Government Raises Border Goods Allowance from Rs 100 to Rs 500

Kathmnadu-The government has increased the duty-free limit for goods carried across land border checkpoints, allowing travelers to bring in items worth up to Rs 500 without paying customs duty.The Ministry of Finance announced the revised provision through a new regulation concerning goods carried by passengers entering and leaving the country. The previous limit of Rs 100 has now been raised to Rs 500.

However, travelers crossing through land border points will still not receive the same customs facilities as those traveling by air. According to a notice published in the Nepal Gazette, customs officials may allow travelers to bring or take personal-use items worth up to Rs 500 without charging customs duty, depending on the circumstances.The provision exempting Nepali students studying in India from customs duty on either one tablet or one computer brought into Nepal has been retained.Under a notice published on May 29, 2025 (15 Jestha 2082), travelers were prohibited from bringing goods worth more than Rs 100 across border checkpoints without paying customs duty. The implementation of that rule had sparked tensions at several border points in recent weeks.

The issue was also raised in Parliament. Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle had stated that the rule was introduced by the previous government and assured lawmakers that the duty-free threshold would be revised.Business owners in Nepal’s border areas have welcomed the government’s decision. Although successive governments have repeatedly attempted to strictly enforce such regulations, they have faced difficulties in implementing them effectively.