India handles a returning household through the Baggage Rules, 2016, published by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). Rule 6 deals with transfer of residence. The rule applies to Indian passengers, and CBIC has published later guidance, so check the current text before you commit to a shipment plan. O'Brien's Moving & Storage arranges moves abroad through Bekins and partner international carriers; the rule text below is what the Indian customs officer reads.
The four tiers
Rule 6 applies to a person engaged in a profession abroad or transferring residence to India, and it is an addition to the ordinary baggage allowance. The allowance rises with the time spent abroad.
| Time abroad | Further condition |
|---|---|
| 3 to 6 months | Indian passenger |
| 6 months to 1 year | Indian passenger |
| At least 1 year in the preceding 2 years | Not availed in the preceding 3 years |
| 2 years or more | Short visits to India total no more than 6 months in the preceding 2 years, not availed in the preceding 3 years |
The rule sets a duty-free value cap for each tier, and the text allows a shortfall of up to 2 months in the stay abroad to be condoned in special cases recorded in writing.
Which articles are covered
The rule covers personal and household articles, with examples in the annexure such as a music system, an air conditioner, a microwave oven, a washing machine, a cooking range, a computer and a refrigerator up to 300 litres. CBIC's own summary of the transfer of residence rules adds that the earlier facility to import unlimited used household articles is no longer available.
Articles that are excluded
The annexures name items outside the allowance, including firearms and excess cartridges, excess cigarettes and tobacco, alcohol above two litres, gold or silver other than ornaments, flat-panel televisions, colour television sets, video home theatre systems, dishwashers, refrigerators above 300 litres and deep freezers. Read the annexures against your own household list rather than relying on a summary.
A plan that works around the tiers
Because the allowance is a cap, a household often decides what to ship and what to store. O'Brien's can hold the rest in vault storage here in Sparks, from $40 per month, in wooden vaults that measure 7 ft x 7 ft x 5 ft.
The inventory behind the shipment
Each line of the annexure is an item type, so a counted list by room is how you test your own household against the rule. O'Brien's prepares an itemized inventory and condition report before packing, and the estimate is itemized and in writing. The free in-home estimate includes 10 free heavy-duty boxes. Call 775-359-6683 or read how overseas moves work.