Dubai gold may be cheaper for Indians, but getting it home comes at a cost

Travellers risk penalties if they don't follow India's import duty rules

- BY NIVETHA DAYANAND

Gold prices have eased from their record highs and, with holiday travel picking up, Dubai’s gold souks are once again drawing large numbers of Indian tourists. Many shoppers are asking the same question: how much gold can you actually carry back to India without paying duty?

The legal limits

Indian male passengers returning from abroad may carry up to 20 grams of gold jewellery valued up to 50,000 rupees duty-free. Female passengers may carry up to 40 grams valued up to Rs100,000.

Children under 15 can also carry up to 40 grams as gifts or ornaments, provided the correct documentation is shown. These limits apply to jewellery, not gold coins or bars.

Indian customs rules allow travellers who have stayed abroad for more than six months to bring up to one kilogram of gold in their baggage, provided they pay the applicable duty.

Sliding scale beyond the cap