MUSCAT: Indians travelling home with a new iPhone bought abroad could face questions from Customs officials over whether the device qualifies as a personal effect or attracts import duty.
The issue came into focus after Ajas Muhamad, a Kozhikode native, staged a sit-in protest at Kerala’s Nedumbassery airport over Customs officials’ demand for tax on a new iPhone 18 Pro brought from United Arab Emirates
Police registered a case against him for allegedly obstructing Customs officials from performing their duties.
Ajas reportedly argued that the phone was for personal use. Officials maintained that the newly purchased, unused device did not qualify for the exemption applicable to used personal effects. They also noted that he already owned another iPhone.
Under India’s Baggage Rules 2026, eligible passengers arriving by air or sea can bring goods worth up to ₹75,000 under the general duty-free allowance, subject to applicable conditions.
However, this is not a separate exemption for every item. Travellers should not assume that a new iPhone is automatically duty-free simply because it is intended for personal use. Customs treatment depends on the applicable baggage rules, the nature of the item and the circumstances of its import.