Baggage Customs Clearance

The passengers can also send their baggage through cargo which is treated as unaccompanied baggage. However, no free allowance is admissible in case of unaccompanied baggage which is chargeable to Customs duty @ 35% Ad valorem + 3% Education Cess and only used personal effects can be imported free of duty.

Conditions For Availing Benefits under Transfer Of Residence Rules at Indian Customs:

• Minimum stay of two years abroad, immediately preceding the date of his arrival on transfer of residence
• Total stay in India on short visits during the 2 preceding years should not exceed 6 months, and
• Passenger has not availed this concession in the preceding three years.

The passengers can also send their baggage through cargo which is treated as unaccompanied baggage. However, no free allowance is admissible in case of unaccompanied baggage which is chargeable to Customs duty @ 35% Ad valorem + 3% Education Cess and only used personal effects can be imported free of duty.

• Provisions of Baggage Rules are also extended to unaccompanied baggage except where they have been specifically excluded.
• The unaccompanied baggage should be in the possession abroad of the passenger and shall be dispatched within one month of his arrival in India or within such further period as the Deputy / Assistant Commissioner of Customs may allow.
• The unaccompanied baggage may land in India upto two months before the arrival of the passenger or within such period, not exceeding one year as the Deputy / Assistant Commissioner of Customs may allow, for reasons to be recorded, if he is satisfied that the passenger was prevented from arriving in India within the period of two months due to circumstances beyond his control, such as sudden illness of the passenger or a member of his family, or natural calamities or disturbed conditions or disruption of the transport or travel arrangements in the country or countries concerned on any other reasons, which necessitated a change in the travel schedule of the passenger.
• All the unaccompanied baggage is chargeable to customs duty @ 35% advalorem + education cess @ 3%.

If you are a Indian who has stayed outside india for more than 2 years and your short visits to India are less than 180 days in total in the last 2 years, you are eligible to claim Concessional rate of duty under Transfer of Residence ( TR Rules ). Please see the below link Personal Effects - Customs Clearance and Shipping Mumbai Nhava Sheva India.

We present ourselves as an International Relocation Company whereby we can offer the Shipping and Import Customs Clearance of Personal Effects arrived as Unaccompanied Baggage by Sea Cargo or Air Cargo.

Used Personal Effects

The term "used personal effects required for satisfying daily necessities of life" has not been defined in the Baggage Rules. Therefore, it is is the judgement of the customs officer in deciding the nature of the items. There is no published list as it can include a whole range of items.

Generally, the term includes items like all used items of personal wear including shirts, suits, shoes, shoe brush & polish, blouses, sarees, undergarments, pants, neckties, handkerchiefs, dentures, gloves, cosmetics in use, towels, toiletries, bedding, blankets, used bedding, umbrella, walking sticks, used shoes, hair dryer, hearing aid, shaving kit, spectacles, one watch etc. Any other item can be included, based on the merits and on a case-to-case basis.

Various electronic items, furniture and "white goods" cannot be brought as personal effects. Specially, the items mentioned at Annex I and Annex II cannot be brought as personal effects.

For Tourists

In the context of Baggage Rules for tourists, personal effects would include the following:

• Personal jewelry
• One camera with film rolls not exceeding twenty.
• One video camera/camcorder with accessories and with video cassettes not exceeding twelve.
• One pair of Binoculars
• One portable color television (not exceeding 15 cms in size)
• One music system including compact disc player.
• One portable typewriter.
• One perambulator.
• One tent and other camping equipment.
• One computer (laptop/notebook).
• One electronic diary.
• One portable wireless receiving set (transistor radio).
• Professional equipment, instruments and apparatus or appliances including professional audio/video equipments.
• Sports equipments such as one fishing outfit, one sporting fire arm with fifty cartridges, one non-powered bicycle, one canoe or ranges less than 51 meters long, one pair of skids, two tennis rackets, one golf set (14 pcs. with a dozen of golf balls).
• One cell phone.

The above items are in addition to the personal effects allowed for Indian residents.

Scrutiny of Personal Effects

The above items must be taken back abroad when the tourist returns.

Even though the baggage rules allow only used personal effects, it is not the intention of the customs department to verify the newness of every product which a traveler brings, as long as it is not a prima facie new item in their original packing which can be disposed off readily.

No endorsement will be made on the passport regarding the items tourists bring. However, customs officer is responsible for ensuring as far as practicable that the passenger is a genuine tourist and that he/she intends to take the items back abroad during his/her return. In order to do that, the customs officer may scrutinize the passport and visa of the passenger for his/her duration of stay , previous visit etc. and may ask some questions regarding his/her job abroad, purpose of visit in India etc.

Usually, passengers having return tickets are given quick clearance as a return ticket is considered as a proof of the passenger's intention to return abroad within a short time. In case a return ticket is not available with the passenger (or as additional evidences), the passenger may produce proof like live visa for staying abroad, valid job contract, proof of holding property abroad, proof of overseas bank balance, foreign citizenship/passport or any other such convincing proofs etc. as evidence of his/her intention to return abroad within a short period.

Conditions For Availing Benefits under Transfer Of Residence Rules at Indian Customs

• Minimum stay of two years abroad, immediately preceding the date of his arrival on transfer of residence
• Total stay in India on short visits during the 2 preceding years should not exceed 6 months, and
• Passenger has not availed this concession in the preceding three years.

Articles not allowed free at Annexure II as listed below , but at a concessional rate of duty ( 15% + 3% cess ). Every first item from Annexure II, customs duty shall be charged @ 15 % + 3% Cess and every duplicate item shall be charged @ 35 % + 3 % Cess.

ANNEXURE II

• Colour TV / Monochrome TV / LCD TV / LED TV
• DVD Player
• Video Home Theatre System
• Dish Washer.
• Music System.
• Air Conditioner.
• Domestic Refrigerator above 300 ltrs
• Deep Freezer.
• Microwave Oven.

Video Camera or the combination of such video camera with one or more of the following goods, namely:

• Television Receiver;
• Sound recording or reproducing apparatus;
• Word Processing Machine.
• Fax machine.
• Portable Photocopying Machine.

ANNEXURE III ( Duty Free Under TR )

• VCR or VCD.
• Electical or LPG Cooking Range.
• Laptop.
• Desktop Computer.
• Domestic Refrigerator below 300 ltrs.
• Washing Machine.

Conditions

a) Passenger to affirm by a declaration that the goods under Annexure III have been in his / her possession abroad or the goods are purchased from the duty-free shop by him/her at the time of his / her arrival but before clearance from Customs.

b) Unaccompanied goods were shipped or despatched or arrived within the prescribed time limits ( within two months before arrival and within after one month of arrival ).

c) Only one unit of each item in Annexure II , per family is allowed and total value of these items should not exceed Rs. 5 Lakhs.

d) The person claiming this benefit affirms by declaration that no other member of the family had availed, or would avail this benefit. The term "family" includes all persons in the same house and forming part of the same establishment.

e) Passenger has not availed this concession in the preceding three years.

f) Minimum stay of two years abroad, immediately preceding the date of the passenger's arrival on transfer of residence. Shortfall of upto 2 months in stay abroad can be condoned by Assistant Commissioner of Customs if the early return is on account of -
1. Terminal leave or vacation being availed of by the passenger, or 2. Any other special circumstances.

Total stay in India on short visits during the 2 preceding years should not exceed 6 months. Commissioner of Customs may condone short visits in excess of 6 months in deserving cases.

Note 1: Transfer of Residence entitlements are applicable to returning Indians as well as Foreigners transferring their residence to India subject to the fulfillment of prescribed eligibility conditions

Note 2: Earlier there was a clause of minimum stay in India of 1 year after claiming Transfer of Residence. This has since been abolished.

• If there are duplicate items in the shipment then the duty applicable will be 35 % + 3 % cess on duplicate items.
• Other household items which are over 12 months in shipper's possession and use will be allowed import free of custom duty. However, if these items are less than 12 months in shipper's possession and use then the duty on such items will be 35 % + 3 % cess of customs assessed value.
• Duty concessions are not allowed on spices, cooking oil and toiletries.
• Import of wine / alcohol is not permiitted. If desired wine / alcohol can be imported which will be charged to duty at the rate of 200 % and 213% respectively. Wine and alcohol in TRADE quantity will attract Fines and penalties. This could range between 100% to 250%, and are subject to the discretion of customs authorities.

Note 1

• Owner's presence is required during customs clearance and therefore the owner should have arrived into India before the shipment arrives else demurrage / container detention charges will accrue.
• Any misdeclarations in the shipment will lead to massive delay in clearance of shipment and will attract Fines and penalties. This could range between 100% to 250%, and are subject to the discretion of customs authorities. Also the consignee will need to meet the custom officials for a personal hearing for misdeclarations.

List of restricted and prohibited goods

• Firearms, ammunition and weapons unless licensed in advance.
• Obscene literature photographs or films.
• Politically undesirable literature.
• Narcotics.
• Antiques
• Cigarettes exceeding 200 or cigars exceeding 50 or tobacco exceeding 250 gms

DISCLAIMER : Although SECO provides the above information as accurately as possible, since rules change all the time, SECO accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person resulting from information given above. SECO encourages you to verify any critical information with the relevant authorities before you book the consignment.

IMPORT OF MOTOR CARS INTO INDIA UNDER TRANSFER OF RESIDENCE

Import of motor cars into India is liberalized. Motor cars can be imported by resident Indians, resident companies (quite cumbersome) and by those eligible importers covered under a Public Notice issued to this effect or those who have a valid import license (quite easy) . Provisions of PN 3 (RE-2000) / 1997-2000 dated 31st March 2000 are given below.

Passenger cars / jeeps / multi utility vehicles etc. which are in the restricted category may be imported without a license on payment of full customs duty by the following categories of importers.

• Individuals coming to India for permanent settlement after two years continuous stay abroad
• Resident Indians presented with a car as an award in any international event / match / competition
• Legal heirs / successors of deceased relatives residing abroad
• Physically handicapped persons
• Companies incorporated in India having foreign equity participation
• Branches / offices of foreign firms
• Charitable / Missionary / Religious Institutions registered as per the law relating to the registration of the societies or trusts or otherwise approved by the Central or State Government, subject to the condition that the importer is an established institution and is functioning for the common benefit of the community and subject further to production of necessary clearance under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 (as amended by PN 18 (RE-2000)/1997-2000 dt 30/06/2000.
• Honorary Consuls of Foreign Governments on the recommendations of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
• Journalists / Correspondents of foreign news agencies having accreditation certificate with the Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.

All the above categories shall be entitled to import only one vehicle except categories (e) and (f) which shall be entitled to import maximum of three vehicles. Persons in category (d) shall be entitled to import only specially designed vehicles suitable for use by handicapped.

All such imports shall carry a "NO SALE" condition of two years which shall be endorsed by the Customs authorities on the passport / registration documents at the time of import and by the Regional Transport Authorities when such vehicles are presented for registration in India.

All such imports, except by the physically handicapped persons, shall not involve any foreign exchange remittance from India directly or indirectly. The DGFT may, however, permit relaxation of these conditions or imports by any other category not listed in this Public Notice in special circumstances.

All bonds / bank guarantees executed by importers of cars / two wheelers etc. prior to 31.03.1997 where the vehicle has not been transferred, shall be deemed to have been discharged with the issue of this Public Notice.