• Indian customs limit importation, levying a duty on certain items or certain quantities.india image by giantorre from Fotolia.com
  
  When traveling into India, you are permitted to carry a certain number of items without paying any import duties. For all other goods, Indian customs officers levy a tax, or duty, according to the number and type of item. Regulations may vary according to your nationality, the duration of your visit in India and the intended use of your imported goods.. The importation of certain goods may be free of duties, whereas others may be completely prohibited.
  
  

Free Import

• Non-residents entering India for less than six months may import certain items up to set limits without paying duties. Those who are at least 17-years-old may bring up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 gms. of tobacco and two liters of alcoholic liquor or wine. They may also bring reasonable quantities of medication for personal use, two ounces of perfumes and 1/4 liter of toilet water. Indian residents or nationals, ages 10 and above, may freely import up to INR 25,000 (Indian rupees) of souvenirs. In the case they have been outside the country for three days or fewer, the amount is reduced to INR 12,000. All other nationals may bring up to INR 8,000. Finally, general goods intended for personal use may be freely imported, regardless of quantity.
  
  

Import Duty Guidelines

• As a general rule, items that exceed the limits for free importation incur a duty of 60 percent. The importer or import agents must complete a bill of entry which describes and enumerates each of the items. This bill of entry will also establish whether the goods are for personal or home consumption or destined for warehouses. Alternatively, goods may pass through the electronic data interchange system without a bill of goods, though the importer must still make a cargo declaration. The importer must also provide any relevant licenses, letters of credit, insurance documents or technical literature.
  
  

Dutied Items

• While items over the prescribed import limit generally incur a duty of 60 percent, Indian customs also imposes specific regulations for many classes of goods. Regulated categories of goods include live animals and animal products, vegetable products, prepared foodstuffs, minerals, chemicals, plastics, hides and skins, wood, textiles and clothing, footwear and accesories, base materials, machinery and vehicles. Some of these dutied items also require a special sanitary import permit, such as meat products, eggs and milk products and animal-based pet foods. The importation of all kinds of birds and pigs are categorically prohibited.