Duty-Free Liquids on Return Flights
Duty-free alcohol or perfume allowed through transit only if sealed in STEBs with receipt dated within 36 hours.
Duty-free liquor or perfume only clears onward security if it stays sealed inside an ICAO-approved STEB with a receipt less than 36 hours old. Break the seal or lose the slip and the bottle becomes a regular >100ml liquid that screeners will confiscate.
When allowed vs. when not
✅ When it's allowed
- •Carry a spare foldable tote to shield STEBs from knocks inside the overhead bin.
- •Photograph the receipt and seal number in case the ink fades mid-trip.
- •Combine purchases so each passenger holds no more than the 2-litre customs allowance on arrival.
🚫 When it's NOT allowed
- •Don’t decant bottles into travel flasks; customs will treat them as undeclared alcohol.
- •Avoid buying duty-free five hours before an overnight layover—long gaps invite extra checks.
- •Never stuff STEBs into checked baggage without extra padding; broken seals void the exemption.
Transit outcomes for duty-free liquids
| Scenario | Security decision | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Seal intact + receipt <36h | Clears LAG screening | Proceed to gate with STEB |
| Seal opened for tasting | Confiscated | Buy again after next checkpoint |
| Forced landside exit | >100ml rule applies | Repack in checked bag or skip carrying |
Frequently asked questions
Can I carry two STEBs if I have two layovers?+
What if the shop forgets to include the receipt?+
Does the 2-litre Indian allowance include alcohol bought abroad and domestically?+
Related guides
Related rules
Perfume / Deodorant
Cabin limit 100ml per bottle inside a 1L clear bag. Larger bottles go in checked baggage.
Sanitizer allowance
Cabin limit 100ml per container, same as any other liquid — the 350ml pandemic-era allowance ended. Checked baggage allows larger bottles if sealed.
Shampoo & lotions
Treat as liquids/gels. Cabin limit 100ml per container inside the 1L bag.
Makeup kit
Liquid or gel-based makeup counts toward the 100ml rule; compact powders are exempt.
Nail polish/remover
Allowed in cabin up to 100ml and in checked bags up to 0.5L per container.
Liquid bottles >100ml
Liquids above 100ml per container are banned from cabin unless exempt (baby food/medicines).
Official references
DGCA guidelines — simplified
Verified on: 6 Dec 2025
Disclaimer: Aviation and security rules change frequently. Always confirm with your airline, airport help desk, or CISF officers before you travel.