arrival when electronic filing has not been possible.

Take these steps:

Try both the official website and mobile app
Update the app to its current version
Take screenshots of errors
Save invoices and permits offline
Arrive with sufficient time for customs processing
Go directly to the customs help desk or Red Channel
Explain that you attempted to file electronically
Ask for the permitted alternative declaration procedure

Do not use the Green Channel because the app failed. Go to a customs officer and make a voluntary declaration before attempting to exit.

What If Your Checked Baggage Is Missing or Delayed?

When an airline misplaces your baggage, report it before leaving the airport and obtain a Property Irregularity Report from the airline.

The new customs declaration instructions also advise passengers to obtain an endorsement of their applicable free allowance from the customs officer at the Mishandled Baggage Counter, electronically or otherwise.

This is important because the delayed bag may arrive after you have already cleared customs. The later clearance must be connected to your original journey and allowance.

Keep together: Your boarding pass, baggage tag, Property Irregularity Report, customs endorsement, passport copy and delayed-baggage delivery records.

What Happens If You Do Not Declare Goods?

Non-declaration or false declaration can lead to action under the Customs Act, 1962. The outcome depends on the goods, value, quantity, passenger conduct and applicable legal provision.

Possible consequences include:

Customs-duty assessment
Seizure or detention of goods
Confiscation
Redemption fine
Monetary penalty
Loss of an otherwise available concession
Investigation into commercial import or smuggling
Prosecution in serious cases

There is no universal “five times the duty” result for every case. Penalties are determined under the applicable provisions and facts. The safest course is an accurate voluntary declaration before entering the Green Channel.

Read: What Happens If You Forget to Declare Goods at Indian Customs?

Indian Customs Arrival Checklist

Identify your passenger category and applicable allowance.
Separate used personal effects from new purchases and gifts.
Add the value of relevant new or dutiable goods.
Do not pool allowances with family members.
Count alcohol and tobacco quantities separately.
Weigh jewellery when the special allowance may apply.
Declare all gold bullion.
Check foreign-currency and Indian-currency thresholds.
Declare televisions, drones and satellite phones.
Gather pet, plant, food and quarantine documents.
Keep receipts and purchase invoices.
File CBD-I through ATITHI 2.0 up to three days before arrival.
Save the acknowledgement offline.
Use the Red Channel when carrying declarable goods.
Collect an official receipt for duty or detained goods.

Final rule: Do not decide solely by looking at the ₹75,000 allowance. Some goods must be declared regardless of value, and some goods require permission even when no duty is payable.

Official Indian Customs Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What should be declared at Indian customs?

Declare dutiable goods above your allowance, excess jewellery, gold bullion, televisions, excess alcohol or tobacco, specified amounts of currency, drones, satellite phones, pets, agricultural products, commercial goods and prohibited or restricted items.

Is the Indian customs declaration now digital?

Yes. Passengers carrying dutiable or prohibited goods are normally required to file the CBD-I electronically through the ATITHI 2.0 automated system. Customs may permit another method when electronic filing is not feasible.

How early can I submit the customs declaration?

An accompanied-baggage declaration may be filed electronically up to three days before arrival in India. The passenger may update the declared details until the date and time of arrival.

Does everyone arriving in India have to use ATITHI 2.0?

No. Passengers who have nothing dutiable or otherwise declarable may use the Green Channel without filing a baggage declaration. ATITHI 2.0 is primarily for passengers who must declare baggage, currency, pets or other covered items.

What is the duty-free allowance for an NRI or OCI cardholder?

An NRI or OCI cardholder is included within the tourist-of-Indian-origin category and generally receives a ₹75,000 allowance when arriving through a mode other than a land border, excluding infants.

What is the allowance for a foreign tourist?

A tourist of foreign origin generally receives a ₹25,000 allowance when arriving through a mode other than land. Used personal effects required for the trip may be treated separately.

Can family members combine their ₹75,000 allowances?

No. The Baggage Rules state that one passenger’s allowance cannot be pooled with another passenger’s allowance.

Do I need to declare one personal laptop?

A passenger aged 18 or older may bring one new laptop or notepad duty-free. Additional laptops should be declared so customs can determine whether they are used personal effects or dutiable goods.

Do I have to declare a television worth less than ₹75,000?

Yes. Televisions are excluded from the general duty-free allowance and are specifically listed on the CBD-I customs declaration.

Do I need to declare gifts?

Gifts form part of the applicable general allowance. Declare them when the combined value of relevant gifts and other dutiable goods exceeds your allowance or when the product requires declaration regardless of value.

When must foreign currency be declared?

File the Currency Declaration Form when foreign currency notes exceed US$5,000 or when aggregate foreign exchange in currency notes, bank notes or travellers’ cheques exceeds US$10,000 or the equivalent.

Do I have to declare gold jewellery I am wearing?

Ordinary used personal jewellery needed for daily use may qualify as a personal effect. Jewellery beyond ordinary personal use or beyond an eligible special allowance should be declared. Gold bullion must be declared.

What should I do if the ATITHI app is not working?

Try the official web version, save screenshots of the error and report directly to the customs help desk or Red Channel. Customs may permit another method of declaration when electronic filing is not feasible.

Can I declare goods and pay customs duty after landing?

Yes. Submit the declaration on arrival if it was not filed beforehand, report to the Red Channel and present the goods for assessment. Follow the customs officer’s payment instructions and obtain an official receipt.

What happens if I use the Green Channel with undeclared goods?

Customs may assess duty, seize or detain the goods and begin confiscation, fine, penalty or prosecution proceedings depending on the facts and seriousness of the violation.