Shipping From Thailand to India: Duty on a Courier Parcel, the KYC Your Receiver Is Asked For and What Cannot Go

What does Indian customs charge on a courier parcel?

Goods imported for personal use by post or courier fall under tariff heading 9804, and the basic customs duty on that heading was cut from 35 percent to 20 percent on 2 February 2025. Two further charges are calculated on top of it. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs set out the structure in 2020, when the basic rate was still 35 percent:

"(a) Basic Customs Duty at the applicable tariff rate as per the First schedule of the Customs Tariff Act for the heading 9804 which is 35% at present."

"(b) IGST at the rate specified for the heading 9804 (SI. No. 227 schedule IV) in Notification No. 1/2017-Integrated Tax (rate) dated 28th June 2017 for IGST which is at present 28%."

Source: Circular No. 4/2020-Customs, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, 21 January 2020.

The 2025 budget changed the first figure. The notification lists the new rate in one row:

"9804 All dutiable goods imported for personal use other than those S.No. 608 of the Table appended to notification No. 50/2017-Customs, dated the 30th June, 2017 20%"

"This notification shall come into force on the 2nd day of February, 2025."

Source: Notification No. 04/2025-Customs, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, 1 February 2025.

Before the cut, Bengaluru Customs published the combined figure for a parcel with no proof of purchase as "Total Duty (1+2+3) 77.28% of X". With proof of a purchase the same notice gives 42.08 percent, under a concessional entry, and adds the condition: "B2C invoice and monetary transaction proof are required to avail benefit of assessment @42.08%, else duty @ 77.28% will be applicable." The lesson outlasts the rate change. A parcel to India travels with an invoice and proof of payment, or it is assessed at the higher figure.

On the Dragon Courier duty and tax inclusive list the sender pays one price in Bangkok and the receiver pays nothing on arrival.

Can a parcel be sent to India as a gift?

Not as a way to avoid duty. India is the one large market where writing "gift" on the declaration makes things worse. The Foreign Trade Policy says:

"Import of goods, including those purchased from e-commerce portals, through post or courier, where Customs clearance is sought as gifts, is prohibited except for life saving drugs/ medicines and Rakhi (but not gifts related to Rakhi)."

"Import of goods as gifts with payment of full applicable duties is allowed."

Source: Foreign Trade Policy 2023, paragraph 2.26, Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

An exemption for gifts up to 5,000 rupees still exists on paper, and the customs board explains why it cannot be used: if goods sent by courier or post "seek the exemption available for imports of bonafide gifts up to a c.i.f. value of Rs. 5000.00 ... then the imports will be prohibited. However, the goods imported as gifts can be allowed import free (i.e. without prohibition) on payment of full applicable duties."

Source: Circular No. 4/2020-Customs, paragraph 4.1.

A birthday present to a sister in Pune can be sent. It is declared for what it is, with its value, and duty is paid on it.

What is the KYC the receiver is asked for?

Two identity documents, requested by the courier in India before customs clearance. The obligation sits on the courier, by order of the customs board:

"an obligation has been cast on the Authorized Courier to verify the antecedents, identity of his client and the functioning of his client in the declared address by using reliable, independent, authentic documents, data or information."

"It would be obligatory for the client/ customer to furnish to the Authorised Courier any two of the listed documents in the annexure."

Source: Circular No. 33/2010-Customs, Central Board of Excise and Customs, 7 September 2010.

The receiver also authorises the courier to clear the parcel on their behalf. For small parcels that signature can wait until delivery:

"in case of import consignments having a declared value of ten thousand rupees or less, the authorization may be obtained at the time of delivery of the consignments to consignee."

Source: Circular No. 33/2010-Customs.

The sender's part is simple. Tell the receiver before the parcel leaves that a message asking for identity documents is genuine and should be answered the same day, and put a working Indian mobile number on the booking. Dragon Courier needs the receiver's name, address and contact number for every shipment and cannot change an address after export.

A business receiver needs an Importer Exporter Code. The Foreign Trade Policy states that "No export or import of goods shall be made by any person without obtaining an IEC unless specifically exempted", and the customs board clarifies that for "goods for personal use not connected with trade or manufacture or agriculture" a permanent code provided by the policy is used instead. Free commercial samples are accepted up to "ten thousand rupees per consignment for imports".

What cannot be sent to India by courier?

The courier regulations exclude whole categories from courier clearance, whatever the carrier:

"(i) animals and parts thereof, plants and parts thereof; (ii) perishables; (iii) publications containing maps depicting incorrect boundaries of India; (iv) precious and semi-precious stones, gold or silver in any form;"

Source: Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2010, regulation 2.

Two of those lines matter for shipments from Thailand in particular. Thai silver jewellery and loose gemstones, bought in Bangkok or Chanthaburi, are outside courier clearance however small the parcel. And Dragon Courier's live plant service does not include India. The plant markets served are the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The drone rule is short enough to quote: "Import of drones in Completely-Built-Up (CBU), Semi-knocked-down (SKD) or Completely-Knocked-down (CKD) form is Prohibited". Batteries and religious items are not accepted by Dragon Courier to any country.

How long does it take, and what does it cost?

Dragon Courier sends by air, handles customs clearance and delivers by courier to the door. Delivery times depend on the market and the team gives the estimate with the quote. For cartons of 5 kg and above there is a second service on this route only: Blue Dart Express, on direct flights, in 5 to 8 days.

General Duty and Tax Inclusive price list, zone 16, valid on 3 August 2026, all surcharges included. Blue Dart Express from 5 kg: 199 to 225 THB per kg in bands. Price is by weight and dimension, with no hidden fees and no remote area surcharge, and the same list applies to every customer.

On the Indian side, the government's own measurement of customs gives a sense of scale. The 2024 National Time Release Study reports air cargo complexes as the fastest category of port, with a "6 percent reduction in case of ACCs in 2024 compared to the corresponding period in 2023". A common reason for a parcel to sit in Delhi or Mumbai is a receiver who has not answered the request for documents.

About Dragon Courier

Dragon Courier is a Bangkok courier, 100 percent family owned, with more than 30 years in logistics in Thailand, more than 20,000 shipments a month and over 200 export destinations. It has worked with Bangkok's tailoring trade since it was founded, and tailored goods are collected from the shop. The terms used on a customs declaration are explained in the guide to the customs declaration and commercial invoice, and what no carrier will take is in the guide on prohibited and restricted items.

Contacts and drop-off

A quote needs the contents of the package and the receiver's name, address and contact number. Office +66 2656 9019, LINE and WhatsApp at +66 6-5937-0812, or info@dragoncourier.com. Drop-off runs until 17:00, Monday to Saturday, at 217/3 Crystal Garden Building, 3rd floor, Sukhumvit Soi 4, and a collection can be arranged. More answers are on the FAQ page. Does the receiver know the KYC message is coming?

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