Gold Jewellery on Flights
Personal jewellery worn is generally allowed. Bringing gold into India attracts duty beyond 20g (men) / 40g (women) by weight when abroad over 6 months.
Wear your everyday gold freely on domestic flights, but inbound international passengers only get a duty-free allowance of 20g for men and 40g for women, by weight, after staying abroad 6 months. Declare anything heavier—bullion, coins, or bridal sets—or customs will seize it.
When allowed vs. when not
✅ When it's allowed
- •Use hard cases or jewellery rolls inside cabin baggage to avoid scratches during inspection.
- •Keep a list of heirloom pieces and their approximate age—heritage value can influence duty calculation.
- •Declare even if you suspect value is below the limit; officers make the final call, and honesty speeds the process.
🚫 When it's NOT allowed
- •Don’t carry raw gold dust or cut pieces; customs treats them as bullion, not jewellery.
- •Avoid lending jewellery to co-travellers to ‘split’ the limit—if discovered, everyone gets penalised.
- •Never mail high-value ornaments to yourself to dodge checks; parcels go through customs too.
Key highlights
- Wear regular ornaments; keep invoices for heavy bridal sets.
- Returning NRIs/PIOs after 6 months abroad can bring duty-free gold up to the prescribed limits.
- Declare bullion, coins, and bars separately and pay duty at customs.
Bullion bars, coins, and unfinished ornaments are never duty-free — they must be declared, invoiced, and are often routed through the Red Channel for appraisal, unlike worn personal jewellery.
Gold allowance snapshot
| Traveller | Duty-free allowance | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Male passenger | 20g | >6 months abroad |
| Female passenger | 40g | >6 months abroad |
| Other cases | 0g | Duty payable on full value |
Frequently asked questions
Do gemstones count toward the gold allowance?+
What if I lost the purchase bill?+
Can I import gold coins as souvenirs?+
Related guides
Related rules
Tea/coffee powder
Allowed in both cabin and checked baggage if sealed. Large commercial quantities are subject to customs.
Customs prohibited
Firearms, satellite phones, pornographic material, and counterfeit currency are prohibited unless licensed.
Carrying cash
No explicit limit domestically, but amounts above INR 2 lakh can trigger questioning. International travellers must declare currency over USD 5,000 (or USD 10,000 aggregate).
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.