🇮🇳 India— Cash & Currency
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)
2026-04-25
Declaration Threshold
US$5,000
INR
You must declare to customs if you are carrying cash, traveler's cheques, money orders, or negotiable bearer instruments totaling above this amount when entering or leaving India.
What Must Be Declared
| Instrument | Declaration Required |
|---|---|
| Physical currency (any currency) | Yes, if above threshold |
| Traveler's cheques | Yes, if above threshold |
| Bank drafts / money orders | Yes, if above threshold |
| Bearer bonds / negotiable instruments | Yes, if above threshold |
| Credit cards / debit cards | Generally no |
| Electronic payment apps | Generally no |
Failure to declare
Carrying undeclared cash above the threshold can result in seizure of funds, fines, and in some jurisdictions criminal prosecution. When in doubt, declare.
Additional Country Notes
- 01India's import duties can be complex — Basic Customs Duty (BCD) + Social Welfare Surcharge + IGST layers.
- 02IGST on imports is typically 5%, 12%, 18%, or 28% depending on the product.
- 03India has been implementing an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) policy with higher tariffs on many goods.
- 04ICEGATE (Indian Customs Electronic Gateway) handles electronic customs declarations.
- 05India has FTAs with ASEAN, CEPA with UAE, South Korea, and Japan.
- 06Gold and silver imports face significant additional duties (currently 15% BCD + surcharges on gold).
- 07E-way bill system and GST registration are needed for domestic movement of imported goods.