Gold Allowance for Travellers to Nepal (2026)
A passenger arriving in Nepal may bring gold jewellery duty-free up to 25 g for a man and 50 g for a woman. Up to 100 g more jewellery is allowed on payment of duty: the first 50 g at the prevailing customs rate on gold (raised to 20% by the 2083/84 budget) and the next 50 g at that rate plus 3%, while anything beyond is confiscated. Gold above the duty-free amount, and any raw gold, bars or coins (which have no duty-free amount), must be declared to customs at the red channel on arrival.
Reviewed October 2026 from official sources (listed below). Rules change — check with customs before you travel.
Estimate
Values your gold at today's international price. Nepal Customs use their own valuation, based on international prices, and the second 50 g band pays 3% more. This is an estimate only. An estimate, not a customs assessment.
Duty-Free Gold Allowance in Nepal
| Traveller | Duty-free allowance | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Woman | 50 g of gold jewellery | Duty-free. A further 100 g is allowed with duty: the first 50 g at the prevailing rate, the next 50 g at that rate plus 3%. Maximum about 150 g. |
| Man | 25 g of gold jewellery | Duty-free. A further 100 g is allowed with duty, as above. Maximum about 125 g. |
| Nepali citizen returning from abroad: raw gold, bars or coins | None | Recent reports of the customs schedule allow up to 100 g with duty (first 50 g at the prevailing rate, next 50 g plus 3%). Ask customs before you buy. |
| Foreign visitor | 25 g (men) / 50 g (women) of personal jewellery | Must be taken back on departure. Larger amounts of personal jewellery can be brought in if declared and 20% of their value is deposited, refundable when you leave with the same jewellery. Gold in other forms is not allowed. |
| Children | No separate rule found | The published rules set limits for men and women only. Ask customs before travelling with gold for a child. |
Duty on gold above the allowance
Duty-free jewellery is limited to 25 g for men and 50 g for women. The customs schedule then allows up to 100 g more in two bands. The first 50 g pays the prevailing customs duty on gold, and the next 50 g pays that duty plus an extra 3%. The 2083/84 budget, presented in May 2026, doubled the duty on gold from 10% to 20%. Customs value the gold at international prices and collect the duty at the airport.
Gold beyond the maximum is confiscated, not just taxed further, and false declarations can lead to fines and prosecution. Older articles quote a fixed duty per tola or per 10 grams and other limits. Those figures come from earlier Finance Acts and no longer apply.
Declaring gold at Tribhuvan airport
Passengers with nothing to declare use the green channel. Anyone carrying gold above the duty-free amount, raw gold or other dutiable goods must declare it at the red channel. Passengers in the green channel may still be checked. Declared gold above the allowance is assessed and released once you pay the duty. Undeclared gold found on you is seized and can lead to arrest.
Cash over US$5,000 brought into or taken out of Nepal must also be declared to customs.
Foreign visitors and taking gold out of Nepal
Foreign visitors may bring personal jewellery up to 25 g (men) or 50 g (women) on condition that they take it back on departure. Indian and other visitors attending a wedding with more jewellery can declare it. Customs examine it and take a deposit of 20% of its value, which is refunded on departure once they check that the same jewellery is leaving. Gold coins, biscuits and pieces are not allowed for foreign passengers.
Nepal's published customs information for air travellers lists gold and silver as prohibited for export. If you will leave with jewellery you brought in, declare it on arrival so that customs can match it when you go.
From the Gulf, Malaysia and India
Many travellers bringing gold to Kathmandu are workers returning from Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Malaysia. The limits are the same whichever country you fly from: 25 g (men) or 50 g (women) of jewellery free, up to 100 g more with duty, and declare everything above the free amount. Customs at Tribhuvan airport regularly seize gold that was not declared, or bullion shaped into plain bangles or rings.
Practical tips
- Bring finished jewellery with its invoice showing weight and karat. Plain gold shaped into rings, bangles or chains without proper workmanship is treated as raw gold, not jewellery.
- The limits are totals for all your jewellery, not per piece.
- Do not carry gold for someone else: it counts against your limit and can be treated as smuggling.
- Rates change with each Finance Act. Ask the Department of Customs (customs.gov.np) or the airport customs office for the current figure before you travel.
Gold price in Nepal today
Live rates →| 24K (999) | Rs 19,560 / gram | Rs 2,28,145 / tola |
|---|---|---|
| 22K (916) | Rs 17,935 / gram | Rs 2,09,190 / tola |
| 18K (750) | Rs 14,685 / gram | Rs 1,71,280 / tola |
Bringing Gold to Nepal: FAQ
How much is 1 tola of 22K gold worth in Nepal today?
About Rs 2,09,190 at the international price converted to NPR (Oct 22, 2026, 21:00 UTC). Customs use their own notified or assessed value, and shops charge more, so treat this as an estimate.
How much gold can I bring from Dubai or Qatar to Nepal?
25 g of gold jewellery duty-free for a man and 50 g for a woman. You can bring up to 100 g more by paying duty: the first 50 g at the prevailing rate on gold (20% after the 2083/84 budget) and the next 50 g at that rate plus 3%. Anything beyond that is confiscated.
What is the customs duty on extra gold in Nepal?
The first 50 g above your duty-free amount pays the prevailing customs duty on gold, which the 2083/84 budget raised from 10% to 20%. The next 50 g pays an extra 3%. Customs value the gold at international prices and collect the duty at the airport.
Can I bring gold coins or a gold bar to Nepal?
They get no duty-free allowance. Recent reports of the customs schedule let a Nepali passenger bring up to 100 g of raw gold with duty: the first 50 g at the prevailing rate and the next 50 g at 3% more. Foreign passengers may not bring gold coins, biscuits or pieces. Ask customs before you buy.
Can a child bring gold jewellery to Nepal?
The published rules set limits only for men (25 g) and women (50 g), with no separate rule for children. Ask customs before travelling with gold for a child, and declare it.
Can foreigners wear their jewellery into Nepal?
Yes. A foreign visitor may bring personal gold jewellery up to 25 g (men) or 50 g (women) and must take it back on departure. More can be brought in if declared, against a refundable deposit of 20% of its value.
Are the gold limits and duty figures in older articles still valid?
Often not. Older articles quote a fixed duty per tola or per 10 grams and other limits from earlier Finance Acts. The current schedule allows at most 100 g of jewellery above the duty-free amount, and the 2083/84 budget set the duty on gold at 20%.
Gold Travel Allowance in Other Countries
Sources: CAA Nepal e-AIP GEN 1.3: passenger customs requirements · Embassy of India, Kathmandu: import of gold and silver into Nepal by foreign passengers · Bizness News: gold limits for passengers from abroad (Asoj 2083 / Oct 2026) · Onlinekhabar: what passengers may bring, Customs Act schedule (2025) · Ratopati: budget 2083/84 doubles customs duty on gold. Information, not legal advice: customs officers decide on the spot, and rules change. See also: gold price in Nepal · gold price by weight.