Monday 02 / February / 2026
Muscat: India has notified new Baggage Rules, 2026 with effect from 2 February, 2026. NRIs and foreigners with long-term visas can now bring goods worth Rs75,000 duty-free, up from Rs50,000 earlier, according to media reports. Foreign tourists now get a duty-free allowance of ₹25,000, compared to just ₹15,000 earlier.
The report further said that specific provisions for jewellery now allow female passengers up to 40 grams and other passengers 20 grams duty-free, provided it is part of bona fide accompanied baggage. In addition, the general duty on personal imports exceeding these limits has been halved, reducing from 20% to 10%.
“These changes are part of the Indian Union Budget 2026 and aim to reflect current economic realities and are expected to further boost travel, retail and tourism industries,” the media report stated.
This increase is intended to provide greater purchasing power, reflecting an acknowledgment that previous limits had become insufficient due to price escalations over the years, the report added.
Another report said that new Baggage Rules 2026 were much needed and align with the needs and expectations of modern travellers. The focus of these reforms, being on digitalisation and improving travel experience, together with various measures proposed in the Union Budget with respect to tourist sites are expected to bolster India’s tourism sector.
