Import duty and taxes on yachts in India explained
What actually gets added to the price of an imported boat, and why the landed cost matters more than the sticker price.
21 February 2026 · 8 min read
The number that matters when importing a yacht into India is never the overseas price — it is the landed cost, after duty, GST, freight and commissioning are added. This is the single most common place first-time buyers get their budget wrong.
What gets added
Import duty and GST apply to foreign-built vessels brought into India, calculated against the assessable value of the boat, and together they can add a substantial percentage over the quoted overseas price. The exact figure depends on the vessel's classification and use — a private recreational boat and a commercially registered charter vessel are not treated identically.
Freight and commissioning
On top of duty, budget for shipping the vessel to India, survey on arrival, and commissioning before it is seaworthy again — none of which show up in the seller's listed price but all of which are real costs of getting the boat here and usable.
Why this changes the buy decision
Once landed cost is properly calculated, a used boat already registered in India is frequently cheaper for an equivalent specification than importing new — see our comparison in new vs used yachts in India. It is worth getting this number confirmed before you fall in love with a specific overseas listing.
Get the number confirmed early
Duty rates and classifications change, and getting this wrong is expensive in both directions — overpaying because you assumed the worst, or committing to a purchase you cannot actually afford once the real number lands. Talk to us before you commit to an overseas purchase and we will help get the landed cost confirmed properly.
