Location: TORONTO,CANADA, AT PRESEN
Posted on: 07-05-06 15:58:36
Hi,
I need some answers to the following questions:-
I am visiting India soon for s short duration,
1)Can i carry with me a digital camera,a portable dvd player, an lcd monitor , a laptop and some cosmetics and computer related small electronic items?
Is there a duty chargeable on them?
As per mumbaicustoms.gov.in, one can carry goods upto Rs25,000 free, not to declare and can walk thru the green channel?
Is this correct?Is there a specific rule for visiting indian canadian immigrant?
2)Also,is it necessary to keep all the bills for the above?
3)Is the 183 days rule applicable to new immigrants like myself going to India for a visit and must return within 183 days or can stay for a longer time?
Pl.inform.
caprico
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MJ
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 07-05-06 16:16:36
YEs. you can take all these things and not declare them and just walk through the green channel. There is no problem, if you just carry one each of any costly item eg. 1 lap tp, 1 desk top etc.. The Indian govt. allows 1 laptop free, irrespetive of the cost (assuming that you donot bring it back). If there is any costly item that exceeds rs, 25000 limit (like say you are taking 2 laptops), you can then ask them to write 1 laptop on to your passport (the other laptop is allowed) which you will have to bring back to Canada if written. Mostly if you threaten them like this, they may allow you to carry it into india for a very very small bribe.
receipts are encouraged to prove the customs, that the costly items are used ones (less duty if any) or new items. If they put tax for you, the bill will decide the actual price of the item.
If you are a Canadian PR with indian passport, you can stay in India as long as you want (more than 183 days). You only need to make sure that if you ever decide to come back to Canada, you should be legal to enter Canada (eg. valid PR card).
if you are a Canadian, with a Canadian Passport and Indian visa, you can stay in Canada as long as the visa allows you. for PIO card/OCI with Cdn. Passport, you can stay like 15 years or more.
TK
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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.
Quote:
Originally posted by tamilkuravan
YEs. you can take all these things and not declare them and just walk through the green channel. There is no problem, if you just carry one each of any costly item eg. 1 lap tp, 1 desk top etc.. The Indian govt. allows 1 laptop free, irrespetive of the cost (assuming that you donot bring it back). If there is any costly item that exceeds rs, 25000 limit (like say you are taking 2 laptops), you can then ask them to write 1 laptop on to your passport (the other laptop is allowed) which you will have to bring back to Canada if written. Mostly if you threaten them like this, they may allow you to carry it into india for a very very small bribe.
I beg to differ TK saab, you are allowed ONLY items of personal nature to be brought with you FREE. So 1 laptop is free to take in with an assumed obligation that it is going back with you...though many people dont do so...similarly, 1 Digital camera, 1 Mobile..etc have no problems going in. But I doubt if a desktop can be classified under this rule or even a flat panel monitor.
On a more positive note, I recently crossed the mumbai customs and hard to believe my timeline from alighting from the aircraft to my waiting taxi was 25 minutes flat...wait time at immigration = 0, no harrasing by the customs despite the fact that I had 7 HEAVY bags in addition to 3 hand bags...on the contrary when a few of my HEAVY bags fell down from the trolley, the customs officer on duty came forward and helped me put them back....
You will be hounded by agents (to help you custom clear your baggage) from the time you walk out of the aircraft to the time you collect your baggage and I had a hard time refusing atleast 30-40 such agents on my way out, while keeping an eye on my belongings...some just snatch your baggage on the pretext of helping you...
to Mumbai international airport for the improvement in services even before privatisation...the only thing I hated was the stench of BAYGON / pesticides as soon as you enter the airport building.Hiren
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 08-05-06 10:33:16
Quote:
Originally posted by hchheda
I beg to differ TK saab, you are allowed ONLY items of personal nature to be brought with you FREE. So 1 laptop is free to take in with an assumed obligation that it is going back with you...though many people dont do so...similarly, 1 Digital camera, 1 Mobile..etc have no problems going in. But I doubt if a desktop can be classified under this rule or even a flat panel monitor.
Hiren
Hiren,
Glad that you are in india.
What i said was that if you take other items then you will have to be within the Rs.25 K limit before they tax you. One laptop is free and all the rest of the items have to be below Rs. 25K tax value. This value may vary for a family. If you have a Canadian passport , then the rules change. You have to bring everything back when you return.
OTOH, Bangalore was the worst airport i have seen (when compared to ND, Mum, Chennai). It is so small and the facilities are very bad. Only the immigration counters are big and efficient. I donot know how premji sir or Narayana murthy sir will even pass through this airport.
There is a helper in evey toilet and he will see to it that the toilet is clean/ cleaned after you leave. He even dispenses toilet papers free of charge and he does not ask you for money. But while in India , i make it a point never to use these public toilets.
Bangalore Airport should be made large. And also B'lore airport departure lounge was funny. It was the only airport that i saw having a vertical converyer belt for transporting your luggage (entry was at ground level and the departure was in the second floor).
Enjoy your stay in India yarr!
TK
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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.
Instead of guessing why don't we read rules on this official page?
http://www.cbec.gov.in/cae/customs/cs-act/formatted-htmls/cs-rulef.htm
http://www.cbec.gov.in/
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A Proud Indian Canadian
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 08-05-06 18:41:56
Quote:
Originally posted by hchheda
I beg to differ TK saab, you are allowed ONLY items of personal nature to be brought with you FREE. So 1 laptop is free to take in with an assumed obligation that it is going back with you...though many people dont do so...similarly, 1 Digital camera, 1 Mobile..etc have no problems going in. But I doubt if a desktop can be classified under this rule or even a flat panel monitor.
Hiren :
Just for the information of the board.
One Laptop is Totally FREE and can be brought in without any obligation. This is what the customs says
" 3. One laptop computer (notebook computer) over and above the said free allowances mentioned above is also allowed duty free if imported by any passenger of the age of 18 years and above "
This sentence means that you are under no obligation to bring it back.
If the second Laptop is a second hand one bought for $399, then it will be Tax free as long as it falls within the limit of Rs. 25 K other other value as determined by the family size etc...
TK
Sidenote : Thanks GG for the link. It will dispel many Myth's of Indian customs. Also note that if you are not aware of the rules and are not outspoken, the customs will still be able to fool you.
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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.
They hardly bother you in customs anymore. In the old days when nothing or very little was manufactured in India they used to really check you. Infact to get an airport assignment the customs officer had to give lacks of rupees to his supervisor.
But nowadays nobody bothers to bring anything from abroad.
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You know you are a desi when ........ You spew forth the virtues of India, but don't want to live there...............You've never had a tanning salon membership
