Everything you need to know about FBR’s new baggage rules for passengers coming from abroad

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced new and stricter baggage rules for passengers arriving from abroad in an effort to prevent the misuse of baggage allowances by commercial entities.

Under the new rules, any goods, including mobile phones, exceeding a value of $1,200 per passenger will be confiscated. This move is aimed at curbing the smuggling of goods under the guise of baggage allowances.

The FBR has introduced draft amendments to the Baggage Rules, 2006, through S.R.O. 214(1)2024. According to the notification, the following new rules will apply:

1. $1,200 Limit: Any goods exceeding a value of $1,200 per passenger will be confiscated.
2. One Mobile Phone: Passengers can bring one used mobile phone for personal use, subject to applicable duties and taxes if not previously cleared.
3. Second Mobile Phone: A second mobile phone may be allowed upon payment of duties and taxes.
4. Additional Mobile Phones: Any additional mobile phones beyond two will be confiscated, regardless of payment of duties or fines.
5. $1,200 Limit on Goods: The $1,200 limit applies to all goods under the baggage scheme, and goods exceeding this value will be confiscated.
6. Commercial Quantity Definition: “Commercial quantity” refers to goods intended for trading or financial gain, exceeding $1,200 in value.
7. No Release for Commercial Goods: Goods brought in commercial quantities will not be released, even with the payment of duties, taxes, or redemption fines.

According to the notification, incoming passengers will be allowed to bring one used mobile phone for personal use, subject to the payment of applicable duties and taxes, if they have not been cleared earlier. A second phone may also be released upon payment of duties and taxes. However, any additional phones beyond these will be confiscated and will not be cleared, even if the duties or fines are paid.

The $1,200 limit applies to all goods brought by passengers under the baggage scheme. Goods exceeding this value will be outrightly confiscated.

The notification further specifies that “commercial quantity” refers to goods imported for trading or financial gain rather than for personal use or as gifts, with a value exceeding $1,200. In the case of mobile phones, this applies to more than one device beyond personal use.

Goods brought in commercial quantities will no longer be released, even with payment of duties, taxes, or redemption fines, according to the notification.