Visa / Custom Rules

Entry Visa is one of the most important requirements for travelling to India. Apart from a valid passport you must possess a valid Visa before entering India. Visas can be procured from the Indian Embassies or Indian High Commissions abroad. Entry visa is never issued at the entry point. Never travel without a valid entry visa else one will be locked-up and deported.

One needs a valid passport for applying for visa and it should be valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of scheduled departure from India. While applying for visa the foreigner has to submit proof of long-term(at least three years)/ permanent residence in his or her native country.

The visas fall into several categories such as the tourist visa, business visa, student visa, transit visa, visa for missionaries, journalist visa and employment visa. Depending on your need apply for the visa at the respective High Commission of India or the Indian Embassy in your country.

Custom Rules For India
In order to enjoy hassle free journey to India you are required to make an oral baggage declaration of the baggage and foreign currency belonging to you. You are required to obtain the Currency Declaration Form available at the Custom department. During your flight to India you will be given the Disembarkation Card by the airline which you are required to fill. Once filled give it back to them.

At the airport check-in counters there are two channels allowing frictionless passage of the tourists. The green channel is for those passengers who do not possess any of the dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage. While the red channel is for the passengers with dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage or high-value articles(to be entered on the Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form).

Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form
The tourist is required to enter his(if any) dutiable articles, unaccompanied baggage, or high value articles in the Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form(TBRE).All these articles have to be re-exported when you leave India for your country. Remember that if you fail to re-export the articles listed on the TBRE, It will become a payable duty levied for each missing item.

Currencies
If the amount of foreign currency or traveller's cheques brought by the passenger exceeds US $1,000, then the passenger is required to mention the amount in the Currency Declaration Form. Cash, bank notes, and traveller's cheques up to US $1,000 or equivalent need not be declared at the time of entry. This is for their interest as this will enable them to exchange the currency brought in and also to take the remaining currency back home on departure. It is highly advised that any money in the form of travellers' cheques, drafts, bills, cheques, etc., in convertible currencies that tourists wish to convert into Indian currency should be exchanged only through authorized money-changers and banks.

Custom Duties
Duty-free allowable articles are : clothes and jewellery, cameras and up to five rolls of film; binoculars, a portable musical instrument, a radio or portable tape recorder, a tent and camping equipment, fishing rod, a pair of skis, two tennis rackets, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 95 litres of liquor, and gifts not exceeding a value of Rs. 600 (about $20).

The foreign passengers(except Nepalese and Bhutanese origin) can carry unlimited items of personal effects. Articles that exceed the duty-free allowance and articles imported as unaccompanied baggage can be cleared on payment of duty at the rate of 61.2% ad valorem. However, cigarettes exceeding 200, cigars exceeding 50, tobacco exceeding 250 g, and alcoholic liquor and wine in excess of one litre each will attract higher duty. Separate rates of duty have been fixed for gold and silver.