Moving to India
Trünk offers a door to door move of your essential personal effects to India. It is the perfect moving system for shipping what is essential. If you are only moving a small amount of your valued goods or if you have a larger move via ocean, our essential move solution is a perfect add on to get what's needed there fast.
Below is information and links to documentation regarding Indian Customs for your move to India.
Support for Travelers Support for Unaccompanied Baggage Baggage Declaration Form
Used Household Goods and Personal Effects to India
Documents Required
- Original passport (copy of Passport duly certified is accepted for diplomats)
- Valued list of articles with date of purchase
- Baggage customs declaration signed by owner of the goods
- Packing list
- List of electronic items
- Authority letters (diplomats / non-diplomats, refer to agents for more information)
- Duty-free exemption certificate issued by diplomatic organization in India
- Original bill of lading (OBL) / sea waybill / copy of air waybill (AWB)
- Original residence permit (foreigners)
- Valid visa / PIO card for foreign nationals / Overseas Citizen of India card
- Employment letter / transfer letter / assignment letters
Specific Information
- The packing list must be stamped by the Consulate / the Embassy for diplomatic shipments.
- The owner of the goods must be present for Customs clearance.
- All shipments are subject to Customs examination unless a diplomatic shipment.
- All containers (except diplomat) are offloaded at the point of entry (POE) / (TOE) and reloaded into vans.
- Foreign nationals must possess a visa valid for 1 year.
- Indian nationals must have lived abroad for at least 2 years preceding transfer to India and intend to reside in India for a period of at least 1 year.
- Owner of the goods must have not must not have visited India for more than 180 days in the preceding 2 years.
- Air shipments must be dispatched from the origin airport within 15 days after the arrival of the owner of the goods in India.
- Sea shipments must be dispatched from the origin seaport within 1 month after the arrival of the owner of the goods in India.
- Shipments may arrive at the India airport / seaport 2 months prior to arrival of the owner of the goods; however, the shipment will be subject to demurrage or detention as applicable.
- Electronic items should be loaded in the front (opening side) of the container or lift-van
- A list of electronic items should be provided on a separate sheet.
Note: Customs regulations are the same throughout India. However, the regulations may be interpreted differently amongst the various Customs offices.
Restricted/Dutiable Items
- New items are subject to duties (invoice must be supplied).
- Customs duties are approximately 16.50% to be levied on the following items:
- Televisions (Old technology
- Video home theatres
- Dishwashers
- Domestic Refrigerators above 300L or equivalent
- Deep freezers
- Video cameras
- Firearms, ammunition and weapons
- Restricted item must be included with the household goods shipment.
- A license must be obtained prior to import.
- Duplicate items or items in sums of excess of Rs. 150,000 (Rs. 500,000 in Delhi and Mumbai) are duties of approximately 36.01 to 61%.
- Import of foodstuffs / edibles varies between different cities throughout India. Foreign nationals may be allowed import of foodstuff up to Rs. 1,000,000 in a year.
- It is advisable to check with the respective destination agent and then include in the shipment.
- Plasma/LCD/LED Tvs of similar technology are dutiable at 38.5% duty whether used or new.
Prohibited Items
- Beef and beef products
- Narcotics, non-branded drugs and psychotropic substances
- Obscene literature, photographs or films
- Politically subversive literature