The Centre has notified the Baggage Rules 2026, signalling a major revamp of India’s Customs framework for international travellers. The new rules raise duty-free allowances, simplify long-standing procedures, and introduce a digital, trust-based clearance system aimed at easing congestion at airports.
Under the revised framework, the general duty-free allowance has been increased to ₹75,000 for most passengers, including Indian residents returning from abroad, persons of Indian origin, and foreign nationals holding valid non-tourist visas.
• Foreign tourists will be eligible for a duty-free allowance of ₹25,000
• Crew members will continue to have a lower allowance of ₹2,500
Transfer-of-residence concessions have been streamlined into three slabs, replacing the earlier complex and item-specific structure:
• ₹7.5 lakh, ₹3 lakh, and ₹1.5 lakh slabs linked to the duration of stay abroad
• A consolidated list of eligible household and personal items, doing away with multiple restrictions
The new rules introduce a weight-based system for jewellery and provide clarity on commonly carried personal items:
• Gold jewellery allowance of up to 40 grams for women and 20 grams for others, for eligible passengers staying abroad for over one year
• One laptop per adult passenger allowed duty-free
• Explicit provisions for the import and re-import of pets
A key shift under the Baggage Rules 2026 is the emphasis on electronic compliance. The Customs Baggage (Declaration and Processing) Regulations 2026, along with a Master Circular, consolidate 35 earlier circulars into a single framework.
• Electronic baggage declarations and advance filings to speed up clearance
• Reduced reliance on penalties, with a settlement-based approach for bona fide cases
Travel and tourism industry stakeholders have welcomed the changes, noting that higher duty-free allowances and simplified procedures are likely to boost both inbound and outbound travel. Legal experts have also described the overhaul as balancing facilitation with enforcement, with digital compliance and trust-based settlement mechanisms replacing a largely punitive approach.
Overall, the Baggage Rules 2026 aim to align India’s Customs processes with global best practices while improving the passenger experience at international airports.
