If you have lived abroad for more than a year, you can bring up to 40 g of jewellery duty-free as a woman, or 20 g otherwise. There is no rupee cap on that jewellery any more. Carry more than that, or have been away for a year or less, and you should declare it at customs.
The 2026 limits
The Baggage Rules, 2026 came into force on 2 February 2026. The Finance Ministry summarised the jewellery allowance like this:
| Passenger | Duty-free jewellery | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Female | Up to 40 g | Resident or tourist of Indian origin, after more than one year abroad |
| Other than female | Up to 20 g | Same condition |
Separately, the general duty-free allowance for other goods is Rs. 75,000 for residents and tourists of Indian origin, and Rs. 25,000 for tourists of foreign origin. Passengers arriving by land border get no general allowance.
Check your case
30 g is within the 40 g duty-free jewellery allowance.
For scale: 40 g of 22K gold is worth about ₹5,18,920 at today's IBJA rate.
What changed from the old rules
The Baggage Rules, 2016 tied the jewellery allowance to rupee caps as well as weight: Rs. 50,000 for a man and Rs. 1 lakh for a woman. With gold where it is today, those caps covered far less than 20 or 40 grams. The 2026 rules removed the value caps and kept the weights, so the allowance no longer shrinks when the gold rate goes up.
If you are carrying more
Go through the red channel and declare it. Customs will assess the duty on what is not covered. The full rules, and a master circular explaining how they are applied, are on CBIC's tax information portal, and the Atithi app lets you file your declaration before you land.
This guide covers jewellery only. If you plan to carry gold coins or bars, read the full rules or ask customs before you travel.
At the airport
- Keep the purchase bill from the shop abroad, with weight and purity.
- Carry passport pages or documents that show how long you lived abroad.
- Wear or carry the jewellery openly. Do not pack it in checked bags.
- When in doubt, declare. It costs you a few minutes.
To compare what you paid abroad with the price at home, check today's IBJA gold rate and work out the Indian bill with our GST and making charges guide.
Sources
- Ministry of Finance, Government notifies Baggage Rules, 2026, 2 February 2026 (pib.gov.in)
- Baggage Rules, 2026, full text (taxinformation.cbic.gov.in)
- Atithi, CBIC's portal and app for international travellers (atithi.cbic.gov.in)
Questions people ask
How much gold can I bring from Dubai to India duty-free?
Under the Baggage Rules, 2026, a returning resident or tourist of Indian origin who has stayed abroad for more than one year can bring jewellery up to 40 grams duty-free if female, and up to 20 grams otherwise.
Is there still a rupee limit on gold jewellery?
No. The Finance Ministry's release says the jewellery allowance is now prescribed solely on weight, removing the old value caps.
What is the general duty-free allowance in 2026?
Rs. 75,000 for residents and tourists of Indian origin, Rs. 25,000 for tourists of foreign origin. Passengers arriving by land border get no general allowance.
When did the new baggage rules start?
The Baggage Rules, 2026 came into force on 2 February 2026, replacing the 2016 rules.
What if I lived abroad for less than a year?
The jewellery allowance is for passengers returning after more than one year abroad. If you have been away for less, declare the jewellery and ask customs what applies to you.