IMPORT CUSTOMS RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR PERSONAL & HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS BEING SHIPPED TO INDIA: We wish to inform you that as per the Indian Customs regulations, alcohol in access of one liter is regulated. Therefore, we recommend that alcohol less than one liter only should be loaded in the container or mentioned in the documents. Please load all the electronic items i.e. T.V, Fridge, VCR, Vacuum Cleaner etc., in the front (opening side) of the container or lift van for easy customs clearance. Please also send us a list of the electronic items on a separate sheet. The following new/old items are covered under Transfer of Residence (TR) rule and customs duty @ 15% of the value adjudicated is levied on them : Color Television/Monochrome Televisions. Digital Video Disc Player Video Home Theatre Systems Dish Washers. Music Systems. Air Conditioners. Domestic Refrigerators of capacity above 300 litres or its equivalent. Deep Freezers. Microwave Ovens. Video Cameras or the combination of any such Video Camera with one or more of the following goods namely : Television Receiver. Sound Recording or Reproducing Apparatus. Video Reproducing Apparatus. Word Processing Machines. Fax Machines. Portable Photocopying Machines. Vessels. Aircraft Cinematographic films of 35 mm and above Gold or Silver, in any form, other than ornaments”. The following old items are free of customs duty covered under Transfer of Residence (TR) rule Video Cassette Recorder or Video Cassette Player or Video Television Receiver or Video Cassette Disk Player. Washing Machine Electrical or Liquefied Petroleum Gas Cooking Range Personal Computer (Desktop Computer) Laptop Computer (Notebook Computer) Domestic Refrigerators of capacity upto 300 litres or its equivalent”. Please note that only one item will fall in the Transfer of Residence category (if any of the above items are in duplicate) and customs duty @ 40% of the value adjudicated, will be levied (on the second, third or fourth etc. items). Customs duty @ 40% of the value declared will be levied on all new items which are not mentioned in the above list (S.No.-3 & 4). All old items(i.e. in the customer’s possession and use for at least one year) are allowed to be imported of customs duty. However a diplomat’s personal or household effects may be cleared free of any duty against a Duty Exemption certificate issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (subject to the proviso of contraband and prohibited goods and the Ministry’s requirements), irrespective of the items being new or old or part of the above list of 17 items (serial “C & D” above) as single units or more.. Air shipments must be dispatched (from the origin) airport within 15 days after the arrival of the passenger in India. Sea shipments must be dispatched (from the origin sea port) within one month after the arrival of the passenger in India. They may also arrive at the India airport or sea port 20 months prior to the arrival of the passenger India. They will however be subject to demurrage/detention as & if applicable. Food Stuff: Please take our advice before shipping the food stuff/provisions, alongwith personal effects/household goods, since there has been a recent change in the customs regulations and details are complicated. Dogs, Cats and Birds are allowed in with valid health and inoculation certificates, subject to a clearance of the Animals Quarantine and Certificate Service authorities in India. Parrots require a special certificate. We would request you to take our advice before booking any pet to India; to know the current regulation for importing pets into India (which have also been revised recently). However, a diplomat’s personal pets may be cleared free of duty against a Duty Exemption certificate issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (subject to the Ministry’s requirements). Import of plants is complicated so please take our advice before shipping such goods. Rules for Import of motor vehicles into India are very detailed, conditional & complicated. Please take our advice before planning any such shipment to India. However diplomatic motor vehicles are allowed to be imported free of duty if covered by a Duty Exemption certificate issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (subject to the Ministry’s requirements). DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR IMPORT CLEARANCE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS & PERSONAL EFFECTS: (a). DIPLOMATIC Original Bill of Lading, Packing List, Authority Letters, Baggage Declaration Form, Copy of Passport duly attested and Duty free Exemption Certificate. (b). NON-DIPLOMATIC Original Bill of Lading, Packing List, Authority Letters/Power of Attorney, Baggage Declaration Form and Original Passport. PS : ‘Transfer of Residence’ is the best option for non-diplomats importing a regular shipment WITH the best benefits and very low customs duties. The customer should have been