Moving to India 🇮🇳

Introduction

You need to move to India? SIAM Relocation’s expert team is here to handle all your logistic and relocation needs. Whether you leave from Thailand or somewhere else, our decades of experience in this domain give us credit to take care of your move. Our article will give you the reliable information you need about the customs, the best ways of transportation, our dedicated services and about your future life in India.

As you probably know it, when you travel from a country to another with your items, it is compulsory to go through customs process and thus clear your belongings. Of course, Siam Relocation is used to working with customs and can offer you to handle your goods clearing with the customs.

1.1 Customs process

There are some very important prescriptions regarding foreign nationals and Indian of origin who are transferring their residence to India (Transferees).

A transferee can import personal effects and household goods to India as a Transfer of Residence only if he has lived overseas for two years at least and is transferring residence. They must not have visited India for more than 180 days in the two years spent out of India. The Transfer of Residence rule is important as it allows some dutiable effects older than one year not to be subject to duties.

*Foreign nationals need a resident permit or a business/work/entry visa or a PIO card to enter India with goods.

The Disembarkation Card acts like a valued inventory of your goods as you have to mention precisely what you transport and to estimate its value. But you will still need a valued inventory made by your own prior to the travel.

Here are the needed documents for your custom clearance:

• Copy of the original Bill of Lading.
• Original passport.
• Authority letter.
• Baggage declaration form.
• Valued inventory in English.
• Signed Indian customs declaration form.
• Copy of Employment Letter or Transfer letter.
• FRRO registration.

Since 2017, India has implemented a new tax: the Goods and Services Tax (GST), it has been implemented to simplify the whole tax procedure in India. For instance, some of the items that were dutiable before are now only subject to GST. There are 5 basic GST rates : 0%, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%.

Many products are still dutiable when entering India. There are several duty rates that vary according to what you bring. Of course, some items will have a high duty rate that won’t be applicable to others, but we can say that there are three basic rates.

The first one is the basic duty rate of 7.5% of the value of the item. An “additional duty” rate of 12.5% exists. The third one is the “special duty” rate of 4%, applicable to medical equipment and devices for example.

There are two ways to declare your goods when you enter India’s territory. They are named the Red and the Green Channels and are to be found in any major entry checkpoints in India.

The Green Channel is the path you will take if you don’t have any dutiable goods.

The Red Channel is to be taken if you transport dutiable goods. In this case, it is important that you declare all your goods to the Customs Officer. It is highly possible that you have to produce them in front of him. You can face a punishment if you miss declare your goods at the Red Channel.

1.2 Taxes exemption

*There are a few situations in which your shipment can be totally or partially exempted from taxes.

If your shipment is part of a diplomatic removal, you can be exempted from duties. But you will need several documents so that your shipment is considered as a diplomatic removal:

• An Authority Letter provided by the destination agent in India.
• A Baggage Declaration Form
• A copy of Passport duly certified (sealed and signed by the Embassy/Consulate)
• A Duty-free Exemption Certificate issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.
• The Bill of Lading (sealed and signed by the Embassy/Consulate)
• The valued inventory of the goods (sealed and signed by the Embassy/Consulate)

Here are other specific cases in which goods are not subject to taxes nor duties:

• Goods that are re-imported to India with no value-added.
• Goods donated for charity
• Goods used for scientific purposes.
• Goods used for exhibition
• Industrial equipment and any product needed for the maintenance of industrial equipment.

1.3 Vehicle importation

You will also need some paperwork to import your vehicle:

• You will have to submit a certificate issued by a testing agency approved by the Government. The certificate will confirm that the vehicle complies with the Indian Motor Vehicles Act of 1988.
• You also need to ask the testing agency to issue a certificate that says the vehicle conforms to the homologation certificate issued at the time of manufacture.
• Finally, once your vehicle has arrived at the Indian port but before you proceed to custom clearance, you will submit the vehicle to the Vehicle Research and Development Establishment so that they test, once more, the conformity of the vehicle with the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988.

1.4 What duties and taxes will I pay for my personal effects?

Sample of a declaration for personal effect importation (this one is for Singapore but could work for India. Ask your SIAM Moving consultant to provide you the correct one)

Customs process

Drug Contreband

Explosives

Biohazard

Chemicals

Corrosive

Counterfeit

Ivory

Batteries

Flammable

Firearms

Drugs

Counterfeit notes

Poison

Pornography

Knife

Tobacco

Gambling

Hazardous

When moving from Thailand to India, you can turn to any transportation mode: by sea, air, road or rails. Each one has its advantages and drawbacks. Our moving consultant will help you determine the most relevant solution for you.

Sea freight rates

The cost of sea freight depends on many parameters which makes the rates quite unstable. For instance, whether you ship a small volume or a big one, your container type will change and so will your rate.

We generally advise you to opt for an FCL (Full Container Load) if your volume is higher than 15 cubic meters and an LCL (Less than Container Load) if your volume is under 15 cubic meters. Our experts will obviously help you choose the best solution in order to fit your needs.

*According to your budget, we can adapt our offer (with or without a packaging and/or loading service) which could have important consequences on the final price.

Why choose us?

SIAM Relocation provides dedicated services to best respond to your specific needs and has been doing so since many years. Our moving consultants are experts and want the best solution for you.

Why choose us?

SIAM Relocation has a long experience in air freight transportation and is used to working with the best agents in the world for years. More, we often serve Indian customers and know how to deal with Indian customs. Please contact our SIAM moving consultants and they will work to find out the best solution to your needs.

Let’s see together how air freight are calculated. The most important aspect that you have to understand is the difference between actual weight and volumetric weight. Once you get it, you can understand your air freight quotations.

*If the volumetric weight is higher than the actual weight of your box, the carrier will quote based on this weight. You can use online chargeable weight calculators to make it easier, now that you understand how it works.

Transit time

We can’t give you a transit time as it will be very different according to the trip you choose to do. For further information about this method of transport, feel free to contact our SIAM Moving Consultant.

Rail freight rates

In comparison with other freight modes, rail freight can turn out to be more economical for transporting heavy goods, but it is so complicated to plan in some countries (India is part of them) that it not often chosen. More, your final price will highly depend on your location and proximity to a train station, both at departure and destination.

Why choose us?

Rail freight transportation keeps no secret anymore for SIAM Relocation thanks to its experience. Please don’t hesitate to contact our moving consultants. They will work to find out the best solution to your needs.

SIAM Relocation deals with relocations since a long time and always with the same motivation: the client needs come first. That is why, through years of observations and operations, we decided to create particular offers in order to better fit your needs.

3.1 Moving insurance

International transport of goods does not come without a risk. The principal risks that a shipment may face are risk of damage, delay, theft or loss during transit. In consequence, we advise our clients to subscribe to an insurance before the problem happens.

Cargo insurance (same as freight insurance or marine insurance) usually covers damages caused by bad weather, inadequate storage of the goods or fumigation services. Each insurance has different services. For instance, some cover piracy acts, others don’t.

In order to subscribe to an insurance, you can go through a standard insurance company, a specialist marine insurance broker, your bank or us, SIAM Relocation.

*Our consultants are here to make sure you choose the service you need. feel free to contact him!

3.2 Moving with your pet to India

Your animal must be inspected before leaving the country. Precisely three days before your departure, you must head to the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Custom and Animal Quarantine Office with your animal, up to date about its vaccinations. For this inspection, you will be asked to produce documents:

• A rabies certificate. Provided and signed by the vet who made it, it must be written in English. Your pet should also have undergone a blood serology test to check that he has rabies antibodies at a level of at least 0.5 lU/Ml. The test must take place at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.
• Your flight details.
• A copy of your valid passport.
• Your pet’s microchip number if your animal has one.

*At the office, you will have to fill an export request form.

Once the health check is done, the government vet will give you the documents you require for your travel. You will be charged 50 THB per animal. On the day of traveling, don’t forget to bring your pet health certificate, the export permit, and the airport vet certificate.

Until now, that was what you have to do regarding Thailand authorities. But India also has its requisites.

Please note that you must be moving your permanent residence on an E employment visa or be an Indian citizen coming back from overseas assignments in order to be allowed to get your pet back into the country. You will maybe have to provide documents that prove that you will stay in India for at least two years.

*Two pets (cat/dog) per passenger can be imported into India without any import license.

Your pet has to me microchipped in order to enter India.

• Dogs have to be vaccinated against Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza and Distemper.
• Cats need to be vaccinated against FVRCP and Feline Pan Leukopenia.

3.3 Packing service

Packing cardboard boxes are the standard packing materials. They exist in different sizes and can be very resistant if the cardboard used is of good quality. To save money, you will have to pack smartly. For example, prefer the best boxes for important and sturdy items.

Bubble wrap is a common packing material as it is used to take care of delicate goods like pottery or any fragile item.

Wooden boxes are used when a packing for fragile items is required. They can be manipulated for a longer time than simple cardboard boxes and resist humidity better.

SIAM relocation offers you to take care of your packaging needs. We have a packing team ready to pack whatever you need. Even if your items have rare dimensions or if you don’t have material.

3.4 Warehousing service

When you have an emergency, a setback or whatever could disturb your relocation organization, a warehousing service can save your life. You may stock your goods in our warehouses before shipping them to India.

3.5 Office moves

Please take note that we also have a service specialized in moving dedicated to companies, associations or government agencies.

A few years ago, we decided to do more to help our customers. We decided to create different offers and adapt them to your needs, from the simplest to the complete package.

5.1 Visa & Business

Visa

The most common visas to enter India and stay for a long time are the following:

• Entry X Visa, which require special conditions and are quite rare
• Employment Visa for foreigners working in India.
• Business Visa

Business

India is a country where business is growing and very interesting to start. Some of the emerging sectors are advanced engineering and manufacturing, digital innovation, energy, finance, life sciences, retail, foods/drinks and logistics.

5.2 Living in India

Overview

India is a very particular country to live in. Even among Asian countries, India has its own identity. India is a federal state strongly influenced by Hinduism which is the religion of 80% of Indians. Many traditions are inherited from Hinduism. Today, people are still attached to their religions but some traditions begin to disappear.

Cost of life

Globally, consumer prices are 45% lower in cities like Delhi than in Bangkok. Yet some regions in India are cheaper than other to live in and Delhi is part of the most expensive with Mumbai.

Job

Finding a job in India is not a problem, even for foreigners. Finding a good job is. Many jobs that you will be offered will be low ranked jobs in their representation schemes. Yet, with good education and diplomas, you will find a good job in big cities.

5.3 Local contacts