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12. While coming into India how much foreign exchange can be brought in by NRIs?
Ans. An NRI coming into India from abroad can bring foreign exchange without any limit
provided if foreign currency notes, travellers cheques, etc. exceed US $10,000/- or its
equivalent and/ or the value of foreign currency exceeds US $5,000/- in currency notes or its
equivalent, it should be declared to the Customs Authorities at the Airport in the Currency
Declaration Form, on arrival in India.
13. What are the norms for the import of firearms?
Ans. Import of firearms is prohibited. Likewise, the import of Cartridges in excess of 50 is
also prohibited. However, persons transferring their residence (subject to fulfilment of requisite
conditions of Transfer of Residence) to India for a minimum period of one year are allowed to
import one firearm of permissible bore subject to the conditions that:
(i) The firearm was in possession and used abroad by the passenger for a minimum
period of one year.
(ii) The firearm, after clearance shall not be sold, loaned, transferred or parted with
in any manner during the life time of the passenger.
(iii) The firearm will be allowed clearance under Transfer of Residence facility, on
payment of applicable duty provided the passenger holds a valid arms license
from the local authorities.
14. What are the norms for the import of pet animals?
Ans. Import of pets (dogs or cats) up to two numbers per passenger is allowed as baggage,
only to persons transferring their residence to India after two year of continuous stay abroad
subject to production of required health certificate from country of origin and examination of
the said pets by the animal quarantine officer without an import license issued by DGFT.
Import of pets is allowed only at airports having animal quarantine facility, viz. at Delhi,
Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Passengers can also re-import the pets
which were being taken away with them as export with prior certification from the Animal
Quarantine officer. For details please refer http://dgftcom.nic.in/exim/2000/petguidelines.pdf
and http://aqcsindia.gov.in/pdf/trade-24.pdf
15. Can a passenger import seeds/plants/fruits/flowers?
Ans. Only certain plants and plant materials in Schedules V, VI and VII of the Plant
Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 are allowed to be imported into
India subject to conditions. Passengers should ensure that regulated plant species should be
accompanied with a Phytosanitary certificate issued by an authorized officer at the country of
origin. For details, please refer to http://plantquarantineindia.nic.in/PQISMain/Default.aspx
16. What are the norms for the import of baggage of deceased person?
Ans. Used, bonafide personal and household effects belonging to a deceased person are
allowed to be imported free of duty subject to the condition that a certificate from the concerned
Indian Mission (Embassy/High Commission/Consulate) is produced at the time of clearance
regarding the ownership of the goods by the deceased person.