Travel and Other Taxes
FOREIGN TRAVEL TAX
Passengers embarking on journeys to any place outside India from a Customs airport / seaport will have to pay a Foreign Travel Tax (FTT) of Rs.500/- to most countries and Rs.150/- on journeys to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
In case of transit passengers, provided they do not leave the Customs barrier, ransit passengers traveling by air who have to leave the airport on account of mechanical trouble but continue their journey by the same aircraft and the same flight number by which they arrive are also exempt from FTE. Transit sea passengers leaving the ship for sightseeing, shopping, etc., during the ship's call at any of the Indian ports will not be required to pay FTT.
INLAND TRAVEL TAX
An Inland Air Travel Tax is leviable at 10 per cent of the basic fare, on all passengers embarking on an inland air journey. However, those passengers paying their Airfare in foreign exchange will be exempted from payment of this tax. In addition, infants, cancer patients, blind persons and invalids (those on stretchers) are also exempted from payment of this tax after fulfilling certain conditions, stipulated in the relevant notifications.
Restrictions on Exports
ANTIQUES
Antiques which include sculpture, painting or other works of art and crafts,
illustrative of science, art, crafts, religion of bygone ages and of historical
interest which have been in existence for not less than one hundred years may
not be exported out of India. Manuscripts, or other documents of scientific,
historical, literary or aesthetic value in existence for not less than seventy-five
years; art treasures-not necessarily antiques but of artistic and aesthetic value,
also cannot be exported out of India. For clarification on the antiquity of an
artifact, tourists can contact the following authorities and get information on
the Acts and Rules governing Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972.
New Delhi:
Director General, Archaeological Survey of India,
Janpath, New Delhi - 110011
Telephone: 3019451, 3018879.
Mumbai:
Superintending Archaeologist, Antiquities,
Archaeological Survey of India,
Sion Fort, Sion, Mumbai - 400022,
Telephone: 4071102.
Calcutta:
Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India,
Calcutta Circle, M.S. Building,
DF Block,
Salt Lake City, Calcutta - 700001,
Telephone: 344389.
Chennai:
Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India,
Chennai Circle, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600009,
Telephone: 560396/7.
Bangalore:
Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India,
Bangalore Circle, 5th Floor, F Wing. Kendriya Sadan. 17th Main Road,
Koramangala, Bangalore - 560034
Telephone: 6633406.
OTHER EXPORT RESTRICTIONS
Re-export of all articles In full, brought Into India temporarily with the permission
of the Customs authorities. The following articles can be exported without any
export trade control All articles, Including travel souvenirs brought in from outside
the country by the tourist Souvenirs including Indian silk, Wool, artware, etc.
Gold Jewelry: Any person not ordinarily resident in India may take out from India.
Jewelry made mainly or wholly of gold with out limit provided that the jewelry was
previously brought by him Into India from abroad with the permission of the Customs
authorities. Such a person may also take at any one time out of India, jewelry made
mainly or wholly of gold up to Rs, 2000 in value purchased by him in India.
Other jewelry: Any person other than a person domiciled in India may take out with
him/her any precious stone or jewelry with him into India on his arrival into the country
without limit; and precious stones or jewelry other than articles wholly or mainly of gold
purchased by him/her in India upto Rs.10,000 in value.
RESTRICTIONS PERTAINING TO EXPORTS OF ARTICLES MADE
FROM ANIMALS ETC.
The Government of India is concerned about the conservation of its endangered
and rare fauna Keeping this in mind, export of all wild animals indigenous to the
country and articles made from such listed animals like skins, pelts, furs, ivory,
rhino horns, trophies, etc., have been totally banned. These include all forms of
wild anima s including their parts and products, except peacock tail feathers and
handicrafts made from them and those made from articles and shavings of antler,
cheetals and sambars. The export of exotic birds is also not allowed.
It also includes wood and wood products including logs, timber, stumps, roots,
bark, chips, powder, flakes, dust, pulp and charcoal. Also, export of sandalwood
in any form, excluding finished handicrafts and machine-finished products, is
prohibited. Export of furs of domestic animals, excluding lamb fur, and hides and
skins including cutting and neshing of hides and skins for use as raw material for
the manufacture of gelatin; raw hides and skins of all types (excluding lamb fur skin),
all forms of semi-processed hides and skins (including tanned and wet blue hides,
skins and crust leather), clothing, leather, fun, suede/hair, hair-on-suede/shearing
suede leathers and fur leathers, is also not permitted. Tourists are also advised to
acquaint themselves with the provisions of the Convention on International Trade
of endangered species of wild fauna and flora.
All the member countries of the Convention allow the import of articles covered
by the convention on the strength of a certificate of export from the county of
origin.
For further information contact the following authorities:
New Delhi:
Regional Deputy Director (NR),
Ministry of Environment & Forests,
Wildlife Preservation,
Bikaner House, No.5 Road,
New Delhi - ll0001
Telephone: 384556.
Mumbai:
Regional Deputy Director,
Wildlife Preservation, Western Region,
11 Air Cargo Complex,
Sahar, Mumbai - 400099,
Telephone: 8328529
Calcutta:
Regional Deputy Director,
Wildlife Preservation, Eastern Region,
Nizam Place, 2nd MSO Building, 6th Floor,
234/4, AJ.C. Bose Road,
Calcutta - 700020,
Telephone: 2478698.
Chennai:
Regional Deputy Director,
Wildlife Preservation, Southern Region,
2/C/5, Brownstone Apartments,
Mahalingapuram, Chennai - 600034,
Telephone: 8253977.
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