TMI BlogInternational Passenger FacilitationX X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... isions/baggage allowances and list of prohibited/restricted items (endangered species or articles made from flora and fauna such as ivory, musk, reptile skins, furs, shahtoosh, antiques, satellite phones, etc.) at all international airports, with the dos and don'ts for benefit of passengers. A booklet on Customs Guide to Travelers is also brought out periodically and circulated at airports as well as to our Embassies/Consulates abroad. Passenger related Customs information is also made available on the CBEC's web-site www.cbec.gov.in. 2. Clearance of arriving passengers: 2.1 Airlines generally provide the Customs Baggage Declaration Form to the passengers in the aircraft itself and each passenger must fill up the same clearly mentioning the quantity and value of goods brought. On landing, the passenger takes delivery of baggage, if any, from the conveyer belt and approaches the Customs where the passenger exercises the option of seeking clearance through the Green Channel or through the Red Channel. 2.2 The Green Channel or Walk Through Channel applies to passengers who have nothing to declare and are carrying dutiable goods within the prescribed free allowan ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ortionately reduced to ₹ 17,500/- if stay abroad is of 3 days or less. For children below 10 years, the free allowance is ₹ 17,500/- (Rs.3,000/- if stay abroad is of 3 days or less). However, for such passengers coming from Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar or China, by routes other than by land route, and for such passengers coming from Pakistan by land route, the free allowance is ₹ 6,000/-. 3.2 In addition, to the above such passengers are allowed the following quantities of tobacco products and alcohols within the aforesaid duty free allowances: (i) 100 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 125 gms tobacco. (ii) Alcoholic liquor and wines upto 2 litre each. 3.3 The items that are not allowed free of duty include firearms, cartridges of firearms, cigarettes/ cigars/ tobacco or alcoholic liquor and wines that is in excess of what is allowed within the free allowance, gold or silver, in any state (other than ornaments) unless specified otherwise. 3.4 The bonafide baggage items that are in excess of the duty free allowance can be cleared on payment of a uniform rate of Customs duty that is currently @35%+ Cess, as applicable, except for items like liquor, cigarette e ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ing, recreation, sports, health, family reasons, study, religious pilgrimage, or business. The duty free allowances and entitlements for tourists are as follows: Category of Tourist Duty Free Allowance Tourists of Indian origin coming to India (other than those coming from Pakistan by land route) Same as for Indian passengers or foreigners residing in India Foreign tourists Rs.8,000/- Tourist of Pakistani origin Rs.6,000/- Tourist of Nepalese and Bhutanese origin ₹ 8,000/- [Refer Notification No.77/2011-Cus. (NT), dated 14-11-2011] 6. Allowances and entitlements on Transfer of Residence (TR): 6.1 A person transferring his residence to India after a minimum stay of 2 years abroad, immediately preceding the date of his arrival on transfer of residence, is entitled to certain benefits in addition to those available to a passenger, subject to certain conditions. Short visits are permitted during the 2 preceding years but total stay in India on short visits should no ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... nied baggage may arrive in India upto 2 months before the passenger or within such period, not exceeding 1 year, as may be permitted by the Assistant Commissioner of Customs if he is satisfied that the passenger was prevented from arriving in India within the period of 2 months due to circumstances beyond his control. 8.2 No free allowance is admissible in respect of unaccompanied baggage, which is charged the normal baggage rate of duty (35% ad valorem + Cess, at present). 9. Import of foreign exchange/currency: 9.1 Any person can bring into India foreign exchange without any limit. However, declaration of foreign exchange/currency is required to be made in the prescribed Currency Declaration Form in the following cases: (a) Where the value of foreign currency notes exceeds US$ 5000/- or equivalent; and (b) Where the aggregate value of foreign exchange (in the form of currency notes, bank notes, traveler cheques etc.) exceeds US$10,000/- or its equivalent. 10. Import of Indian currency: 10.1 The import of Indian currency is prohibited, however, passengers normally resident in India who are returning from a visit abroad may import Indian currency not ex ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... pets by Customs authorities, production of the required health certificate from the country of export and examination of said pets by the concerned Quarantine Officer at this end. [Refer Circular No.15/2013-Cus, dated 8-4-2013, Circular No. 25/2013-Cus dated 01.07.2013] 13. Detained baggage: 13.1 There may be occasions when the passenger is not in a position to clear his baggage for any reason e.g. inability to pay 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 and its full details inventoried before being taken in the custody of Customs. 14. Mishandled baggage: 14.1 There are numerous occasions when passenger baggage gets lost or mishandled by the Airlines. In all such cases the passenger is required to obtain a certificate to that effect from the airlines and get it countersigned by Customs indicating specifically the unutilized portion of the free allowance. This would enable the passenger to avail the unutilised portion of the duty free allowance ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... the efficiency of Customs officers as well as their behavior towards international passengers, it has decided that: (i) The Chief Commissioners of Customs with international airports in their charge shall ensure that every Customs officer newly posted at the international airports mandatorily undergoes training in the relevant rules and regulations as well as in the manner of dealing with international passengers. The emphasis should be on sensitizing the Customs officers to deal with all arriving passengers and especially international passengers in a polite, professional and pro-active facilitative manner. These training programmes should be repeated on 6-monthly intervals. Since multiple agencies function at international airports, it would also be useful to coordinate interactive sessions involving officials of other agencies so that collectively a good impression is made on international passengers. The Chief Commissioner of Customs should coordinate these training programmes with NACEN, but should also take initiative to organize in-house programmes. (ii) Customs should set up a Help Desk in a prominent place immediately after immigration in the arrival hall and s ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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