India: arriving in India from Canada
- Jewellery
- Duty-free jewellery up to 40 grams for a female passenger or 20 grams for any other passenger, by weight only (no value cap). Only a resident or a tourist of Indian origin who has lived abroad for more than one year qualifies (Baggage Rules, 2026, rule 6, in force since 2 February 2026).
- Bars and coins
- No free allowance. Gold or silver in any form other than ornaments is excluded from the general free allowance (Annexure I), so bars, coins and biscuits are dutiable from the first gram.
- How to declare
- Declare jewellery above your allowance, and all bars and coins, on the Indian Customs baggage declaration (Form CBD-I, or electronically through the ATITHI app) and use the red channel. Pay duty before you leave the customs area.
- Cash
- Declare foreign currency on the Currency Declaration Form (CDF) if notes alone are over US$5,000, or notes and travellers' cheques together are over US$10,000.
- Jewellery means articles of adornment ordinarily worn by a person, made of gold, silver, platinum or other precious metals.
- The general free allowance for residents and tourists of Indian origin arriving by air is ₹75,000; it does not cover gold or silver other than ornaments.
- Duty applies to jewellery above the allowance. As of October 2026, CBIC's baggage rate table lists 35% basic customs duty as the general rate on baggage above the free allowance, and a concessional rate on gold (bars or ornaments, up to 1 kg) of 10% basic customs duty plus 5% cess for passengers who meet the 'eligible passenger' conditions. Rates change by notification, so confirm with Indian Customs (secondary source: CBIC rate table as reproduced on referencer.in).
- The old value caps (₹50,000 men / ₹1,00,000 women) under the 2016 rules no longer apply.
Official sources: PIB (Ministry of Finance): Government notifies Baggage Rules, 2026 (2 Feb 2026); CBIC: Baggage Rules, 2026, Notification 14/2026-Customs (N.T.); Baggage Rules, 2026 text and rate table (secondary reproduction of CBIC material); RBI: Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Currency) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, with the Currency Declaration Form (23 Feb 2026)
Pakistan: arriving in Pakistan from Canada
- Jewellery
- FBR does not publish a fixed gram limit. Its passenger brochure allows Pakistani nationals back after 8 or more days abroad to bring personal jewellery in reasonable quantity, once per calendar year, as part of their duty-free allowance.
- Bars and coins
- No duty-free allowance for bars or coins. Gold and precious metals must be declared, and goods in commercial quantity attract a 30% fine on top of duty and taxes.
- How to declare
- Tick the gold, precious metals and jewellery line on the passenger declaration (Baggage Rules, 2006, Appendix C) and use the red channel. Passengers in the green channel with dutiable goods face penalties and confiscation.
- Cash
- Incoming passengers must declare foreign currency over US$10,000 or equivalent (FBR SRO 1864(I)/2022).
- The FBR brochure dates from 2008; treat 'reasonable quantity' as a judgment made by the customs officer, and declare anything more than everyday wear.
- To bring back duty-free jewellery you took out of Pakistan, get an export certificate or passport endorsement from Customs when you leave Pakistan.
- Some news sites quote a 10 g limit; we could not find it on an official FBR page, so it is not used here.
Official sources: FBR: Travel guide (green channel, red channel, re-import); FBR: Baggage rules brochure for passengers; FBR: SRO 1864(I)/2022 amending the Baggage Rules, 2006 (declaration form)
Bangladesh: arriving in Bangladesh from Canada
- Jewellery
- Up to 100 grams of gold ornaments (and 200 grams of silver ornaments) duty-free, with no more than 12 pieces of one type (Baggage Rules 2025, SRO 261, 2 June 2025). Press reports say the gold allowance is once a year.
- Bars and coins
- One gold bar of up to 117 grams (10 tola / 10 vori), once a year, declared at customs, with duty of Tk 5,000 per 11.664 grams (about Tk 50,000 for 117 grams). Gold above 117 grams can be detained or confiscated.
- How to declare
- Declare a gold bar, and any jewellery above the allowance, to customs when you arrive. Carrying gold bars or ingots without declaring them is illegal and can lead to arrest. (The Schedule-1 form handed out on the plane is for unaccompanied baggage.)
- Cash
- Declare foreign currency over US$10,000 or equivalent on the FMJ form.
- 1 vori (bhori) = 11.664 grams; 100 g of ornaments is about 8.6 vori.
- The Dhaka airport customs page does not state how often the 100 g jewellery allowance applies; Prothom Alo reports it as once a year, so plan on once a year.
Official sources: Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport: Customs (citing SRO 261-Act/2025/71/Customs, 2 June 2025); Prothom Alo: How much gold jewellery can be brought from abroad without paying customs duty (21 Oct 2025, secondary source)
United Arab Emirates (Dubai): arriving in the UAE from Canada
- Jewellery
- There is no gram limit on personal jewellery. Gifts with you are duty-free up to AED 3,000, and baggage must be personal, not commercial quantities.
- Bars and coins
- No special allowance. Bars and coins count toward the AED 60,000 declaration threshold for precious metals.
- How to declare
- Travellers 18 and over, arriving or departing, must declare cash, cheques and precious metals or stones worth more than AED 60,000 (or equivalent) on the customs declaration or the iDeclare app. Children's amounts are added to the parent's or guardian's total.
- Cash
- The same AED 60,000 threshold covers cash, cheques, payment orders and precious metals or stones combined.
- Dubai Customs' iDeclare checklist asks arriving travellers whether they carry any jewellery, gold, silver or other precious metals; gold jewellery is a precious metal, so count it toward the AED 60,000 threshold.
- Customs duty and VAT can apply to quantities and values above the allowances.
- Check the rule again before you leave the UAE: the AED 60,000 declaration also applies when departing.
Official sources: Dubai Customs: Passenger Customs Guide, version 6 (2025); Dubai Customs: iDeclare
Philippines: arriving in the Philippines from Canada
- Jewellery
- The Bureau of Customs does not publish a gram limit for personal jewellery. Every arriving passenger fills in the electronic Customs Baggage Declaration Form (e-CBDF), and jewellery beyond everyday wear should be declared there.
- Bars and coins
- No published duty-free allowance for bars or coins. Declare them on the e-CBDF; duty and taxes may apply.
- How to declare
- Complete the e-CBDF (and the e-CDF if carrying currency over the limits) on etravel.gov.ph or the eGovPH app within 72 hours before arrival, then show the QR code at customs.
- Cash
- Declare foreign currency over US$10,000 or equivalent on the e-CDF. Philippine pesos over PHP 50,000 need prior written approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
- Returning residents' jewellery is duty-free when it was declared and listed before leaving the Philippines (CMTA, RA 10863, section 800(f)).
- Secondary source: no official BOC page with a jewellery gram limit was found; keep receipts and declare valuable pieces.
Official sources: Philippine Embassy in New Zealand: Full implementation of the e-Travel customs system (22 May 2024); Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles: Duty-free personal and household effects (CMTA section 800)
Nepal: arriving in Nepal from Canada
- Jewellery
- Foreign passengers may bring used gold ornaments up to 25 grams for men and 50 grams for women, and silver ornaments up to 100 grams, duty-free. News reports say returning Nepali workers have the same 25 g / 50 g limits (secondary source).
- Bars and coins
- Not allowed for foreign passengers. Gold in forms other than ornaments (coins, biscuits, pieces) is seized and confiscated, with a fine equal to its value (Embassy of India, Kathmandu notice, 2019). Rules for Nepali returnees on raw gold have changed over time; check with Nepal Customs.
- How to declare
- Declare at the red channel if you carry goods above your concession. Gold spiral rings, bangles or chains made in ordinary ornament shapes without using chemicals are not accepted as ornaments.
- Cash
- Declare cash over US$5,000 to Customs.
- Republica reports that returning Nepalis may bring up to 200 grams of gold jewellery, with duty on the part above the 25 g / 50 g free limit (secondary source).
- Gold, silver and precious stones may not be exported from Nepal, so take out only what you brought in.
Official sources: Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal: AIP GEN 1.3, Customs requirements (30 Apr 2024); Embassy of India, Kathmandu: Import of gold and silver into Nepal by foreign passengers (9 Aug 2019); Republica: Customs duty exemptions for returning Nepalis (secondary source)
Sri Lanka: arriving in Sri Lanka from Canada
- Jewellery
- Only bona fide personal jewellery in reasonable quantity may be brought in. Sri Lanka Customs does not publish a gram limit, and gold jewellery must be declared.
- Bars and coins
- Not allowed as passenger baggage. Rough or unfinished jewellery, ingots and gold biscuits cannot be imported or exported by passengers.
- How to declare
- Declare gold jewellery, gems and foreign currency to the Customs Arrival officer when you land.
- Cash
- Declare foreign currency over US$15,000 or equivalent when arriving (over US$10,000 when leaving).
- Imported gemstones must be declared, with a USD 200 service fee per person.
- Declaring jewellery on arrival also helps when you take it back out.
Official sources: Sri Lanka Customs: Passenger Services Directorate; Sri Lanka Customs: FAQ
Rules as of 2026-10-24. Customs rules change: check the official page before you travel.
Coming back
Bringing gold into Canada.
Canada: arriving in Canada (returning residents, newcomers and visitors)
- Jewellery
- Returning residents must declare all goods bought or received abroad, including jewellery. Personal exemptions: CAN$200 after 24 hours away (over CAN$200, duty and tax apply to the full amount), CAN$800 after 48 hours, CAN$800 after 7 days; exemptions cannot be combined, or combined with another person's. Carry proof that jewellery you are wearing left Canada with you, or the CBSA may treat it as bought abroad.
- Bars and coins
- Gold bars, ingots, coins and wafers of at least 99.5% purity are 'precious metals': free of customs duty under the Customs Tariff (headings 7108 and 7118) and not subject to GST/HST on import. Declare them anyway. Lower-purity gold and gold jewellery are taxable; gold jewellery has a 6.5% Most Favoured Nation duty rate (lower or free under some trade agreements), plus GST/HST.
- How to declare
- Declare everything you acquired abroad to the CBSA when you arrive. Newcomers (settlers) list jewellery individually on their goods list; the officer issues Form BSF186 (Personal Effects Accounting Document), and goods to follow must be on that first list.
- Cash
- Declare currency or monetary instruments (cash, cheques, money orders, bank drafts, stocks, bonds) totalling CAN$10,000 or more, entering or leaving. CBSA's list of monetary instruments does not name gold or jewellery; those are declared as goods.
- CBSA will not document most jewellery on Form BSF407 (the former Y38). Instead, get an appraisal and a signed, dated photo from a Canadian jeweller, gemologist or insurance agent, have them validated at a CBSA office before you travel, and carry them.
- Settlers' effects: goods must have been owned, possessed and used abroad before arrival; selling or giving them away within 12 months makes duty and taxes payable.
- Gifts you bring back count toward your personal exemption.
- Undeclared goods can be seized, with a penalty of 25% to 70% of their value.
- Leaving Canada: non-restricted personal effects do not need an export declaration.
Official sources: CBSA: I Declare, a guide for residents returning to Canada; CBSA: Memorandum D2-6-5, Documentation of goods for temporary exportation (BSF407, formerly Y38); CBSA: Moving or returning to Canada (settlers, BSF186); CBSA: Memorandum D2-2-1, Settlers' effects; CBSA: Travelling with CAN$10,000 or more? Declare it; CBSA: Customs Tariff 2026, Chapter 71; Justice Laws: Non-Taxable Imported Goods (GST/HST) Regulations, s. 3(a); CRA: GST/HST Memorandum 17-1, Definition of financial instrument (precious metal); CBSA: Memorandum D20-1-1, Exporter reporting
More detail: bringing gold jewellery into Canada.
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