Quick Check Tool
Select your passenger type to get relevant allowance information:
Declaration Requirements
Mandatory Declaration
Passengers carrying dutiable or prohibited goods, shall voluntarily declare the same to the Customs officer, in the Customs Declaration Form prescribed under the Customs Baggage Declaration Regulations 2013.
ATITHI APP
Passengers can also make use of 'ATITHI APP' of CBIC for making the declaration.
Penal Provisions
Non-Declaration, False Declaration or Improper Declaration can lead to seizure/confiscation of goods, imposition of penalty, arrest, prosecution etc.
Duty Free Allowances
FOR A PASSENGER OF INDIAN ORIGIN
Allowance: Articles with a combined value of Rs.50,000/-, travel souvenirs and used personal effects.
Note: 'Personal effects' does not include jewellery and free allowance of one passenger shall not be allowed to pool with the free allowance of any other passenger
FOR A PASSENGER OF FOREIGN ORIGIN/TOURIST
Allowance: Articles with a combined value of Rs.15,000/-, travel souvenirs and used personal effects.
FOR INFANT (child not more than 2 years of age)
Allowance: Used personal effects only.
Articles Not Allowed Free Allowance
Jewellery Allowance Rules
FOR A PASSENGER WITH LESS THAN ONE YEAR STAY ABROAD
Jewellery / Ornaments should be declared before going abroad. No free allowance is given until they had declared the gold jewellery/ornaments.
FOR A PASSENGER WITH MORE THAN ONE YEAR STAY ABROAD
Note: In case of old or used jewellery, exemption from payment of duty will be extended only on production of a valid export certificate evidencing that the jewellery was taken out of India by the passenger at the time of his/her departure
Import Restrictions
ALCOHOL
Import of alcoholic beverages shall be subject to compliance of various mandatory requirements stipulated by the State Government.
Duty Free allowance: 2 litres of alcoholic liquor (including wine and beer)
CIGARETTES/TOBACCO
Import of e-cigarettes is prohibited. Import of cigarettes or any other tobacco products shall be subject to the provisions contained in the 'Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003' & the 'Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2018'
Duty Free allowance: 100 Cigarettes or 25 cigars or 125 gram tobacco.
DRONES
PROHIBITED: Import of all types of drones is prohibited.
CURRENCY
Indian Currency:
Import of Indian Currency is prohibited. However, passengers normally resident in India who are returning from a visit abroad can bring Indian Currency upto Rs.25,000/-.
Foreign Currency:
Any person can bring into India from a place outside India foreign exchange without any limit. However, a declaration is required when:
- Foreign currency notes exceed US $5,000/- or equivalent
- Total foreign exchange exceeds US $10,000/- or equivalent
Duty Rates & Calculator
Duty Calculator
Duty Rates Table
Gold (Jewellery/Bullion/Bar/Coins)
Preferential: 6.6% (Indian Origin, 6+ months abroad, foreign currency payment)
Standard: 39.6%
Flat Panel Television
Rate: 38.5%
Liquor (Including Wine)
Rate: 150%
Beer
Rate: 110%
Cigarette
The duty on cigarettes is complex and calculated sequentially: Basic Customs Duty (BCD) + Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS) + IGST + other applicable duties like NCCD & Cess. Our calculator provides an estimate.
All Other Items
Rate: 38.5%
Powers of Customs Officers
Powers Under Customs Act, 1962:
- Search any person entering or leaving India, and also any person in a Customs Area (Section 100)
- Detain any suspected person, to screen or x ray his body for detecting secreted goods (Section 103)
- Arrest any person for offences committed under the Customs Act (Section 104)
- Seize goods that are liable to confiscation under the Customs Act (Section 110)
Offences & Punishments:
- False Declaration: Imprisonment up to 2 years or fine or both (Section 132)
- Obstructing Officer: Imprisonment up to 2 years or fine or both (Section 133)
- Duty Evasion: Imprisonment up to 7 years and fine (Section 135)
- Preparation to Export Contraband: As per Section 135A
Export Certificate for Jewellery
Passengers departing India can avail of the facility of obtaining an export certificate from Customs for high value items / jewellery if they intend to bring such items back on their return to India.
Requirements:
- Valuation certificate /assayer certificate for the said jewellery, issued by a Customs approved Valuer
- Photos of the said jewellery certified by the Customs approved Valuer
- Copies of invoices (if available)
Note: The details of Customs approved Valuers and the fees payable to them for valuation are available in the Trade Facility Circular No. 02/2023 issued by the Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), Kochi.
Re-Export of Goods
Passengers carrying dutiable goods can opt for re-export of the same, without payment of Customs duty, if the said goods have been voluntarily declared before Customs. As per the request of the passenger, the goods shall be detained temporarily by Customs, for the purpose of being returned to him on his leaving India.
Contact & Complaints
Complaints & Suggestions
Passengers are welcome to bring their complaints / suggestions in connection with Customs clearance, to the Assistant Commissioner of Customs on duty.
Office Address
Air Customs, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
Emergency Contact
For urgent assistance, contact the Assistant Commissioner of Customs on duty at the airport.