News Summary
Legally Reviewed.
- The government has legally differentiated rules for Nepali returning from foreign employment via air and land routes under the “Zhiti Gunta” regulation.
- Workers returning by air are allowed to bring gold, mobiles, laptops, and televisions up to 65 inches duty-free.
- The government grants customs exemption only for goods valued up to NPR 500 for those returning by land.
24 Jestha, Kathmandu – The government has legally maintained discriminatory treatment between Nepalis returning from foreign employment by air and those arriving via land routes.
The Ministry of Finance publishes announcements every year after the budget citing the Customs Act that outlines regulations for passengers exiting Nepal and arriving with personal goods, commonly known as the “Zhiti Gunta” rule.
Under the Customs Act provisions, Nepali workers returning by air enjoy benefits that are not extended to those returning by land.
The Ministry of Finance states that Nepali citizens residing permanently in Nepal who return by air can bring personal use items completely exempt from customs duty.
This includes used clothes, household old items, medicines for patients, assistive devices for physically disabled travelers, and gold and silver jewelry within the prescribed limits of the Customs Act 2081.
Women can bring up to 50 grams of gold jewelry, and men up to 25 grams, valued at approximately NPR 13 lakh.
Travelers are allowed to bring one each of tablets, laptops, desktop computers, watches, cameras, and mobile phones duty-free. Furthermore, Nepalis returning after 12 months of foreign employment can bring a television up to 65 inches free of duty, as introduced through an amendment to the Finance Act.
Previously, only citizens registered with the Social Security Fund were eligible for large television exemptions; now, a 65-inch television can be brought in duty-free.
This exemption is available only once. Other duty-free items include baby care equipment, business-related goods, 1 liter of alcohol, and 7 kilograms of food grains.
Foreign residents sending goods valued up to $500 to their families in Nepal are cleared by customs without fees. However, if the declared value exceeds the actual item value, the goods may be confiscated, and fines and duties applied.
Regarding tobacco, up to 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars may be legally brought in with customs duties paid. Retired personnel from Indian Army or police can avail full exemption on private items worth up to NPR 50,000 upon presenting appropriate documents.
In cases of documented death abroad, the deceased’s family can bring in old personal items free of customs duties, excluding vehicles, firearms, and assets.
However, these facilities do not apply equally to travelers arriving via land routes. Land arrivals can carry goods worth up to NPR 500 without duty. This time, students studying in India are permitted to bring one laptop.
The current government has initiated enforcement against those bringing goods exceeding NPR 100 through customs checkpoints.
Prakash Muda, Executive Director of NIDS Nepal, an active labor organization in border areas, highlighted that the law discriminates between air and land travel. While enforcement is sometimes lenient, legally the distinction exists.
He said that although the administration intensifies scrutiny arbitrarily, travelers who have worked long in border areas should not face such discrimination.
A Finance Ministry official explained that the absence of a scientific system to record short-term movements has led to these regulations. Smuggling by traffickers at the Indian border poses a risk of differential treatment for returnees.
The upcoming fiscal year’s regulation states that individuals crossing the border by land can bring personal items worth up to NPR 500 duty-free; however, this does not provide similar ease for those returning for employment. Students studying in India may bring one laptop or computer duty-free.
What are the exemptions for Nepali travelers going abroad?
According to the Ministry of Finance, gifts up to NPR 50,000 are exempt from customs duty. For goods subject to VAT, a receipt and permanent account number must be presented to avoid customs. Travelers can carry goods purchased from Nepali markets up to declared weight with appropriate documents.
Non-resident Nepalis have similar privileges as Nepali citizens except for foreign employment benefits. Crew members are not allowed to bring items other than personal effects. Those crossing the border by land have an exemption of goods worth NPR 500, increased from NPR 100 previously.
What facilities are available for foreign air travelers?
Air travelers enjoy exemptions on personal use goods. They may bring one binocular, one tablet or laptop, one video camera, and one still camera each. Portable music systems, clothes, one bicycle, one watch, mobile phones, and gold and silver jewelry are admissible duty-free.
Professionals are allowed exemptions on essential items, with power banks added this time. Foreign travelers can bring 1 liter of alcohol, 12 cans of beer, 200 cigarettes, and 250 grams of tobacco duty-free, as was practiced before.
Medicines up to NPR 10,000, food items up to NPR 5,000, and fruits worth NPR 2,000 are allowed.
Foreign citizens taking gifts abroad from Nepal can do so by showing foreign currency exchange certificates and are permitted to carry goods worth up to NPR 500,000. Showing receipts for goods purchased in Nepal exempts the traveler from customs.
Foreign travelers entering Nepal are allowed to carry foreign currency equivalent to up to USD 5,000. Amounts exceeding this must be declared at customs.
