Dubai to India Gold Limit: After the arrest of actress Ranya Rao, people have raised questions about how much gold can be brought from Dubai without getting stuck in customs checks? Know the rules and legal limits.
Dubai to India Gold Limit: On Monday, March 3, famous Kannada and Tamil film actress Ranya Rao was arrested on charges of gold smuggling at Bengaluru airport. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) team recovered 14.2 kg of gold from her, the estimated value of which is said to be Rs 12.56 crore. After this incident came to light, the question arising in the minds of the people is how much gold is allowed to be brought to India from abroad, especially Dubai, and what rules apply for this?
If you are planning to bring gold from abroad to India, then you should be aware of the limits and custom duty rules set by the government. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has set some guidelines for bringing gold into India.
How much gold can be brought?
Duty free limit
- Male passengers: Up to 20 grams of gold (maximum value of Rs 50,000)
- Female passengers: Up to 40 grams of gold (maximum value of Rs 1,00,000)
- Children below 15 years: Up to 40 grams of gold
- If gold is brought within this limit, no custom duty will have to be paid. If passengers bring more gold than this amount, they will have to pay custom duty.
Custom duty rates for male passenger
| Amount of gold | custom duty (%) |
| Upto 20 grams (worth Rs 50,000) | No charges |
| 20 – 50 grams | 3% |
| 50 – 100 grams | 6% |
| More than 100 grams | 10% |
Custom duty rates for female passenger
| Amount of gold | custom duty (%) |
| Upto 40 gms (worth Rs 1,00,000) | No charges |
| 40 – 100 grams | 3% |
| 100 – 200 grams | 6% |
| More than 200 grams | 10% |
Rules for bringing gold for children
Children below 15 years of age can also bring up to 40 grams of gold duty free, but for this they will have to provide proof of their relationship.
| Amount of gold | custom duty (%) |
| Upto 40 g | No charges |
| 40 – 100 grams | 3% |
| 100 – 200 grams | 6% |
| More than 200 grams | 10% |
Rules applicable to gold coins
- There will be no custom duty on gold coins up to 20 grams.
- 10% custom duty will be applicable on gold coins weighing 20 to 100 grams.
- 10% custom duty will also have to be paid on gold coins weighing more than 100 grams.
Special rules for Indian passport holders
Indian citizens or Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) staying abroad for six months or more can bring in gold at concessional customs duty. The applicable duty is as follows:
| Type of Fee | Rate (%) |
| Basic Custom Duty | 12.5% |
| Social Welfare Cess (SWS) | 1.25% |
Overall, Indian passport holders will have to pay 13.75% customs duty if they fall under this exemption.
Documents required to bring gold
- Purchase receipt: Proof of purchase of gold
- Gold Purity Certificate: Confirmation of the purity and quality of gold
- Serial Number: Information about the weight and serial number marked on the gold bar
- If passengers provide wrong information or do not follow the rules, their gold can be confiscated and they can also be fined heavily.
