New India customs rules explained: What you can bring home without paying duty

Flying back to India from abroad? New baggage rules now let adult travellers bring costlier gadgets, including a phone and laptop, without paying customs duty.

India has revised its duty-free baggage rules, with the updated norms coming into force on February 2, 2026. The changes increase the value of goods that passengers can bring into the country without paying customs duty and introduce a clear allowance for carrying one laptop. The rules apply differently based on the traveller’s status and the mode of arrival.

India has revised baggage rules, allowing passengers to bring phones and laptops duty-free when returning home. (X.com)

By MD Ijaj Khan

Ijaj Khan is a technology journalist and Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, with over three years of experience covering the consumer technology industry. His work spans smartphones, laptops, wearables, gaming, appliances and AI - from hands-on reviews, comparison and buying guides to breaking news and in-depth features that help readers cut through the noise and make informed decisions. Before joining HT Tech, he worked with Jagran New Media, where he sharpened his instincts for fast-paced digital reporting. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi. Whether he's testing the latest flagship smartphone, tracking a major AI announcement, or putting a gaming laptop through its paces, Ijaj approaches every story with the same goal - making technology feel relevant and easy to understand for everyday users, not just enthusiasts. When he's not in front of a screen for work, he's usually travelling to a new city, hunting for great food, or keeping tabs on what's next in tech before everyone else catches on.

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Under the new framework, passengers can bring used personal items needed for daily use without duty, as long as these items are not intended for sale. For other goods, the general free allowance has increased from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 75,000. This limit applies to Indian residents, visitors of Indian origin, and foreign nationals holding a valid visa.

Who Can Avail the Allowance

The government has stated that this allowance applies only to passengers arriving in India by air or sea. It covers adults aged 18 years and above, as defined under Indian law. Passengers must carry the goods either on their person or in bona fide accompanied baggage to qualify for duty-free clearance.

Foreign tourists arriving by air or sea can now claim a higher allowance of Rs. 25,000, up from the earlier Rs. 15,000. This benefit does not apply to infants.

Rules for Arrivals and Laptops

Passengers entering India through land borders continue to face tighter restrictions. They can bring only used personal items needed for daily life without duty. No monetary allowance applies to other goods for land arrivals, and the items must be carried on the person or in accompanied baggage.

In a key update, the rules now allow passengers to bring one new laptop duty-free. This provision applies to travellers aged 18 years or above, excluding crew members. The laptop must be carried in bona fide baggage.

Customs authorities have also reiterated that duty-free allowances cannot be combined or shared between passengers, even among family members. Officials said the revised rules strengthen risk-based checks to prevent misuse while ensuring that genuine travellers face fewer issues during routine screening.