India - Getting an Export Certificate at Mumbai Airport

Hello,

Can anyone share their experience getting an "Export Certificate" from customs at Mumbai Airport during departure? Specifically the questions on my mind are -


Is the process too much hassle? How long does it take?
Is the service available 24 hours?
Do they require an invoice for the item for which the certificate is being obtained?
Do they require any other documentation ?


I'm an NRI and live in USA. I've some personal items that I carry each time (like a laptop, pair of Bose headphones etc.) + some gifts (< Rs.25000). I want to avoid my personal items being clubbed with the gifts so that I remain within the duty free limit.

Thank you,

regards,
Puneet

You want to "avoid my personal items being clubbed with the gifts so that I remain within the duty free limit", and for this reason you want an export certificate at departure? There's no duty at departure and no one cares what you are taking out (other than antiques).

You want to "avoid my personal items being clubbed with the gifts so that I remain within the duty free limit", and for this reason you want an export certificate at departure? There's no duty at departure and no one cares what you are taking out (other than antiques).

The OP doesnt want to be hassled about the items each time he travels into india. So the OP wants to prove that he/she had taken the items out of India in the first place.

Hello,

Can anyone share their experience getting an "Export Certificate" from customs at Mumbai Airport during departure?

welcome to ft smoothoperator....why would you want an export certificate during departure????

an export certificate is issued to citizens of INDIA for stuff they are taking out of the country and then bringing back with them.

you wouldnt even need it - your one laptop, cellphone etc are going to be duty free. As for the gifts, bring them in their original packing with the invoices .. the officer can clearly see the difference between 'brand new' and 'old'

Or get the equivalent of an export cert - like an ATA carnet - for stuff you want to carry back each time, from US customs before you come to india

The OP doesnt want to be hassled about the items each time he travels into india. So the OP wants to prove that he/she had taken the items out of India in the first place.
It's pretty unlikely to happen---people aren't hassled about mere laptops and such these days.

I am sure there are exceptions, e.g. if one is arriving from BKK with large bundles as luggage. So if one is actually hassled on arrival, the relevant step needs to be taken upon arrival, i.e. at the place and time where/when the hassling is taking place. Customs will give you paperwork requiring you to re-export certain things. You then seek out Customs on departure and present this paperwork and show that you are carrying those things. I used to have to do this 15+ years ago.

Hello,

Can anyone share their experience getting an "Export Certificate" from customs at Mumbai Airport during departure? Specifically the questions on my mind are -


Is the process too much hassle? How long does it take?
Is the service available 24 hours?
Do they require an invoice for the item for which the certificate is being obtained?
Do they require any other documentation ?


I'm an NRI and live in USA. I've some personal items that I carry each time (like a laptop, pair of Bose headphones etc.) + some gifts (< Rs.25000). I want to avoid my personal items being clubbed with the gifts so that I remain within the duty free limit.

Thank you,

regards,
Puneet
Duty is levied on dutiable items when you enter the country.
Export certificate is given at departure.
Export certificate is given for items that you purchased in India.
How can you expect to get export certificate for items on arrival for items that you purchased abroad?

Is there something one of us is missing?

Duty is levied on dutiable items when you enter the country.
Export certificate is given at departure.
Export certificate is given for items that you purchased in India.
How can you expect to get export certificate for items on arrival for items that you purchased abroad?

Is there something one of us is missing?

I think the Op wants to declare his personal items when he leaves India and get a certificate proving that this was taken out of india. The reason for this is that he does not want to be hassled about the regular items that he brings in everytime he arrives in india.

It's pretty unlikely to happen---people aren't hassled about mere laptops and such these days.

I am sure there are exceptions, e.g. if one is arriving from BKK with large bundles as luggage. So if one is actually hassled on arrival, the relevant step needs to be taken upon arrival, i.e. at the place and time where/when the hassling is taking place. Customs will give you paperwork requiring you to re-export certain things. You then seek out Customs on departure and present this paperwork and show that you are carrying those things. I used to have to do this 15+ years ago.

i know that a one laptop rule applies. What if you take an Indian bought laptop overseas and buy another laptop while abroad. Will there be hassle once you come back to India with 2 laptops? Is the bill of purchase for the Indian laptop sufficent or do we have to get an export certificate for the Indian laptop(when leaving india) as the OP mentioned.?

There was a process back in the late 90's that I have used once or twice where one would "register" the dutiable stuff brought into India (which were not intended to be left behind in India) with customs on the way in, who would then issue a certificate with descriptions of what was brought in (I remember the description being quite vague....) and those items weren't then included in the assessment of dutiable goods being brought in (basically a "reexport" certificate I guess). On the way out, you would take the certificate to the customs desk and hand the certificate back in. If I remember right, there was also an entry somewhere on the last pages of my passport as well regarding this certificate which would then be canceled at the outbound customs desk.

Have not considered using it since then as customs have become MUCH more relaxed/understanding/logical and allow sufficient personal electronics without hassles.... ^

Hello,

Can anyone share their experience getting an "Export Certificate" from customs at Mumbai Airport during departure? Specifically the questions on my mind are -


Is the process too much hassle? How long does it take?
Is the service available 24 hours?
Do they require an invoice for the item for which the certificate is being obtained?
Do they require any other documentation ?


I'm an NRI and live in USA. I've some personal items that I carry each time (like a laptop, pair of Bose headphones etc.) + some gifts (< Rs.25000). I want to avoid my personal items being clubbed with the gifts so that I remain within the duty free limit.

Thank you,

regards,
Puneet


I only did this once in 2004 when I was travelling frequently to BOM and kept getting hassled by customs about my electronics, so my information may be outdated if things have changed since then. I was advised by a customs officer to get an export certificate on my next departure so that I wouldn't be hassled by arrival customs everytime for the same electronics.

I had to get it on departure at the customs counter after departure immigration but before security.

Is the process too much hassle? How long does it take?
No, I just had to list out my electronics on the certificate which took about 5 minutes to fill out. They stamped it and gave it back to me to carry with me (they might have kept a copy).

Is the service available 24 hours?
I assume so since I've seen tech/cabin crew go up to this customs counter to sign something on the way to security.

Do they require an invoice for the item for which the certificate is being obtained?
No, but the form required value to be quoted in INR, so just have your conversions ready.

Do they require any other documentation ?
No documentation was required and I didn't have any receipts on me. All my items had been purchased outside India, and were covered by item 3 below. The export certificate can be got by anyone - you don't have to be an Indian citizen.


http://www.cbec.gov.in/travellers.htm
OUT GOING PASSENGERS

All the passengers leaving India by Air are subject to clearance by Custom Authorities. Only bonafide baggage is allowed to be cleared by passengers. There is a procedure prescribed whereby the passengers leaving India can take the export certificate for the various high value items as well as jewellery from the Customs authorities. Such an export certificate comes handy while bringing back the things to India so that no duty is charged on such goods exported by the passenger.
OTHER INFORMATION

1. Export of most species of wild life and articles made from wild flora and fauna, such as ivory, musk, reptile skins, furs, shahtoos etc. is prohibited.

2. Trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is prohibited.

3. Export of goods purchased against foreign exchange brought in by foreign passengers are allowed except for prohibited goods.

4. Carrying of Indian currency notes in the denomination of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 to Nepal is prohibited.

5. Export of Indian Currency is strictly prohibited. However Indian residents when they go abroad are allowed to take with them Indian currency not exceeding Rs. 7500.

6. Tourists while leaving India are allowed to take with them foreign currency not exceeding an amount brought in by them at the time of their arrival in India. As no declaration is required to be made for bringing in foreign exchange / currency not exceeding equivalent of U.S. $ 10000, generally tourists can take out of India with them at the time of their departure foreign exchange/currency not exceeding the above amoun

I think the Op wants to declare his personal items when he leaves India and get a certificate proving that this was taken out of india. The reason for this is that he does not want to be hassled about the regular items that he brings in everytime he arrives in india.

M<aybe so. But it's the wrong way to go about.You cannot get export certificate for items you did not purchase in India, or imported into India legally for with the intent of keeping them in India. When the OP takes his lap top into India the first time, he is importing it temporarily with the intent and implicit undertaking of exporting it when he leaves India.

technically, an export certificate that the OP desires would be "fraudulent".

There was a process back in the late 90's that I have used once or twice where one would "register" the dutiable stuff brought into India (which were not intended to be left behind in India) with customs on the way in, who would then issue a certificate with descriptions of what was brought in (I remember the description being quite vague....) and those items weren't then included in the assessment of dutiable goods being brought in (basically a "reexport" certificate I guess). On the way out, you would take the certificate to the customs desk and hand the certificate back in. If I remember right, there was also an entry somewhere on the last pages of my passport as well regarding this certificate which would then be canceled at the outbound customs desk.

Have not considered using it since then as customs have become MUCH more relaxed/understanding/logical and allow sufficient personal electronics without hassles.... ^
That procedure has been in place since the seventies. The times when I wanted to use it, they did not issue me any certificate, but said they would endorsed item, make, model and serial number, on the passport. I accepted that too. But then they were too lazy to do it and let me go without doing anything. The intent is that if you claim exemption from duty under pretext of temporary import into India for personal use, you are expected to export it, e.e. take it back when you leave.

I carried some weapons into Singapore, not knowing that I was doing anything illegal. I had to give an undertaking that I would export them within twenty hours, (I was leaving Singapore within 24 hours), and obtain an export certificate from SIN customs. You cannot get export certificate for something you did not import or did not purchase in India.

M<aybe so. But it's the wrong way to go about.You cannot get export certificate for items you did not purchase in India, or imported into India legally for with the intent of keeping them in India. When the OP takes his lap top into India the first time, he is importing it temporarily with the intent and implicit undertaking of exporting it when he leaves India.

technically, an export certificate that the OP desires would be "fraudulent".

Not quite true.
"3. Export of goods purchased against foreign exchange brought in by foreign passengers are allowed except for prohibited goods."

Not quite true.
"3. Export of goods purchased against foreign exchange brought in by foreign passengers are allowed except for prohibited goods."


You are confusing what can be exported legally with the items on which one can obtain export certificate.

I did not say anything about what is allowed to be exported, nor is that the issue. What I did say was that you cannot get an export certificate for "items you did not purchase in India, or imported into India legally for with the intent of keeping them in India."

Why would anyone in their right mind think that one cannot export items paid for in foreign currency and brought in with them? But they cannot get an export certificate for them.

You are confusing what can be exported legally with the items on which one can obtain export certificate.

I did not say anything about what is allowed to be exported, nor is that the issue. What I did say was that you cannot get an export certificate for "items you did not purchase in India, or imported into India legally for with the intent of keeping them in India."

Why would anyone in their right mind think that one cannot export items paid for in foreign currency and brought in with them? But they cannot get an export certificate for them.

I think you may be the one who's confused. As far as I can tell, I'm the only person on this thread who has actual experience of getting an export certificate and as I stated earlier, all the items on the export certificate were purchased outside India. There was no intent to keep these items in India either - they were just regular electronics that I travelled with all the time.

The whole point of this particular export certificate is to prevent customs hassles when bringing the same items back into the country on future trips. Its not your usual trade export certificate for exporting goods made/sold in India for further sale or use overseas.

I think you may be the one who's confused. As far as I can tell, I'm the only person on this thread who has actual experience of getting an export certificate and as I stated earlier, all the items on the export certificate were purchased outside India. There was no intent to keep these items in India either - they were just regular electronics that I travelled with all the time.

The whole point of this particular export certificate is to prevent customs hassles when bringing the same items back into the country on future trips. Its not your usual trade export certificate for exporting goods made/sold in India for further sale or use overseas.
You were given export certificate in error in that case. Because an export certificate would allow you to import those items into India duty free, thereby depriving Indian Customs of revenue.

BTW, I did receive export certificate in 1982, under circumstances similar to yours and for the same reasons you obtained an export certificate. I had been offered a handsome price for it during my visit to India, but I was not interested in selling it. I just wanted to be able to bring it back into India on subsequent trips.
Later on, a friend of mine in Indian Customs service explained to me what I did was unlawful. I can see why it would be so.
Your understanding of the purpose of an export certificate is a bit flawed. You are right that it gets around the hassle you would encounter on frequent trips. But it's not meant to be used for avoiding duty. You had no intention of leaving the items in India, but you could have, if you had been devious enough. However, if you bring dutiable items with you that you purchased abroad and paid duty on them when you brought them into India, you can certainly obtain an export certificate for them so that you don;t have to pay duty on the, again. Do you see the difference?
The rule you presented in your post up thread defines what is legal to export, not what is eligible for an export certificate. So, my dear Savage, you are the one confused here. :)