New immigration form for flyers comes into effect

Passengers of Indian origin, foreigners of over 10 years of age residing in India and coming from Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and China eligible for duty-free allowance of Rs 6,000

A new immigration form bearing additional fields for declaration of prohibited and dutiable goods for passengers flying into India has come into effect.

An Indian citizen would now need to fill up the immigration form only when he or she goes out of the country. Indian citizens returning from abroad are not required to fill the immigration form, which came into force from Saturday.

Passengers coming to India will have to declare Indian currency exceeding Rs 10,000 being carried by them in the new 'Indian Customs Declaration Form'.

This form has an additional field for declaration of baggage (including hand baggage). Travellers will be declaring any prohibited articles, gold jewellery (over free allowance) and gold bullion. Passengers will also have to give details of countries visited in the prior six days.

Old fields like declaration of satellite phone, foreign currency exceeding $5,000 or equivalent, aggregate value of foreign exchange, including currency exceeding $10,000 or equivalent, meat, meat products, dairy products, fish or poultry products and seeds, plants, fruits, flowers and other planting material have been retained in the new form.

Passengers of Indian origin and foreigners of over 10 years of age residing in India and coming from Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and China are eligible for a duty-free allowance of Rs 6,000. A duty-free allowance of Rs 35,000 can be availed by such passengers in case they are coming from any country other than the above four.

As per rules, a tourist of foreign origin gets a duty-free allowance of Rs 8,000. An Indian traveller, who has been residing abroad for over a year, can get gold jewellery worth Rs 50,000 (for man) and Rs 1 lakh (for woman) without paying import duty.