How Much Gold is allowed from Dubai to India?

Indians often buy gold from Dubai because of its lower prices and superior purity. However, the Indian Customs Act strictly defines how much gold is allowed from Dubai to India and what duties apply when you cross the duty-free limit. Understanding these rules helps you avoid penalties, seizure, and unnecessary delays at the airport.

Continue reading to know the gold limit from Dubai to India, applicable customs duty, and more.

Key Highlights

• Duty-free gold limit:
  • Men: 20g (up to Rs. 50,000)
  • Women: 40g (up to Rs. 1,00,000)
  • Children (<15 years): 40g
• You can bring up to 1 kg of gold after paying customs duty (if you stayed abroad ≥ 6 months).
• Customs duty ranges from 3% to 10% for baggage exemptions and 13.7% on gold bars/coins under the standard rate.
• Gold must be carried only as jewellery, coins, or bars—no gold dust or scrap allowed.
• All gold above the duty-free limit must be declared at the Red Channel on arrival.

Why is Gold Cheap in Dubai?

Gold prices in Dubai are cheaper compared to India due to several reasons. 

• One of the reasons for a cheaper gold rate in Dubai is zero GST (goods and services tax) on bullion and gold jewellery, while India imposes 3% GST on gold. 
• Apart from this, Dubai jewellery stores charge a reasonable manufacturing cost, which makes 24K gold in Dubai approximately 5% to 7% cheaper than in India.
• Daily global rates and the currency rate between the UAE dirham and the Indian rupee determine the price difference.

Consumers save more money when they purchase gold in huge quantities from Dubai. Thus, the pricing advantage is one of the major reasons why Dubai remains a gold investment destination for Indians.

Gold Carrying Limit from Dubai to India

As per the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Indian travellers can bring up to 1 kg of gold in baggage from Dubai upon staying there for more than six months after payment of duty. However, they will have to pay customs duties for carrying any amount of gold above the duty-free gold limit.

Type of Gold Permitted

Indians can carry gold from Dubai in the following two forms:

• Gold bars
• Gold coins

Duty-Free Gold Limit for Male Passengers

A male passenger can bring 20 grams (maximum value of Rs. 50,000) of gold without paying any customs duty from Dubai to India. Male passengers can carry gold coins or bars within this limit to be exempt from customs duty in India. 

Customs duty must be paid on the extra grams if the gold exceeds 20 grams or the Rs. 50,000 limit. Passengers must produce the gold purchase invoices with the price, purity and date at Indian customs for verification. 

The custom duty rates on excess gold are as follows:

• Custom duty rate of 3% when the gold quantity is 20 grams to 50 grams 
• Custom duty rate of 6% when the gold quantity is 50 grams to 100 grams
• Custom duty rate is 10% when the gold quantity is over 100 grams

Duty-Free Gold Limit for Female Passengers

For female passengers, the duty-free gold limit from Dubai is 40 grams (maximum value of Rs. 1 lakh). Female passengers can bring back gold in the form of jewellery, bars, or coins while returning from Dubai for their personal use. 

Any amount beyond this limit will attract customs duty. Passengers must also produce proper documentation of gold purchase at Indian customs for verification. 

The custom duty rates on excess gold are as follows:

• Custom duty rate of 3% when the gold quantity is 40 grams to 100 grams 
• Custom duty rate of 6% when the gold quantity is 100 grams to 200 grams
• Custom duty rate is 10% when the gold quantity is over 200 grams

Duty-Free Gold Limit for Children

Children under the age of 15 years can bring gold ornaments of a maximum of 40 grams without paying a custom duty. This includes gifts or presents given to the child in the form of gold. 

A child carrying or buying gold from Dubai must have identity proof of his/her relationship with the adults accompanying the child. So, the guardian must bring this paperwork while producing the purchase invoice to the Indian customs.

Customs duty must be paid on the extra grams of gold carried by a child at the following rates:

• Custom duty rate of 3% when the gold quantity is 40 grams to 100 grams 
• Custom duty rate of 6% when the gold quantity is 100 grams to 200 grams
• Custom duty rate is 10% when the gold quantity is over 200 grams

Custom Duty on Gold in India from Dubai

The Indian Government levies import taxes on gold brought into the nation by individuals. This import tax on gold is known as customs duty. When getting gold into India from Dubai, it is essential to know the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) customs tax rate. 

Customs tax rates vary for Indian citizens depending on the duration of their stay in Dubai. The following table provides the custom tax duty:

Individuals who have been in Dubai for more than 6 months are eligible for a duty remission of 12.5% plus a social welfare surcharge of 1.25% on the gold they bring back into India. 

Custom Duty Charges On Gold Bars

The customs tax on gold bars is determined by the quantity of gold imported, which are as follows:

• When the quantity of gold bars brought are less than 1 kg per passenger: 10% customs charge is levied on the gold bars value.
• When the quantity of gold bars brought is 20 grams - 100 grams: 3% custom charge is levied.
• When the quantity of gold bars brought is less than 20 grams: no customs duty is levied.

Custom Duty Charges On Gold Coins

The customs duty on gold coins is determined by the total weight of coins imported, as follows:

• When the total weight of gold coins is less than 20 grams: No customs duty is levied.
• When the total weight of gold coins is between 20 grams and 100 grams: A 3% customs charge is levied.
• When the total weight of gold coins is less than 1 kg per passenger: A 10% customs charge is levied on the gold coin value.

Custom Duty on Gold Calculation in India

The customs duty on gold imported into India is calculated based on the type of gold item and its quantity. Estimating the gold value, adding the applicable duty rate, and applying taxes on the duty amount is essential for calculating custom duty.

Gold coins, bars, and jewellery are valued based on present global gold prices of 24K purity on the import day. Based on this assessed value, the customs department determines the appropriate duty slabs, ranging from 0% to 10%.

Documents Required

Proper documentation of gold purchase invoices and certificates showing quality and purity is required for customs to estimate the exact value. If passengers are unable to provide correct information, it may result in penalties and confiscation in some situations. 

How to Get Gold Duty-Free from Dubai to India?

Indian passengers can carry back a small amount of gold for personal use without incurring any taxable liability, known as duty-free gold. 

• You will have to bring documentation of the duty-free gold details for customs verification. 
• This should include purchase invoices with more information about the gold's purity, price and date, which help determine its value.
• Failure to submit these documents may result in penalties, increased confiscation, or both.
• The government of the UAE provides a concession for Indian Passengers, allowing them to reclaim a refund of 5% of the VAT paid towards the purchase of gold. However, this does not apply to NRIS. 
• For insured gold shipments, IGST is exempt if shipped under a CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) contract.

How to Declare Gold at an Airport in India?

Indians need to declare the gold amount they are carrying from Dubai after reaching the airport if it exceeds the duty-free limit. The green channel in the airport is for travellers carrying non-dutiable goods or luggage, and the red channel is for dutiable goods. 

Thus, Indian passengers carrying gold above the permitted limit should enter the red channel to declare that they are carrying a dutiable gold amount from Dubai. 

Consequences of Non-Declaration of Excess Gold

As per the Customs Act of 1962, non-declaration of excess gold can lead to confiscation of the passenger’s baggage and charges of a hefty penalty. The passenger may also face legal consequences for not abiding by the law.

Final Word

Now that you know how much gold is allowed from Dubai to India without duty, you can plan your purchase from Dubai accordingly. However, if your purchase exceeds the decided limit, you can pay the required customs duty and take your belongings home without any legal hazards.

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