Basic Details to know about carrying cash to India from USA

If you’ve considered a trip to India then let me tell you it has plenty of places to see and experience. But regardless of your reasons for visiting, there are restrictions on how much cash you can take in or out of India.

Carrying too much-undeclared cash on a flight can put you in trouble. Of course, there are some rules to know when carrying money to India from USA. If you are willing to carry cash on a flight then you must be aware of the limits prescribed by foreign exchange. You must know how much money you can take outside India or bring to India otherwise you may have to face many issues at the airport.

Importing Indian cash:

Foreigners are not allowed to import Indian rupees & Residents of India can carry up to Rs. 25,000

However, technically there is no limit on carrying cash with you on a flight to India but, for more than the above limit you will have to declare the money. If the amount exceeds US$5,000 in notes and coins, or US$10,000 in notes, coins, and traveler’s cheques then you must declare it.

Penalty for carrying too much cash: If you are thinking about breaking customs rules in India then let me tell you it can result in having your cash confiscated or being fined. In serious cases, you can even be arrested and prosecuted. So, better to declare your cash.

Declaring cash at arrival: 

You can easily get the Indian Customs Declaration Forms at international airports and seaports. You can give them to the authorities on planes or cruise ships before you land in India. Also, it can be handed over at the airport when you make your way through customs.

The form is also available online so you can easily download the form and fill it out ahead of time.

Exporting Indian Cash: 

Exporting Indian rupees is strictly prohibited for non-Indian residents.

Residents of India can travel abroad and carry cash up to Rs. 25,000.

If you are carrying cash on a USA to India flight then you must follow the legal limit. On a single trip the legal limit to carry cash currency in US Dollars from India to USA is USD 3000 per person. However, passengers can carry up to the US $10,000 in form of currency notes, travelers’ checks, etc. without declaring it at the customs.

However, anyone who needs to carry more than $10,000 must report the amount by filing a Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments. It should be done to declare if foreign exchange exceeds $5,000 in cash or $10,000 in cash and traveler’s check. Once you have declared the cash you are legally free to carry any amount of USD out of India.

 For carrying more than the limit: 

You must follow the guidelines for carrying the cash. There’s a limit on cash you can carry on an international flight. If you have got money over the mentioned limit then you need to declare or prove it to the customs officers that you have got that money legal and legitimately. This limit is kept, and a declaration needed is to prevent international money laundering. 

Exceptions:

Medical Treatment: For medical treatment outside India you can buy foreign exchange on the basis of self-certification. You are allowed to buy up to US$ 50,000 to meet the expenses for medical treatment.

Study Abroad: On the basis of simple academic documentary evidence, students can buy the foreign exchange for up to US$ 30,000 per academic year. 

Frequently Asked Question:

Q- What happens if you declare more than $10000 US?

A- You should provide a proper explanation and complete documentation about the origin of money and the purpose of bringing it in cash. It would not get you into any problem.

In USA whether you enter the country or leave, you need to declare cash or cash equivalent products of over $10,000. However, there are no limits on how much money you are carrying along, you just have to declare if you take more than US $10,000.  

Q- Can I exchange foreign currency in India?

A- Yes, in India, you can easily exchange currency through banks (RBI-issued AD-I licenses) and money changers (AD-II and FFMC license holders).

Q- How much Indian currency I can bring back to India?

A- Any resident of India, who left the country on a temporary visit can bring back currency notes up to an amount not exceeding Rs 25,000. But the rules are not the same if you are coming from Nepal and Bhutan. 

Q- How much foreign exchange I can bring while visiting India?

A- There is no limit to bringing the foreign exchange to India. However, if the aggregate value of the foreign exchange in the form of currency notes, bank notes, or traveler’s cheques exceeds $10,000 or its equivalent and/or the value of foreign currency alone exceeds $5,000 or its equivalent, it should be declared at Customs in the Currency Declaration Form (CDF), on arrival. 

Q- Is there any other option apart from cash?

A- Yes according to the RBI, you can use your International Credit Cards/ ATM Cards/Debit Cards to meet your expenses outside India.

Q- How Much Indian currency an Indian Citizen can Carry Abroad?

A- An Indian citizen can carry Indian currency up to 25k as well as foreign currency notes or coins

up to $3000 while traveling abroad.