What Cannot Be Sent
Some items are not allowed because they are dangerous, banned in India, or need special permission.
Common Questions
Okay to Send
- Vitamins and health supplements (max 7kg)
- Over-the-counter medicines (paracetamol, cold medicine)
- Chocolates and biscuits
- Dry fruits and nuts
- Spices and cooking ingredients
- Tea, coffee, and health drinks
Not Okay to Send
- Prescription medicines (need doctor paper)
- Beef, pork, and meat products
- Fresh fruits, vegetables, or dairy
- Alcohol or alcoholic chocolates
- Cigarettes or tobacco products
- CBD oil or cannabis products
"I want to send my son's birthday gifts"
Clothes, shoes, toys (without batteries), books, and chocolates are all fine. But gaming consoles, phones, tablets, and remote-control toys with batteries cannot be sent.
"I'm relocating and need to ship my belongings"
You can send clothes, kitchenware, bedding, books, and non-electronic items. Laptops, phones, and anything with batteries must stay with you or be disposed of locally.
"I want to send Diwali sweets to family"
Most sweets and dry snacks are fine! Just avoid anything with alcohol, fresh cream, or meat. Dry mithai, namkeen, chocolates, and biscuits are all okay.
Need to send a laptop, phone, or medicine?
We cannot ship items with batteries. But contact us - we can suggest alternatives like buying in India or safe disposal options.
Quick Check: Common Restricted Items
Mobile Phone
Has lithium battery
Laptop
Has lithium battery
Power Bank
Is a battery
Perfume
Flammable liquid
E-cigarette
Battery + liquid
Pepper Spray
Pressurized + irritant
Drone
Has lithium battery
iPad/Tablet
Has lithium battery
Hair Spray
Pressurized aerosol
Deodorant Spray
Pressurized aerosol
Nail Polish Remover
Flammable
Matches
Fire hazard
Dangerous for Transport
Cannot be shipped on ANY service (air or sea)
These items are unsafe to transport. They could catch fire, explode, or harm people during shipping.
- Mobile phones and smartphones
- Laptops and notebook computers
- Tablets and iPads
- Power banks (portable chargers)
- Cameras with built-in batteries
- Drones and remote-control toys with batteries
- Smart watches and fitness trackers
- Bluetooth speakers and headphones
- Electric toothbrushes
- Handheld gaming devices
- E-readers (Kindle, etc.)
- Spare or loose batteries of any kind
- E-cigarettes and vape pens
- Vape mods and devices
- E-liquid and vape juice
- Vape cartridges and pods
- E-cigars and e-pipes
- Any electronic smoking device
- Perfumes and colognes
- Body sprays and deodorant sprays
- Hair spray and styling sprays
- Air fresheners
- Spray paints
- Insect repellent sprays
- Cleaning sprays
- Sunscreen sprays
- Any pressurized spray can
- Petrol, diesel, and fuel
- Lighter fluid and refills
- Nail polish remover (acetone)
- Paint and paint thinners
- Alcohol over 70% (like hand sanitizer)
- Camping stove fuel
- Gas cylinders and canisters
- Fireworks and sparklers
- Matches (strike anywhere type)
- Lighters
- Pepper spray and mace
- Tasers and stun guns
- Firearms and gun parts
- Ammunition and bullets
- Knives and sharp blades
- Swords and martial arts weapons
- Crossbows and arrows
- BB guns and pellet guns
- Batons and clubs
- Bleach and strong cleaners
- Acids and alkalis
- Pesticides and weed killers
- Fertilizers (some types)
- Pool chemicals
- Mercury thermometers
- Radioactive materials
- Infectious substances
- Dry ice
- Liquid nitrogen
- Fireworks and crackers
- Sparklers
- Flares
- Detonators
- Blasting caps
- Ammunition
- Party poppers (some types)
- Christmas crackers (some types)
Banned in India
India does not allow these items
Indian law completely bans importing these items. They will be seized at customs and you may face legal trouble.
- Ivory and ivory products
- Tiger or leopard skins
- Rhino horn
- Elephant products
- Turtle shells
- Snake skin products
- Crocodile leather items
- Fur from wild animals
- Feathers from wild birds
- Bones or teeth from wild animals
- Whale or dolphin products
- Products from any endangered species
- Cannabis and marijuana
- Cocaine and heroin
- Psychotropic substances
- Opium and poppy products
- Any illegal narcotics
- Drug paraphernalia
- Fake designer bags (fake Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc.)
- Counterfeit watches (fake Rolex, etc.)
- Pirated DVDs and software
- Fake branded clothing
- Counterfeit electronics
- Imitation luxury goods
- Products with fake brand logos
- Beef and beef products
- Pork and pork products
- Wild animal meat
- Processed meats from restricted animals
- Lard and animal fats
- Meat from unverified sources
- Maps showing Kashmir incorrectly
- Maps with wrong Indian boundaries
- Globes with incorrect India borders
- Publications with wrong India maps
- Pornographic material
- Obscene books or magazines
- Seditious or treasonable material
- Content promoting hate or violence
- Indian currency notes
- Foreign currency above allowed limits
- Gold bars and bullion
- Silver bars and bullion
- Coins (collectible or otherwise)
- Counterfeit currency
- Items over 100 years old
- Ancient artifacts
- Religious antiquities
- Historical manuscripts
- Archaeological objects
- National treasures
Needs Special Permission
Requires license or permit to import
These items can only be imported with special government permits. Regular shipping is not possible.
- Horses and ponies
- Cattle and cows
- Sheep and goats
- Pigs
- Poultry (chickens, turkeys)
- Pet birds (parrots, parakeets)
- Fish (ornamental)
- Bees and insects
- Any live creatures
- Seeds for planting (wheat, rice, vegetables)
- Live plants and saplings
- Bulbs and tubers
- Cactus plants
- Orchids
- Potatoes for planting
- Flower seeds
- Tree seedlings
- Ornamental fish
- Trout and salmon
- Eels
- Carp
- Tuna (certain species)
- Live aquatic animals
- Hatching eggs
- Bird eggs (for breeding)
- Animal semen (for breeding)
- Embryos
- Certain dairy products
- Peas (at certain times)
- Lentils and dal (some varieties)
- Moong and urad beans
- Toor dal (pigeon peas)
- Fresh ginger (in bulk)
- Poppy seeds
- Prescription medicines (large quantities)
- Psychotropic medicines
- Controlled drugs (even with prescription)
- Veterinary medicines
- Certain health supplements
- Walkie-talkies
- Ham radio equipment
- Satellite phones
- Certain wireless devices
- Radio transmitters
Important Notice
This is not a comprehensive list. Please contact us before packing and scheduling pickup to confirm if your specific items can be sent on this service.
Official Source
The information about prohibited and restricted items is based on official government regulations. For the complete official list, please refer to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) website.
View Official DGFT Restricted Items List