Lois Larson
When travelling to or from China, it's important to be aware of the restrictions on how much money you can carry. China's limit is lower than many other countries, with visitors allowed to carry up to $5000 in foreign currency (or its equivalent) when entering or exiting the country. For Chinese RMB, the limit is 20,000. These restrictions are in place to prevent money laundering and tax evasion, and they apply to both foreigners and native residents. If you have more cash than the permitted amount, you will need to provide supporting documents and declare it to customs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Maximum foreign currency allowed | $5,000 USD per person |
| Maximum local currency allowed | 20,000 RMB |
| Maximum foreign currency allowed when leaving the US | $10,000 USD |
| Maximum foreign currency allowed in the EU | 10,000 Euros |
| Maximum foreign currency allowed when leaving Hong Kong | $15,300 USD |
| Prosecution limit | $20,000 USD |
| Limit for transferring legally obtained and documented income | No limit |
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What You'll Learn
Foreign currency limit: 5,000 USD or 20,000 CNY
When travelling to China, it is important to be aware of the restrictions on the amount of foreign currency you can carry. The limit for international travellers entering China is USD 5000 or CNY 20,000. This limit applies to both foreigners and native residents. If you are carrying more than USD 5000 or its equivalent in other currencies, you must declare it to Chinese customs. This limit does not apply to individuals who frequently enter China.
It is worth noting that Chinese banks are considered safe, and you can obtain foreign currencies from them without issue. Carrying large amounts of cash may not be necessary, as Chinese bank ATMs typically allow withdrawals of up to CNY 2000 per transaction, which is sufficient for most budget travellers.
When leaving China, there is also a limit on the amount of foreign currency you can take out of the country. This limit is the same as the one for entering the country: USD 5000 or CNY 20,000. It is important to adhere to these regulations to avoid any legal consequences.
Additionally, if you have earned money in China, there are no restrictions on transferring your legal income to another country. However, transferring money to Chinese nationals, business partners, or friends may be subject to different limits and regulations. It is advisable to familiarise yourself with the specific rules and restrictions before travelling to China to ensure a smooth journey and compliance with customs regulations.
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Declare valuables over 2,000 CNY
In China, travellers are permitted to carry CNY 2,000 worth of duty-free items, which can include 1,500ml of alcohol (with an ABV of 12% or more), 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars, or 500g of tobacco.
If you are carrying valuables over the CNY 2,000 duty-free limit, you must declare them. This includes items for personal use, such as cameras, camcorders, and laptops valued at over CNY 5,000 each. You will need to complete a Declaration Form in duplicate, with one copy endorsed by Customs to be kept for relevant procedures upon re-entry.
Additionally, passengers carrying over CNY 20,000 in cash or foreign currencies with a conversion rate exceeding USD 5,000 must be processed by Customs according to current regulations. This typically involves completing a Customs Declaration Form in duplicate. It is important to accurately declare foreign currencies to avoid penalties and confiscation.
While China does not impose quantitative restrictions on foreign currencies brought into the country, it is advisable to declare large sums of money to avoid scrutiny and potential issues with customs officials. Some travellers have reported being able to bring in larger amounts of cash without declaration, but this is not recommended due to the risk of confiscation and penalties.
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Duty-free allowance for residents: 5,000 CNY
When travelling to China, it is important to be aware of the country's customs regulations and the limits on the amount of money you can bring in or take out of the country.
Residents of China are allowed to bring in duty-free articles for personal use worth up to a total of 5,000 CNY (Chinese Yuan). This includes personal possessions, gifts for friends or relatives, and food. If the value of the items exceeds 5,000 CNY, customs duty will be levied on the portion that goes over the duty-free limit. The duty rate is typically 20% on the excess amount.
It is important to note that there are restrictions on certain items. For example, personal postal articles should have a value of under 1,000 CNY, and items such as cameras, camcorders, and laptops valued at over 5,000 CNY each must be declared to customs.
Additionally, there are separate allowances for tobacco and alcohol. Residents can bring in duty-free:
- 1,500 ml of alcoholic drinks (with an alcohol content of 12% or above)
- 400 individual cigarettes, or 100 individual cigars, or 500 grams of smoking tobacco
Money Allowance
In terms of money, the limit for bringing currency into or out of China is 20,000 CNY (approximately US$3,000) in cash. This includes foreign currency and traveller's checks. Any amount exceeding this limit is prohibited and must be declared to customs.
It is important to be aware of these regulations and to properly declare any items or amounts that exceed the duty-free allowances to avoid any issues with Chinese customs.
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Duty-free allowance for visitors: 2,000 CNY
When travelling to China, non-residents are permitted to bring in duty-free items worth up to 2,000 Chinese yuan (CNY). This allowance applies to items that will remain in China and are for personal use.
If you are bringing in items that are valued at more than 2,000 CNY, you will need to declare them and pay the relevant customs duty. This includes items such as cigarettes and alcoholic drinks, which are subject to specific quantity limits. For example, you can bring in up to 1,500 ml of alcoholic drinks with an alcohol content of 12% or above, and up to 400 cigarettes duty-free.
It is important to note that there are different regulations for residents of China. They are allowed to bring in duty-free articles for personal use worth up to a total of 5,000 CNY. If the value of their items exceeds this limit, they will be required to pay a 20% duty on the excess amount.
When it comes to carrying cash, there are specific rules that you need to be aware of. If you are travelling with more than 20,000 CNY in cash or foreign currencies with a conversion rate exceeding 5,000 US dollars, you must declare this amount to customs and adhere to the current regulations. This rule applies to both inbound and outbound passengers.
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Customs clearance: certificate from the Foreign Exchange Bureau
China has strict rules regarding what can and cannot be brought into the country. Inward and outward passengers must declare any prohibited articles, or they are liable for punishment. Prohibited articles include:
- Arms, imitation arms, ammunition, and explosives
- Counterfeit currencies and counterfeit negotiable securities
- Printed matter, films, photographs, gramophone records, cinematographic films, loaded recording tapes, video tapes, compact discs (video and audio), storage media for computers, and other articles which are detrimental to the political, economic, cultural, and moral interests of China
- Deadly poison
- Opium, morphine, heroin, marijuana, and other addictive drugs and psychotropic substances
- Fruits, solanaceae vegetables, live animals (except dogs and cats as pets), animal products, pathogenic micro-organisms of animals and plants, pests and other harmful organisms, animal carcasses, soil, genetically modified organisms, relevant animals and plants, their products, and other objects subject to quarantine from countries or regions with prevalent epidemic animal or plant diseases
- Foods, medicine, and other articles coming from epidemic-stricken areas or that are harmful to humans or livestock or that might spread disease
Regarding money, there is conflicting information. One source states that the limit is 5,000 USD per person or 20,000 RMB, and anything over this must be declared. Another source states that there is no upper limit on the amount of cash that can be brought into China, as long as it is declared. However, large sums of cash may raise questions and cause delays, and there is a risk that the money could be seized if suspected of being from illegal activity. It is worth noting that China has been known to make sudden and dramatic changes to its financial and currency rules. Therefore, it is advisable to declare any amount of money over the limit to avoid potential issues.
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Frequently asked questions
You can bring up to $5,000 USD or its equivalent in any foreign currency into China without declaring it. If you have more than this amount, you will need to provide supporting documents and declare it to customs.
Visitors are permitted to carry up to $5,000 USD or 20,000 RMB out of China. If you are caught with more than this, you may not be able to fly out and may have your money confiscated.
Yes, the same restrictions apply even if you are only transiting through China. For example, if you are flying to Hong Kong from a Chinese city, you will still need to go through Chinese customs.
Yes, you are still subject to the $5,000 USD or 20,000 RMB limit if you are a foreign resident. If you have more than this amount, you will need to provide supporting documents and declare it to customs.
