No point in saving on flight tickets to India if you end up paying a hefty customs duty or penalty for carrying electronics in excess or above the duty-free limit. You must know and comply with the latest customs rules to carry electronics, including gadgets and instruments, from USA to India for personal use and/or gifting. Our guide on USA to India travel with electronic devices aims to sensitize you about the customs duty obligations and exemptions for overseas Indians and tourists of foreign origin. This should not be construed as legal advice. Bookmark and share this guide for a smooth arrival experience in India.
What is India’s duty-free allowance for electronics from USA?
Under India’s new baggage rules, 2026, the duty-free allowance has been increased to Rs 75,000 for importing electronics to India from USA and other countries. Previously, it was Rs 50,000. If you are an Indian passport holder or a foreign citizen of Indian origin residing abroad for more than 3 days prior to your scheduled travel to India, you are eligible for the enhanced duty-free allowance. Effective 2 February, you are entitled to duty-free clearance of your personal electronic items up to Rs 75,000 on the total value.
Do I need to declare dutiable electronic imports to India and how?
India has digitized the dutiable baggage declaration process for international arrivals, irrespective of nationality. As per the Indian customs rules 2026, you must declare dutiable electronic imports in Form CBD-I online (www.icegate.gov.in) or the Athithi mobile app, three days before your scheduled arrival in India. Updating the electronic declaration details is allowed even after Form CBD-I is submitted.
Can I carry two laptops to India without customs duty?
Yes, you can pack in two laptops without worrying about India’s customs duty at the entry airport. If one laptop is new, the other must be in use. The new baggage rules, 2026, allows duty-free clearance of one new laptop or notebook per adult passenger arriving in India. Precisely, you must be 18 years old or above, and the new laptop or notebook must be for your personal/family use or gifting.
If the second laptop is old and used, your baggage will go duty-free through Indian Customs. The customs officer may need you to open the laptop and show whether it is in use. Otherwise, you need to pay customs duty for bringing a second new laptop to India from USA or any other country. Well, the good news is that the customs duty will be cut to a flat 10% from the basic 20%, starting 01 April 2026.
I purchased two laptops in the US. One is boxed and the other is open. Do I have to pay India’s customs duty?
If you’re an Indian or Indian-origin foreign citizen traveling back to India from USA, you may be eligible for duty-free allowances under transfer of residence, depending on the duration of your stay abroad. Your stay in the US for 3-12 months makes you eligible for duty-free clearance of your personal belongings for up to Rs 1,50,000. If you are returning after staying abroad for one to 2 years, your personal belongings may go duty-free up to Rs 3,00,000. The duty-free allowance goes up to Rs 7,50,000 under transfer of residence, if you are traveling back to India after more than 2 years of stay abroad.
Customs rules to re-enter India with the same electronic items that you take abroad
In case of an international trip shorter than 3 months, you are not eligible for India’s duty-free allowance under transfer of residence. You should travel abroad with valid documents so that during re-entry to India, you can prove your electronic items were purchased in India. There’s another way to get duty-free clearance on arrival in India. You can declare your personal electronic items to the customs officer at the departure airport and get an export certificate before traveling to USA or any other country. The same electronic devices get customs clearance without any taxes on return to India.
How many electronic devices can I bring from USA to India?
Usually, you can pack in one laptop, one tablet, and one mobile phone as part of your bona fide baggage while flying from USA to India. If the total value of your dutiable purchases in the US exceeds India’s new duty-free limit of Rs 75,000, under the new baggage rules 2026 for resident Indians and NRIs, you must declare it to the customs officials through the red channel at the entry airport in India. You must have an import license to bring electronics in excess. Otherwise, your electronic imports in excess will be confiscated by India’s customs officials.
Can I carry two mobile phones on flights from USA to India?
In current times of social media, online shopping, OTT entertainment and multitasking, having two mobile phones is not a surprise even to Indian customs officials. Though the customs rules for inbound travelers carrying electronics to India from abroad do not allow more than one phone per person, you are safe as long as the total value of two phones is within the duty-free allowance. If you carry a new phone (in a sealed box) other than your personal mobile device in use, you have to declare it, show the purchase receipt and state the purpose, such as gifting.
If you arrive in India from USA with two new iPhones (total value exceeding Rs 75,000), it will incur customs duty.
This guide explaining India’s customs rules for electronic imports from USA and other countries is brought to you Indian Eagle, a leading US-based travel tech company facilitating affordable flights to from USA to India and beyond with best deals from major airlines. Call toll-free +1-800-615-3969 for phone-only exclusive fares.
How many watches can I carry to India from USA?
Wristwatches are common electronic items in carry-on bags of Indians flying to India from USA. Undeniably, the US is home to several luxury watch brands. You can carry 2-3 watches without any issue; watches are not subject to customs duty in India if they are for personal use and if their value does not exceed the duty-free allowance. On carrying more (commercial quantity), especially luxury watches, you have to face customs officials and pay taxes.
Thanks for the informative article. I have a couple of questions
1. For my next travel, I have to carry two laptops. One of them being personal and other for office work. Should this be okay? I don’t have the receipt for my work laptop but can prove that it’s office laptop.
2. In terms of customs tax calculation, is it calculated on the entire price or just the delta above the standard limit? e.g. If my new phone costs Rs. 75,000, do I have to pay taxes on entire 75,000 or the difference 25,000 (75,000 – 50,000)?
Thanks!
No, you just need to pay it on difference amount that is INR 25,000.
My brother is coming from USA. I want a Photobooth can he bring it without custom charges however it won’t be a sealed unit.
Hi, my friend is coming over to Kolkata from USA later this year and I wanted him to bring a macbook air m3 and an iphone pro unlocked with watch and airpods. Is this possible to bring without having to pay custom tax or import tax? I would be bringing it unboxed obviously. Do I have to declare them? Or can it be shown as personal item and be brought here?
If we’re traveling as husband wife, does the customs limit increase to Rs.100,000? If so, can we carry a brand new iPhone having a value below Rs.100,000?
can i bring 3 airpods from USA to india, one is my personal used one and 2 are bought from USA. if no then how much is the duty on this
can i bring LED TELEVISION from europe or usa