The Indian authorities have recently increased the customs limit to Rs 75,000, and with this limit relaxations, the range of smartphones that passengers can now bring with them without paying customs duty has also expanded significantly. In addition to the above relaxations, the Indian government has also cut the basic customs duty on personal imports from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, as announced in the Union Budget 2026-27. This is expected to help frequent travellers, students, and professionals who may want to purchase high-end devices. While the updated allowance benefits everyone, how do these changes impact passengers carrying premium smartphones? Read on to find out how they stand to benefit.
Under the new rules, the duty-free allowance for air and sea travellers has been raised to Rs 75,000. Indian residents, people of Indian origin, and foreign travellers holding a valid non-tourist visa can all benefit from this limit. Foreign tourists holding a tourist visa are eligible for a separate allowance of Rs 25,000. The allowance applies only to adults aged 18 years and above and only to items meant for personal use, not resale.
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Passengers over 18 years of age are permitted to bring one laptop computer duty-free, over and above the standard monetary allowance. As before, travellers can carry their phone in hand or in accompanied baggage. If the total value of goods stays within the allowed limit, they can walk through the green channel without filling out forms or paying duty.
The higher limit means that several popular smartphones now fall comfortably within the duty-free range. Devices such as the base model iPhone 16, Google Pixel 10, and Samsung Galaxy S25 FE can be brought into India without paying any customs duty, provided they are bought at reasonable international prices.
Phones like the OnePlus 13 and Xiaomi 15 also fit under the cap. Even if a traveller buys basic accessories along with the phone, no duty is charged as long as the combined value remains under Rs 75,000.
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For those buying more expensive devices like the Pro series or the Ultra series, the rules are still more forgiving than before. If the value of an item exceeds the allowance, customs duty is charged only on the amount above that limit. The basic duty rate has also been reduced from 20% to 10%, starting February 2, 2026.
For example, if a phone costs Rs 90,000, duty is applied only on the extra Rs 15,000. The effective rate is approximately 11%, which includes the 10% basic duty plus a 10% Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS) on that duty. This new rate structure applies immediately to all arrivals following the 2026 budget notification.
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However, some regulations are still strict despite the flexible duty structure. The duty-free allowance cannot be pooled together for the whole family because every individual has a different allowance. The regulations on land arrival are stricter, allowing only used personal effects to enter without paying duty. Customs officials say checks will be based on risk assessment, aiming to prevent misuse while making travel smoother for genuine passengers.
Here are some of the devices that you can bring into India without paying customs duty after the new regulations: