Transfer of Residence to India

Indian nationals or foreign nationals including those of Indian origin, transferring their residence to India or coming to India on employment, can import their personal effects and household goods into India free of duty subject to the following conditions.

'Shipper of the goods must have lived overseas for at least 2 years and must be transferring his/her residence to India. Indian nationals must not have visited India for more than 180 days in the preceding 2 years.'

Foreign nationals must have a resident/business/work/entry visa.

Shippers presence is required during customs clearance and therefore owner should have arrived into India before shipment arrives else demurrages/container detention will be quite heavy. 

Duty free Goods: Old & used personal effects and house-hold goods such as clothes, books, kitchenware, furniture small appliances like mixer, juicer, iron etc. are allowed to be imported free of duty if these are used by the shipper.

Motor Vehicles

Indian nationals coming to India on transfer of residence are allowed to import one vehicle. Import of both new as well as old cars is now allowed. Payment for the car must be made prior to arrival or owner in India. Shipment can be effected within 6 months of arrival. In lieu of a motorcar, one motorcycle can also be imported.
A no sale bond for 2 years has to be filed at the time of import. Duty can now be paid in Indian rupees and not in convertible foreign exchange.
Foreign nationals coming to India on employment can import one car regardless of cc. Customs duty on new cars in approx. 85.56 % of the value assessed. Customs duty on new cars is approx 182%.

Under Transfer of Residence (TR) rules and customs concessional duty of 25% of the value adjudicated is levied on the following new/old items: TVs, DVD players, VCR’s/Player or Video Television Receiver or Video Cassette Disk player, Home Theater Systems, Stereos, Dishwashers, Air-Conditioners, electric cooking range, electrical or liquefied petroleum gas cooking ranges, washing and drying machines, microwave oven, refrigerator with capacity over 300 Liters, deep freezer, video camera and accessories, sound recording equipment, video reproduction equipment, cinematographic films of 35 mm and above. Word processors, PC’s (desktop computers), laptop computer (Notebook Computer), domestic refrigerator (of capacity up to 300 liters or its equivalent fax machine, portable photocopiers, boats or aircraft.

Prohibited Items

• Firearms, cartridges of firearms exceeding 50.
• Ammunition and weapons are strictly prohibited unless a license is obtained prior to importation and applicable duty is paid. 
• Cigarettes exceeding 200 or cigars exceeding 50 or tobacco exceeding 250 grams.
• Some prohibited drugs include DHEA, narcotics, hallucinogens, amphetamines, barbiturates, and tranquilizers, steroids and performance enhancing drugs. 
• Beef or products with beef.
• Gold or silver in any form other than ornaments.