Sachin Walls
If you're travelling to or from the UK with a large amount of cash, you'll need to be aware of the rules for declaring money, as nearly every country has rules in place to check that cash hasn't come from criminal activity or been stolen. In the UK, you can bring up to £10,000 into the country without needing to make a customs declaration, but if you're carrying more than this, you'll need to declare it to the authorities using the official customs declaration process. This applies to England, Scotland, and Wales, while different rules apply to Northern Ireland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of money that can be taken out of the UK without declaration | £10,000 or €10,000 |
| Amount of money that can be taken out of Northern Ireland without declaration | €10,000 |
| Penalty for not declaring | Fine of up to £5,000 |
| Cash declaration process | Online form, physical form at the airport, or over the phone |
| Cash declaration contact number | 0300 322 9434 |
| Cash declaration timings | 72 hours before travel |
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What You'll Learn
Declare cash over £10,000 or €10,000 to avoid fines
When travelling for personal reasons, you must declare cash amounts over £10,000 or €10,000 (or equivalent) to avoid fines and other legal consequences. This rule applies when entering or exiting the UK, EU, or US. The purpose of this requirement is to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
If you are travelling to or from the UK, you must declare cash amounts over £10,000 if travelling between Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) and a non-UK country. If you are travelling to Northern Ireland from Great Britain, you must declare cash over €10,000. When travelling between Northern Ireland and a non-EU country, you must declare cash over €10,000. This includes cash sent by freight, post, or parcel.
When travelling within the EU, you must declare cash over €10,000 or its equivalent in other currencies, bonds, shares, or traveller's cheques. This requirement applies to each individual, even when travelling as a family or group. The declaration must be made using the EU Cash Declaration Form, which records detailed information about the economic provenance and future use of the cash.
If you fail to declare the required amount of cash when travelling, you may face penalties, including the confiscation of all currency or monetary instruments. In the UK, your cash may be seized by a Border Force officer, and you may have to pay a penalty of up to £5,000 to get it back. In the EU, customs authorities may detain the cash and apply administrative penalties, including significant fines. Similar consequences may occur in the US, where failure to declare more than $10,000 in cash to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer can result in confiscation and penalties.
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Make a declaration at the red channel or goods to declare
There are no limits on how much money you can take out of the UK, and you do not need to make a declaration at UK customs when leaving the country. However, other countries may have restrictions on how much cash you can bring into the country, so be sure to check the rules of your destination country.
When arriving in the UK, there are different rules for bringing in goods and money depending on where you are travelling from. If you're travelling from another European Union (EU) country, you can bring in an unlimited amount of most goods without paying tax or duty, as long as you are not bringing them into the UK to sell and they are for your own personal use. For travellers arriving from non-EU countries, different rules and limits apply.
If you are travelling from a non-EU country and have goods to declare, or if you are unsure whether you need to declare anything, you should follow the signs to the red channel when you arrive at the UK airport. The red channel is for travellers who have goods to declare or who are unsure about what they need to declare. This includes goods that may be restricted or prohibited, as well as any cash or other monetary instruments totalling €10,000 or more (or the equivalent in other currencies).
When making a declaration at the red channel, you will need to provide details about the goods you are bringing into the UK. This includes the type and quantity of goods, as well as their value. You may also need to show receipts or other documentation to prove the value of the goods. It's important to be honest and accurate in your declaration, as providing false or misleading information can result in penalties.
If you are bringing in cash or other monetary instruments, such as cheques or traveller's cheques, you may need to declare these if they total €10,000 or more. This includes cash in any currency, not just pounds sterling. When declaring cash, you will need to provide details such as the amount and currency of the cash, as well as the reason for bringing it into the UK. You may also be asked to provide additional information or documentation to support your declaration.
It's important to note that the rules for declaring goods and money can change, so it's always a good idea to check the latest guidance from UK Border Force or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) before travelling.
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Declare by phone if no customs option at the airport
If you are carrying more than £10,000 (or the equivalent in any other currency) into or out of the UK, you must declare it to UK customs. This rule applies to individuals travelling as a family or group, even if each person is carrying less than £10,000. If you are travelling to Northern Ireland, the threshold amount is €10,000.
You can declare money online or by phone. If you declare by phone, you will receive a reference number, which you may need to show at customs. To declare by phone, call the Customs and International Trade Helpline on 0300 322 9434. This number can also be used to make a declaration if there is no way to do so at the port or airport when you arrive.
At UK airports, there are usually two exits or 'channels': the red and green channels. Some airports only have one exit and a red point phone where you can declare goods. If there is no customs option at the airport, you can use the red point phone to make your declaration. You may also be asked to fill in a paper form or make your declaration to a Border Force officer.
If you do not declare cash that you should have, it may be seized by a Border Force officer. Declaring cash helps in combating money laundering and terrorism financing by tracking large sums of money across borders.
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Declare cash online before travelling to the UK
If you are travelling to the UK and carrying a large sum of money, you must declare amounts of £10,000 or more in cash, or the equivalent in another currency. This rule applies to all countries of the UK, including Northern Ireland. If you are entering or leaving the EU, the threshold for declaration is €10,000 or more.
You can declare cash online before travelling to the UK. The earliest you can make a declaration is 72 hours before you plan to travel, and you can declare goods online from 5 days (120 hours) before your arrival. You can complete a simple online form, which is slightly different depending on where you are travelling from and to. You will need to sign in with your email or Government Gateway ID and provide the required details.
If you are travelling as a family or group, and the total amount of cash carried is over the threshold, even if individuals are carrying less, you must still declare it. You will need to provide details such as who is carrying the cash, the owner of the cash, and the recipient, including passport or ID document number and address. You will also need to provide information about your journey, including any countries you pass through in transit, as well as the source of the cash, including the country it came from and how it was generated.
If you cannot use the online service, you can make your declaration over the phone by calling the Customs and International Trade Helpline on 0300 322 9434. This line is available 24 hours a day, and you can also call this number if you need to make a declaration and cannot find a person or place to do so at the airport or port when you arrive.
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Cash can be seized if suspected to be linked to crime
Cash can be seized by customs officers or police officers at a UK airport if they suspect that it is linked to criminal activity. This is true even if the amount of cash is below the threshold of £1,000 or €10,000, above which a cash declaration is required. The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) gives officers the power to seize cash if they have reasonable grounds for suspicion and believe that the cash has come from or is intended to be used for criminal conduct. This can occur even when there is a reasonable explanation for carrying a large sum of money, and it is not necessary for a suspect to be charged or convicted of a crime for cash to be seized.
If cash is seized, it can be detained and forfeited through a court order or through the passage of time. To get the cash returned, individuals may need to pay a penalty of up to £5,000 and write to the Fraud Investigation Service within 30 days of the penalty notice. It is important to note that cash seizure is not the same as cash forfeiture, as seizure simply means that the state has taken possession of the cash. Forfeiture occurs when the state claims ownership of the seized cash.
To avoid the hassle and potential loss of cash, it is recommended to carry sums lower than £1,000 when travelling through UK airports. Additionally, making a declaration for amounts over £10,000 (or €10,000 when travelling to or from Northern Ireland) is necessary to avoid penalties and potential seizure. This can be done through a paper form or a phone call to 0300 322 9434.
While cash seizure may be a straightforward process for officers, individuals can seek legal advice or consult a solicitor to guide them through the process of retrieving their seized cash. Understanding your rights and the appropriate procedures can help prevent the temporary or permanent loss of your money.
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Frequently asked questions
You can take up to £10,000 out of the UK from England, Scotland, and Wales without needing to make a declaration. If you're travelling to a non-EU country from Northern Ireland, you can take up to €10,000 without declaring.
If you do not declare cash that you should have, all the cash you are carrying can be seized by a Border Force officer. You may also have to pay a penalty of up to £5,000 to get it back.
At UK customs, follow the ‘goods to declare’ or ‘red channel’ signs and tell a Border Force officer that you want to declare cash. They will provide you with a form to fill in.
You can make a declaration up to 72 hours before you plan to travel. It is recommended to make your declaration ahead of arrival where possible.
You will need to provide details of the person carrying the cash, as well as the owner of the cash if it is not you. This includes passport or ID document numbers and residential addresses. You will also need to provide details of your journey, including flight numbers and any countries you've passed through in transit.
