What are the airport customs rules in Nepal?

As Tribhuvan International Airport has tightened baggage checks at customs in recent times, find out what you can and cannot this time!

Comparatively, customs checks have been tightened to discourage imports of gold, alcohol and mobiles in large numbers from abroad.

As smuggling of alcohol and other goods has increased, the checking has tighten. Many people returning from abroad bring TVs, mobiles, jewelry and other materials. If you bring more than the specified amount, the goods will be directly confiscated or you may have to pay customs.

What is not taxed?

There is a trend of bringing expensive and branded liquor from abroad. However, there will be a problem if you carry a large amount of alcohol. Only 1 liter of alcohol can be brought from abroad.

Similarly, bringing 1 laptop/computer or tablet, watch, camera, video camera, mobile and pen drive will get full customs exemption. There is no custom to be paid even if you bring baby perambulator and tricycle.

Nepalese who have spent at least one year abroad can bring a TV up to 32 inches. Those returning are allowed to bring up to 1 new mobile phone. 

Doctors don't have to pay customs to bring blood pressure measuring device, stethoscope, sports equipment for athletes, and also for instruments like guitar, harmonium etc.

There is no duty to bring a certain amount of old personal items such as clothes, bedding, household items, etc. Medicines brought by citizens who have gone abroad for medical treatment for their own purposes and materials brought for the support of the physically challenged are also exempted from customs duties. There is no customs duty on food items up to 7 kilograms.

Those who have stayed abroad for more than 6 months and up to one year and come back with a value of up to 15,000 rupees and if they have stayed for more than a year up to 25,000 rupees, if they bring a specified quantity of various items, there is a provision to keep a separate record without filling out a customs declaration form. Under this facility, music and video players, refrigerators, washing machines, fans and radios can be brought.

If you bring a TV larger than 32 inches, you have to pay the customs duty according to the inch. However, more than one TV cannot be brought without paying customs duty.

Nepali workers returning from working abroad can bring up to 100 grams of raw gold. You have to pay tax for that.

If you bring gold up to 50 grams, you have to pay tax at the rate of 9,500 rupees per 10 grams. According to this, the customs duty of 50 grams is 47 thousand 500 rupees.

If you bring more than 50 grams of gold, then a tax of 10,500 rupees per 10 grams will be charged on the extra gold. According to this, customs duty of 52 thousand 500 rupees should be paid for additional 50 grams. If you bring more than 100 grams of gold, it will be confiscated.

If you bring more than 50 grams of gold jewelry, you will be charged 10,500 rupees per 10 grams, and if you bring more than 100 grams, customs duty will be charged at the rate of 12,500 rupees per 10 grams. Even if they come wearing gold ornaments in larger quantities than that, they will be confiscated.