Taking cash in or out of the UK: What are the rules?

Planning to travel in or out of the UK with a substantial amount of cash? You’ll need to know the rules for taking money in and out of the country.

Nearly every country has these rules, so that authorities can check the cash hasn’t come from criminal activity or been stolen.

Read on for everything you need to know about UK customs rules on taking cash in and out of the country.

Plus, a quick look at a convenient cash-free alternative for spending abroad - the Wise card.

How much cash can you bring to the UK? What are the limits?

You can bring up to £10,000 into the UK from another country without having to make a customs declaration.¹ If you’re travelling with more than this, you’ll need to tell the authorities using the official customs declaration process.

This rule applies to all countries of the UK - England, Scotland and Wales. If you’re travelling to Northern Ireland from a non-EU country, you can bring up to €10,000 EUR without declaring it to customs.¹

What qualifies as cash when moving through borders?

For the purposes of moving it across UK borders, cash includes:¹

• Notes and coins of any currency
• Cheques of any kind (including travellers’ cheques)
• Bearer bonds

Are there penalties if you bring in too much cash to the UK?

If you bring too much cash to the UK, or make false statements on your declaration, you can be fined up to £5,000. The police can take your money from you, too, if they suspect any illegal activity. They’re free to confiscate your cash for up to 48 hours initially, and longer if they get a court order.¹

How to declare cash at customs when you travel

If you’ve never done it before, the idea of making a declaration at customs can be a little daunting. But don’t worry, the process is actually pretty simple - you can even do it online.

Declaring cash before your trip

If you know you’ll be travelling with more than the permitted amount of cash, you can make a declaration before you travel.

There’s a simple online form to complete, which is slightly different depending where you’re travelling from and to. Find links to all the declaration forms on the UK Government website. Simply sign in with your email or Government Gateway ID, and provide the required details.

If you can’t use the online service for any reason, you can call 0300 322 9434 (available Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).¹

It’s important to note though that the earliest you can declare cash is 72 hours before you travel.¹

Declaring cash on arrival to the UK

If declaring once you land at a UK airport or port, simply follow these steps:

1. At UK customs, follow ‘goods to declare’ or ‘red channel’ signs
2. Tell a Border Force officer you want to declare cash.
3. You’ll be given a form to fill in, or the officer may take the declaration themselves.

If you can’t find any person or place to declare cash, you can call 0300 322 9434 (available Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).¹

Checklist for cash declarations at UK customs

Here’s the info and documents you’ll need to have ready in order to make your cash declaration:¹

• Details of the person carrying the cash (such as yourself) and who owns it. Plus, details of the recipient, if it’s not you. This includes passport (or ID document number) and residential address.
• Details of your journey, including flight numbers, ferry routes and any countries you’ve passed through in transit
• The type of cash being carried (currency, and notes or coins)
• The total amount of cash
• Details of the source of the money, including the country of origin and how it was generated (i.e. through a property sale, earnings from a business, inheritance or another reason).
• Details of what the cash will be used for.

How much cash can you take out of the UK? Are there limits?

The same rules apply for taking cash out of the UK as for bringing it in. The maximum you can carry on a flight, ferry, train or car journey out of the UK is up to £10,000 or the currency equivalent. Anything above that sum, and you’ll need to make a customs declaration.¹

How much cash can I take to the EU from the UK?

The rules between the UK and EU customs authorities are pretty synchronised when it comes to bringing cash in and out. You can take up to £10,000 out of the UK without declaring it, and you can bring up to €10,000 EUR or the currency equivalent into the EU.²

However, you’ll need to bear in mind the currency exchange, as £10,000 in GBP comes out as approximately €11,600 in EUR - which is over the permitted sum.

So, you’ll either need to bring slightly less or be prepared to declare cash at the customs authority in the EU country you’re visiting.

What are the penalties for travelling with too much cash?

If you carry over the permitted amount of cash or fail to declare it, you could have to pay a penalty of up to £5,000. This payment will facilitate the return of your seized money by customs authorities, minus the penalty sum.

Destinations where a declaration isn't needed

A declaration is needed if you’re travelling with more than £10,000 to all countries outside the UK. The only exception is when travelling from Northern Ireland to another UK country.¹

Destinations where declaration is needed

You must declare any cash over £10,000 when travelling to any destination outside the UK.¹

Additional tips for travelling with cash

Avoid travelling with cash if you can

Travelling with large amounts of cash is a real security concern, so it’s best avoided unless absolutely necessary. Consider withdrawing cash at an ATM on arrival instead, or having the money sent by bank transfer.

Get a money belt

The safest way to carry cash is on your person, so invest in a good quality money belt to wear under your clothes for the duration of the journey. You can also try a belt bag or small cross-body bag to keep your cash close and secure.

Split your cash

Carrying one big wad of cash isn’t very discreet, and it’s risky too - if it’s misplaced or stolen, that would be all your money gone. So consider splitting your money between a money belt worn on your person, between members of your travelling party, and between pieces of luggage too.

Be aware that exchanging currency in cash can be costly

If you’re carrying money to pay for your trip and need to exchange it once you get to the UK, you might struggle to find a good deal.

Many of the exchange bureaus and offices which are in the most convenient locations - the airport or your hotel, for example - offer poor exchange rates. That means you have to choose between spending your precious holiday time searching for a better deal, or getting ripped off on the exchange.

Wise – An international alternative to carrying cash

Rather avoid the security concerns and inconvenience of carrying cash between countries? Check out the Wise card instead.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

The Wise card is a truly international debit card, as it works in 150+ countries and has no foreign transaction fees. It automatically converts currency at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend, for just a small conversion fee*.

Or if you already have the currency in your Wise account, there’s no fee to pay.

You can also use Wise to send money worldwide for great exchange rates at low fees*.

You can even send large sums conveniently and securely.

So whether you need travel money or to pay for goods, services or bills in other countries, Wise is the ideal solution.

FAQs: How much cash can you travel with?

What needs to be declared at UK customs?

The following must be declared at UK customs:³

• £10,000 (or currency equivalent) or more in cash
• Any banned or restricted goods
• Anything over your duty-free allowance.
• Any goods you plan to sell

If you’ll be selling goods in the UK, it’s important to read up on the rules on importing goods to the UK from the EU or elsewhere.

How much cash can I bring to the UK without declaring?

You can bring anything under £10,000 or the currency equivalent into the UK. This makes £9,999.99 the maximum you can bring without declaring.

Do I need to declare money I’ve transferred overseas?

No, the UK’s custom authorities don’t have any rules requiring you to declare money you’ve transferred overseas. Read more here about sending large sums from the UK.

Do I need cash in the UK?

Debit and credit cards are widely used all over the UK, so there aren’t many situations in which you’ll need cash.

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Sources used for this article:

1. GOV.UK - taking cash in and out of the UK
2. Your Europe - Rules for taking cash in and out of the EU and travelling with cash in the EU
3. GOV.UK - Entering the UK

Sources checked on 11-04-2024.