India
CUSTOMS GUIDE - INDIA
Whether you are returning to the India or going there for the first time, there will inevitably be questions that you would like answered prior to your moving overseas.
Careline removal company has prepared the following guide will hopefully provide you with the information you need for importing motor vehicles, household goods and personal effects.
You should note that additional charges may be incurred if you import prohibited or restricted items. These charges, along with taxes and duties, storage, demurrage, customs / agriculture inspection charges, handling/special cleaning charges resulting from inspection, delivery that can only be serviced by ferry or delivery above 2nd floor without an elevator are not included in our quotation.
The Custom Information has been prepared to the best of our knowledge and experience. Custom rules are subject to change without prior notice. We shall not be responsible for sole relliance on this work nor for any error or omission.
CUSTOMS INFORMATION FOR IMPORT OF HHG AND CARS TO INDIA
GENERAL INFORMATION
Indian nationals, 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.
Owner 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 tow years.
Foreign nationals must have a resident/business/work/entry visa.
Goods must be shipped out within 30 days of arrival of the owner into India. Cars can be shipped with 6 months of arrival. If there is a delay then goods can be cleared only if customs condone the delay. Each case will be decided on merits.
Owners presence is required during customs clearance and therefore owner should have arrived into India before shipment arrives else demurrage/container detention will be quite heavy.
The condition of compulsory one-year stay in India after claiming Transfer of Residence duty benefits has been removed and importers can now leave the country after claiming TR concessions.
HOUSEHOLD GOODS
Duty free imports: 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. New articles are charged duty @ 60%
The following 14 major appliances (single unit of each) are charged duty @ 35% of the value subject to a value limit of Rs. 150,000/-(approx. US$ 3500) regardless of usage.
The items are 01) Television, 02) VCR/VCP/VTR, 03) Washing Machine, 04) Dishwasher, 05) Music System, 06) Personal Computer, 07) Microwave oven, 08) Air Conditioner, 09) Refrigerator, 10) Deep Freezer, 11) Video Camera, 12) Cooking Range, 13) Word Processor, 14) Fax machine.
Confessional duty rate of 35% is allowed only on the first unit. If the shipper has two or more of any appliance, of the combined value of the appliances exceeds Rs. 150,000 (US$ 3225) duty @ 60% will be charged on the addition al units/value.
To facilitate customs clearance, we recommend all appliances be loaded in one liftvan and make, model no, serial number and quantity be provided to us along with the inventory. A separate liftvan loading sheet will also help in the customs clearance.
Import duties on alcohol & Spirits, etc. are very high in India (approx. 243%) and on beer & wines (approx 150%). If shipping above items please contact us prior to shipping for necessary information
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
- Original B/L/AWB copy
- Shipping original passport
- Inventory in English (legible)
- Signed Indian customs declaration forms (will be supplied by us)
- Diplomatic shipments require duty exemption certificate from the Govt. Of India.
SHIPMENT INFORMATION
All liftvans must be stenciled with the shipper's name and preferably with the passport number. A liftvan-loading chart must be provided to avoid opening all the liftvans during customs clearance.
Removal of loaded container out of the port area is not permitted at most POE'S in India. To avoid the chance of pilferage and theft. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND that the shipment be put in to lift vans and then shipped
DUTIABLE IMPORTS
Indian nationals can import any personal effect of household goods to India on payment of customs duty @ 60% of the value
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%.
PERSONNEL ON ASSIGNMENT TO THE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS
Import of household goods and motor vehicle are permitted free of duty on presentation of custom duty exemption certificate issued by the concerned diplomatic mission and countersigned by the government of India. The Diplomatic personnel should contact their mission for issuance of custom duty exemption.
Transfer of Residence Benefits
Foreign or Indian Nationals, including Non resident Indian transferring residence to India are allowed to import their household effects subject to the following:-
The owner has resided overseas for the past two years and is transferring residence to India for at least one year and has not stayed in India for over 180 days in last 2 years ( foreign nationals are treated at par with Indian nationals except that certain custom stations insists on production of minimum one year visa as a precondition to granting transfer of residence benefits).
Please note that only one member of the family is entitled to transfer of residence benefits.
Used personal and household effects, including furniture, kitchenware, glassware etc are duty free. (Consumables and new items shall be dutiable at normal duty rates-61.2%)
Only one of each of the following items (new or old) is permitted under concessional duty rate of 32.6% of value- subject to aggregate value of these items (B) not exceeding US$5000.00
Air Conditioner, Refrigerator, Freezer, Microwave, Washer/Dryer, Cooking Range, Computer, Fax Machine, Television, VCR/VCP, Video Camera, Music System.
Any repeated item of list (B) is dutiable @ normal rate-61.2%
Time Limit:
Unaccompanied baggage must be dispatched by air within 15 days and by sea within 30 days of the owner's arrival in India (the delay may be condoned on merits-maximum extended up to 60 days by air and 90 days by sea).
Duty free import of food stuff
Prohibited
Alcoholic Beverages, Firearms and Ammunition, Commercial Goods or Goods in Commercial Quantity.
Pet's
Domestic pets may be imported duty free. Health and rabies vaccination certificates are required. Copies of the air waybill and these certificates should be faxed to us at least two days prior to arrival of the pet. Owner must be present in India. Procedures vary at different customs points.
Motor Vehicle
Foreign or Indian nationals are allowed to import one car on transfer to India. However different conditions apply to Foreign and Indian nationals. Foreign nationals are not permitted to sell the vehicle in open market. Custom duty is leived @103% of the c.i.f value of the car assessed by customs. Original manufacturer's invoice is essential for assessment of value and custom duty. Depreciation is permitted caused care based on registration period. Restrictions apply on horsepower. Any query may be addressed indicating the nationality of the owner along with the make, model, and c.c. invoice value and age of the car.
NOTE
All information on this page is given for guidance only, and although we believe it to be correct at the time of writing, we cannot accept any liability for errors, omissions, inaccuracies or misinterpretation. All charges, regulations and procedures are liable to change without notice.
This information is provided without obligation and at the individual's risk. We accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy of whatever nature.