Small Indian Currency Notes Can Be Carried Across Border without Any Limit: Government

The government has clarified that Nepali and Indian citizens may carry an unlimited amount of Indian currency notes in denominations below INR 100, as well as Nepali currency of any denomination, subject to the maximum amount prescribed by Nepal Rastra Bank, while travelling to India.

According to a notice published in the Nepal Gazette, citizens of the two countries are allowed to carry Indian currency notes of INR 200 and INR 500—issued and in circulation after November 9, 2016—up to a maximum of INR 25,000 per person when travelling from India to Nepal or from Nepal to India.

The clarification comes amid widespread confusion among Nepali travellers, many of whom believed that the INR 25,000 ceiling applied to Indian currency of all denominations.

India announced demonetisation on November 9, 2016, declaring INR 500 and INR 1,000 notes invalid. The gazette notice reiterates that Indian rupee notes of INR 500 and INR 1,000 that were in circulation before November 9, 2016, are not permitted for any transaction.

In the case of Nepali currency, individuals are not allowed to carry amounts exceeding the limit set by Nepal Rastra Bank. Similarly, Indian currency may not be carried or transferred to countries other than India.

The notice also states that foreign currency obtained legally through licensed individuals or institutions authorised to conduct foreign exchange transactions may be carried or sent abroad from Nepal in accordance with prevailing laws.

For foreign nationals, the government has said that if they wish to carry or transfer foreign currency exceeding the limit prescribed by Nepal Rastra Bank, they must have declared and verified the cash amount with a customs officer at the time of entry into Nepal.