Taking gold jewellery out of India
India restricts gold export. Male travellers: 20g jewellery (INR 50,000) duty-free departure. Female travellers: 40g (INR 100,000). Gold bars or coins may not be privately exported without RBI-canalised agency licence.
Details
Under India Customs Baggage Rules 2016 (S.O. 1070(E)) and FEMA provisions, residents may carry personal jewellery within duty-free limits on departure. Gold above the personal limit is subject to customs export assessment and proof of lawful import (duty payment receipt or manufacturing documentation) is required or item may be seized. Gold bars, coins, or bullion may not be exported privately — this requires a canalised agency (RBI-approved bank) export licence. Unlicensed gold bullion export carries confiscation and penalties under Customs Act 1962.
Quantity limits
Male: 20g jewellery (INR 50,000) duty-free departure; Female: 40g (INR 100,000); above limit requires assessment; gold bars/coins prohibited without RBI licence
Documentation required
- Original purchase receipts / import duty payment certificate for jewellery above limit
- Customs export declaration for amounts above duty-free threshold
- RBI canalised export licence for gold bullion (commercial only)
- FEMA declaration for equivalent foreign currency value
The other direction
Bringing gold jewellery into India(restricted)