Gold Allowance for Travellers to Sri Lanka (2026)
Sri Lanka Customs publish no gram allowance for gold. Bona fide personal jewellery that you wear is not subject to customs duty, but all other jewellery must be declared on arrival and is taxed at the normal tariff rates, payable in Sri Lankan rupees. Gold in any other form, including bars, biscuits, ingots, coins and unfinished jewellery, needs an Import Control Licence obtained before arrival and must be declared whatever the quantity.
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. Sri Lanka sets no gram allowance, and customs assess any duty on their own valuation. An estimate, not a customs assessment.
Duty-Free Gold Allowance in Sri Lanka
| Traveller | Duty-free allowance | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lankan passenger returning from abroad | Bona fide personal jewellery worn | Not subject to customs taxation, as determined by the Director-General of Customs. Not in commercial quantity. |
| Any passenger: other jewellery (new, unworn, gifts) | No published allowance | Declare it on arrival. It is charged customs duty and other levies at the normal tariff rates. |
| Migrant workers and long-stay residents | No separate gold allowance published | Duty-free allowances for goods in general are set in US$ and rise with time abroad, with remittance-linked extras. Customs do not publish them as a gold allowance. |
| Anyone: bars, biscuits, ingots, coins, raw or unfinished gold | None | Needs a valid Import Control Licence obtained before arrival and must be declared in any quantity. Ingots and gold biscuits are not accepted as passenger baggage. |
| Foreign tourists | Personal jewellery | Declare valuable jewellery and anything that will stay in Sri Lanka, and take your own jewellery out with you. |
| Children | No separate rule | The same personal-jewellery rule applies. Minors have their own, smaller baggage allowance for other goods. |
Duty on gold jewellery
Sri Lanka Customs do not publish a gram or value limit for gold. Instead, bona fide personal jewellery worn by the passenger is not subject to customs taxation, as the Director-General of Customs determines. All other jewellery must be declared on arrival. Customs assess it at the normal rates in the import tariff, with customs duty and other levies, and it must be paid for in Sri Lankan rupees: the airport counter does not accept credit cards, cheques or foreign currency. Goods in commercial quantities declared at the red channel also attract a penalty of 20% to 50% of their value on top of duty and levies.
Gram limits such as "50 g for women" that circulate online are not in Sri Lanka Customs' published rules.
Gold bars, coins and raw gold need a licence
Gold in any form other than bona fide personal jewellery must be declared in any quantity and needs a valid Import Control Licence obtained before arrival. Rough or unfinished jewellery, ingots and gold biscuits are not accepted as passenger baggage. Since a gazette notice of January 2023, arriving passengers have also needed a special permit to bring jewellery above 22 carat. Ask customs before you travel with high-karat pieces.
Declaring gold at the airport
The Sri Lanka Customs FAQ lists gold jewellery, foreign currency and gems among the items to declare to the Customs Arrival No. 1 officer. Fill in the Passenger Baggage Declaration – Inward (Customs Form 205) and go to the red channel, where goods are examined. Walking through the green channel counts as a formal declaration that you have nothing to declare. A false declaration, or none, is an offence that can lead to heavy penalties, including forfeiture.
Foreign exchange over US$15,000, or foreign currency notes over US$10,000, must be declared on arrival. On departure, declare foreign currency over US$10,000.
Taking jewellery out of Sri Lanka
Residents may take personal jewellery abroad if it is not in commercial quantity or of a commercial nature and they intend to bring it back. Goods of a commercial nature cannot be exported without an export licence, and gems go through the National Gem and Jewellery Authority. Before you leave, ask customs how to record valuable jewellery so that it is recognised as yours when you return.
Migrant workers, the Gulf route and practical tips
- Duty-free allowances for returning Sri Lankans are set in US$ and rise with time abroad (under 90 days, 90 to 365 days, over a year), with remittance-linked extras. They cover goods in general, and customs do not publish them as a gold allowance.
- From Dubai, Doha, Riyadh or Kuwait, the safest course is to wear your own jewellery, carry its invoice and declare anything new.
- Do not buy gold bars or coins abroad to bring home without first getting an Import Control Licence.
- Rules change. Call the Sri Lanka Customs information desk (+94 11 2221333, toll-free 1915) before you travel.
Gold price in Sri Lanka today
Live rates →| 24K (999) | Rs 42,873 / gram | Rs 428,728 / 10 g |
|---|---|---|
| 22K (916) | Rs 39,311 / gram | Rs 393,108 / 10 g |
| 18K (750) | Rs 32,187 / gram | Rs 321,868 / 10 g |
Bringing Gold to Sri Lanka: FAQ
How much is 10 grams of 22K gold worth in Sri Lanka today?
About Rs 393,108 at the international price converted to LKR (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 to Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka publishes no gram limit. Personal jewellery that you wear is not subject to customs duty. Other jewellery must be declared on arrival and is taxed at tariff rates, and gold bars or coins need an Import Control Licence obtained before you travel.
Is there a 22 carat limit on gold jewellery in Sri Lanka?
Yes. A gazette notice issued in January 2023 requires arriving passengers to obtain a special permit to bring gold jewellery above 22 carat. Ask Sri Lanka Customs before travelling with higher-karat pieces.
Can I bring gold coins or a gold bar to Sri Lanka?
Only with a valid Import Control Licence obtained before arrival. Gold in any form other than personal jewellery must be declared in any quantity, and ingots and gold biscuits are not accepted as passenger baggage.
Do migrant workers get a duty-free gold allowance?
Sri Lanka Customs publish no separate gold allowance for migrant workers. The duty-free allowances, set in US$ and rising with time abroad plus remittance-linked extras, cover goods in general. Customs do not describe them as a gold allowance.
Can a child bring gold jewellery to Sri Lanka?
There is no separate rule for children. The same personal-jewellery rule applies: worn personal jewellery is not taxed, and anything else must be declared.
Can I take my jewellery abroad and bring it back?
Yes. Residents may take personal jewellery abroad if it is not in commercial quantity and they intend to bring it back. Keep the invoices, and ask customs at departure how to record valuable pieces.
Gold Travel Allowance in Other Countries
Sources: Sri Lanka Customs: Passenger Services Directorate (Katunayake) · Sri Lanka Customs: Passenger Services Directorate · Sri Lanka Customs: Travellers · Sri Lanka Customs: FAQ · Government Information Center: Sri Lanka Customs (jewellery for departing and returning residents). Information, not legal advice: customs officers decide on the spot, and rules change. See also: gold price in Sri Lanka · gold price by weight.