Prohibited and Restricted Items

Never accepted

Currency, bearer instruments and precious metals in bullion form.

Firearms, ammunition, weapon parts and replica weapons.

Narcotics, psychotropics and all controlled or scheduled pharmaceutical substances.

Explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids and corrosives.

Live animals, plants, seeds and soil.

Counterfeit goods and anything infringing intellectual property.

Human remains, ashes and biological samples.

Obscene material and anything unlawful in either origin or destination.

Accepted with documentation

Lithium batteries — air lanes only, with dangerous goods declaration. Installed in a device is easier than loose cells.

Perfumes, aerosols and alcohol-based cosmetics — volume capped, restricted lanes.

Sealed non-perishable food — permitted to most destinations, blocked into Australia and New Zealand.

Jewellery and watches — insured, fully declared, hallmark documentation where applicable.

Antiques over 100 years old — require an Archaeological Survey of India certificate.

Prescription medicines — subject to our verification process and the destination’s rules.

Commonly refused at destination

Milk-solid sweets such as khoya-based mithai — refused by Australian, New Zealand and US biosecurity.

Synthetic Holi colours — treated as unclassified chemical powder and destroyed. Certified herbal gulal clears.

Fresh coconut, flowers and raw turmeric — live plant material requiring phytosanitary certification.

Loose sindoor and kumkum — periodically rejected on heavy metal testing.

If you are unsure

Ask before you buy. The concierge answers against your specific destination, and our compliance desk reviews anything unclear within a working day.

An item we decline to ship sitting in your locker is a far smaller problem than one destroyed in transit.