Gold is next to God for Indians, no matter where they are. Most Indians immigrating to the United States do carry their gold items, such as wedding jewelry, inherited ornaments, coins, etc. They travel back to India with the same for personal use at family functions or gifting to dear ones. Understandably, traveling with this precious yellow metal in any form is subject to some regulations and restrictions. Indian Eagle, your trusted travel-booking partner, brings you this guide for
- India’s duty-free gold jewelry allowance for NRIs
- Indian customs rules for gold jewelry purchased abroad
- How to save India’s customs duty on your gold jewelry in excess
- Temporary baggage import certificate from Indian Customs
- Export certificate for taking your gold abroad from India and its validity
- How to declare your gold (beyond duty-free allowance) online while flying to India
What is duty-free allowance for carrying gold jewelry to India?
India’s Baggage and Customs Rules 2026 simplified the duty-free gold jewelry allowance for overseas Indians by removing the value-based cap. Among NRIs from USA and other countries, women travelers can bring 40-gram gold jewelry and male travelers can bring only 20-gram gold jewelry duty-free to India. The weight-based duty-free allowance is effective starting February 2026 for those Indians and Indian-origin people who have been abroad for more than 12 months.
Also, the same gender-wise duty-free gold allowance applies to NRI children traveling to India. This allowance does not extend to gold bars, coins, and bullion – which must be declared and are subject to customs duty in India.
Traveling to India with your gold jewelry purchased abroad? Check India’s customs rules
Usually, carrying gold or diamond jewelry beyond the duty-free allowance is subject to customs duty on arrival in India, irrespective of where it was purchased. However, there is a way out if you want to carry your personal jewelry (in excess) for a family function in India.
Make sure you carry the purchase receipts and proof of personal use. During checking, convince the Indian customs officer that your jewelry is not a commercial import to India and that you are carrying it for your personal use at a family wedding. Show your return flight ticket and proof of the family function, if there’s any, as supporting documents. It is also advisable to keep photographs of yourself wearing the same jewelry, as this can help establish personal ownership if required.
Also, you may obtain a temporary baggage import certificate from the customs on arrival in India, according to the 2026 customs rules that permit overseas Indians to bring their personal jewelry (in large quantity) without paying any duty. You must take back the same jewelry after attending a wedding or any other family event in India.
Customs rules for bringing back to India your gold jewelry that you had taken to USA
If you obtained an export certificate from Indian Customs for taking your gold jewelry from India to USA (or anywhere else), you can bring the same jewelry back to India without paying customs duty. The export certificate serves as the official proof that you are re-importing to India the same jewelry that you had taken out of India earlier. Irrespective of your period of stay abroad, you can bring back jewelry to India from USA, over and above the duty-free allowance. The jewelry must match the details mentioned in the export certificate.
How to get an export certificate from customs officers before flying out of India?
At a departure international airport in India, you can approach the Customs office prior to check-in and declare the jewelry you are taking abroad. The officer will examine the items, record details such as description and weight, and issue an export certificate. Keep this certificate safely and present it to Customs when you return to India. If the jewelry matches the recorded details, it can be re-imported without paying customs duty, even if it exceeds the normal duty-free allowance.
What is the validity of the export certificate?
The export certificate will remain valid for six months from the date of issuance, or till the time you return to India, whichever is earlier.
How much gold you can carry to India in cabin/hand baggage?
Not everyone is allowed to import gold to India as part of cabin baggage. Only Indian residents, NRIs, and OCI cardholders can import gold as baggage, provided they stayed abroad for over 1 year. You can import up to 1 kg of gold in your carry-on bag on international flights to India from USA and other countries.
Customs duty for carrying gold coins or bars to India
Yes, you can carry gold coins or gold bars to India, but they are treated as gold in raw form and do not qualify for any duty-free allowance. Gold coins and bullion must be declared to Customs on arrival and are subject to customs duty on the total value. As per the current customs tariff structure following the July 2024 duty revision and continued under Budget 2026, gold imports attract around 6% customs duty, which includes 5% Basic Customs Duty and 1% Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess. The duty is calculated on the assessable value determined by Customs at the airport.
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How to declare online excess gold to Indian customs before arrival
To declare your gold at Indian customs, follow these steps:
- Go to the Red Channel at the airport if carrying gold jewelry above the duty-free allowance for men or women. Green Channel is only for passengers with non-dutiable and duty-free items.
- Complete the Customs Declaration Form (Form 1) with details of your gold, flight, and stay duration abroad.
- You can also declare your gold online prior to boarding international flights through ATITHI mobile app provided by Indian customs.
- At the Red Channel desk, show your gold items along with receipts, invoices, or purity certificates to the customs officer.
- Customs calculate the duty based on the declared weight of the gold coins and/or bars. Pay the duty in INR or a convertible foreign currency. Once duty is paid and documents verified, you are cleared to exit.
- Customs let your gold/diamond jewelry (in excess) go duty-free if you provide a temporary baggage import certificate or a previously obtained export certificate (explained above).
