TMI BlogPassenger Clearance System – Facilitation-cum-EnforcementX X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ion efforts. 2. On the other hand, there are also passengers trying to abuse the air route for smuggling, carrying high valued and even sensitive goods-including narcotics and other sensitive drugs, gold or other high valued low bulk items bearing substantial duties, which they may like to evade by non-declaration/concealment in baggage or on person, for earning high profit by sale in the market. The Customs posted at the Airports have, therefore, a difficult role of ensuring quick clearance and maximum passenger facilitation, as well as enforcing the Customs Act and various allied laws to protect the interests of the society/economy/revenue. 3. With the growth of international passenger traffic Indian Customs have changed its procedures in tune with international practices. Over the years the Government has also - considering the demands of general public trade industry and recommendations of various committees substantially liberalized the duty free baggage allowances and other facilities and procedures so that minimum genuine needs of passengers can be met and they could get reasonable quantity/value of items customs cleared without charging duties. Steps have also ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ny question being asked by Customs is meant for passengers who have nothing to declare and are carrying dutiable goods within the prescribed free allowance (Details are given later). The passengers can simply walk through the Green Channel with their baggage on the basis of their Oral declaration/Declaration on their Disembarkation Card. 8. The Red Channel is meant for passengers who have something to declare or are carrying goods in excess of the duty free allowance. The passenger hands over the Customs portion of the Disembarkation Card to the officer on duty at the channel. In case the card is incomplete the Customs officer helps record the Oral declaration (O.D) of the passenger and thereafter he countersigns/stamps the same, after taking the passenger's signature. In order to identify the frequent short visit passengers the Customs officer also generally scrutinizes the passport and other travel documents of the passengers. The declaration of goods and their values is generally accepted and duty assessed. On payment of this duty the passenger is allowed clearance. 9. Any passenger found walking through the Green Channel with dutiable/prohibited goods or found misde ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e items that are in excess of the duty free allowance can be cleared on payment of a uniform rate of Customs duty of approximately 61%, except for items like Liquor, cigarette etc that are charged to a higher rate of duty. Professional returning after 3 months 13. In the case of professionals who are returning to India after atleast 3 months stay abroad the person is eligible for additional free allowance over and above mentioned above, for used household articles such as utensils, linen, kitchen appliances, iron etc (upto Rs 6000) and professional equipment( Upto Rs 10,000). The allowance is proportionately higher if passenger is returning after 6 months stay or 1-year stay abroad. Import of Jewelry /Gold/Silver 14. a) Jewellers : An Indian passenger who has been residing abroad for over one year is allowed to bring jewelry, free of duty in his bonafide baggage upto an aggregate value of Rs. 10,000/- (in the case of a male passenger) or Rs.20, 000/- (in the case of a lady passenger) b) Gold : Any passenger of Indian origin (even if a foreign national) or a passenger holding a valid passport issued under the Passport Act, 1967. is allowed to import upto 10 kg o ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... eding 6 months]. 17. The person transferring his residence to India after 2 years stay abroad as mentioned above is eligible to clear free of duty, articles such as used personal and household articles for a value upto Rs 1.5 Lakhs.. The goods such as firearms, cartridges of firearms, cigarettes/ cigars/ tobacco or alcoholic liquor and wines that are in excess of what is allowed within the free allowance, gold or silver, in any state (other than ornaments) are not allowed to be imported. However the following goods are not eligible for a complete duty exemption and are charged to a lower concessional rate of duty of 31%. The items include T.V, VCR/VCP/VTR, Washing Machine, Air Conditioner, Microwave oven, personal computer, Dish washer, Music System, Electrical/LPG Cooking Range(Other than cooking range with not more than 2 burners and without any extra attachment), Refrigerator, Deep Freezer, Video Camera or a combination of Video camera and TV Receiver; Sound recording or reproducing apparatus; Video reproducing apparatus, Word Processing Machine, Fax machine, Vessels, Aircraft, Cinematographic films of 35 mm and above, Gold or Silver, in any form, other than ornaments. 1 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... rules) to India for a minimum period of one year, one firearm of permissible bore can be allowed to be imported subject to the conditions that: · the same was in possession and use abroad by the passenger for a minimum period of one year and also subject to the condition that such firearm, after clearance, shall not be sold, loaned, transferred or otherwise parted with, for consideration or otherwise, during the lifetime of such person · The firearms are allowed in such cases on payment of applicable duty provided the passenger has a valid arms licence from the local authorities. Import of pet animals as baggage 24. Domestic pets like dogs, cats, birds etc. may be imported. Import of animals and birds is governed by strict health certificate regulations Detained Baggage 25. There may be occasions when the passenger may not be in a position to clear his baggage for any reasons e.g. inability to pay up the Customs duty demanded. In such a situation, the passenger may request the Customs to detain his baggage either for re-export at the time of his departure from India or for clearance subsequently on payment of duty. The detained baggage would be examined a ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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