Cash / Currency → India

Indian rupees limited; foreign currency over USD 5,000 must be declared

Details

Indian Reserve Bank rules permit residents to carry up to USD 10,000 (or equivalent in foreign currency) abroad without declaration; amounts above must be declared on the Currency Declaration Form (CDF) at Mumbai / Delhi / Bangalore / Chennai / Kolkata airports. INR carry by residents is capped at INR 25,000; non-residents may not export INR. Undeclared amounts are seized under the Foreign Exchange Management Act with penalty of 3× the seized value.

Quantity limit

INR 25,000 / USD 5,000 cash / USD 10,000 total

Documentation required

• Currency Declaration Form (CDF)

Legal reference

FEMA 1999, RBI Master Direction

At the airport

1. You may bring up to USD 5,000 in foreign currency (or USD 10,000 equivalent including traveller's cheques) without declaration. Amounts above this must be declared at CBIC customs using the Currency Declaration Form (CDF).
2. Approach the designated currency declaration counter at BOM, DEL, or your port of entry. Complete the CDF and present it with your passport and the cash.
3. Indian Rupees above INR 25,000 may not be imported. Any INR above this limit will be confiscated. Retain the stamped CDF for your return journey.

Leaving with this item

India restricts currency export. INR 25,000 maximum cash departure. Foreign currency up to USD 3,000 without Form A2; USD 250,000 annual LRS cap applies to residents.

Practical advice

Always declare foreign currency above the threshold. Keep encashment certificates from authorized dealers.

Customs authority

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) · https://www.cbic.gov.in