Don’t know how to carry gold jewellery in flight? No worries, we got your back. In this blog, we will be discussing the correct way along with the rules and regulations that you must follow to carry gold jewellery on flights.
Indians have a long history of obsession with gold. As per the World Gold Council, Indians own almost 25000 tonnes of gold, which is equivalent to the market capitalization of Apple. Bridal jewellery (weighing 30 to 200 grams) constitutes over 50% of the jewellery market and daily wear (weighing 5 to 30 grams) captures 40% of the market share, while the remaining 10% constitutes elite fashion jewellery. So, there is a need for people to carry their golden jewellery during their travels.
Rules and regulations to follow while carrying gold jewellery in flight.
Carrying gold jewellery during flights can be tricky as it involves adhering to certain rules and regulations.
1. Check the airline policy
Before you pack your golden jewellery, it is critical to check the airline policy regarding carrying valuables. Each airline has different rules and regulations, and some may have restrictions on the amount of jewellery you can carry. It is best to cross-check with the airline customer service about the policies and procedures needed to be followed.
2. Keep the jewellery in cabin luggage
It is recommended to keep your gold jewellery in cabin luggage instead of check-in luggage. Check-in luggage goes through extensive steps of screening and checking process and there is a risk of jewellery damage. Since you keep your cabin luggage with you all the time, you can feel more secure about your gold.
3. Use a jewellery organizer
While going through the many levels of security checks in airports, it is highly recommended to organize your jewellery in an organizer, as it will be easy for the authorities to check and make the process smooth. These organizers come in different sizes and are designed to hold various types of jewellery like necklaces, bracelets and earrings. It will be easy for you to keep track of the visual inventory of your jewellery.
4. Wear your jewellery
It is a good idea to wear your gold jewellery while travelling on flights (considering that the jewellery you wear is not a bulky metallic one, which may get caught by the metal detector). But, be very careful when you are expected to remove and re-wear it during some security checks.
5. Declare your jewellery at Customs
If you are carrying a large amount of jewellery, that is more than the permitted limit, it is important to declare them to the customs team. In India, there is no need to pay customs duty for everyday gold ornaments. But, it applies to gold in the form of bars, biscuits and coins.
The duty-free allowance is up to fifty thousand rupees for men and one lakh rupees for women. Indians who have lived abroad for six months or more can carry up to 1kg of gold to India, after paying 10% gold duty and the applicable customs duty. In case you are carrying more than 1kg of gold, you should pay a duty of 36.05% on the excess amount.
If you buy gold jewellery in India and carry it with you to a foreign country, then you need not pay customs duty on it – as long it is not for commercial purposes. But if you plan to bring it back to the country later, then you need to pay customs duty. To avoid this situation, you can get an export certificate from the customs department, which will contain all details of the amount of gold you are carrying out of India. So, when you return to India with the same valuables, you will not be charged any customs duty. Whenever travelling abroad, it is wise to have the receipt of the gold jewellery bought in India in case customs officials ask for it.
Conclusion
Not declaring your jewellery can result in fines or even confiscation of the jewellery. It is best, to be honest, and transparent about what you are carrying to avoid any problems. Carrying gold in airlines requires some extra attention and care. But, by being well-informed of the latest security and customs updates, the journey with gold can be stress-free and easy.