Technical article

Carrying Cash or Gold over the Line: What the Penalty Rules Say

Authorities may detain undeclared cash for 30 days, extendable up to 90 days.

By Neil Solomon · 4 min read

Picture a couple moving abroad who carry part of their savings with them. Some is cash in an envelope. Some is a few gold coins. They have heard of a limit. How much is it, does gold count, and what happens past the line?

Here is what the sources show.

The line itself

The United States asks for a report when more than US$10,000 in currency or monetary instruments is carried in or out. A report is also owed by someone who receives that much from abroad.

The European Union sets the line at EUR 10,000 or more on entering or leaving. Its rule defines cash to include gold coins of at least 90% gold and bullion of at least 99.5% gold. Authorities may detain undeclared cash for 30 days, extendable up to 90 days.

Great Britain asks for a declaration of GBP 10,000 or more between Great Britain and abroad. For Northern Ireland the line is EUR 10,000, and gold coins, bullion and nuggets also count. A declaration may go in up to 72 hours before travel. Family or group totals count together.

Canada asks for a report of CAD 10,000 or more, with no cap on how much may be carried.

Australia asks for a report of AUD 10,000 or more in cash or bearer instruments. Its financial intelligence agency says bullion and other precious metals need no cash report, and it points travelers to Border Force for goods. Splitting amounts among travelers is illegal there.

The United Arab Emirates is reported by the press to use AED 60,000 for cash and valuables, in or out. Only press reports state it.

What a mistake costs

In Italy, two cases show what up to 50% looks like. At Florence in 2022, a Dutch man arriving with about EUR 260,000 in cash and cheques had half of the amount above EUR 10,000 seized, nearly EUR 150,000, according to a news agency. At Forli in 2024, three Polish nationals carrying about EUR 40,000 in total paid administrative fines through an immediate settlement. The customs agency says smaller sums can be settled at once. At Venice in 2023, a traveler declared EUR 2,000 and carried EUR 150,000. About EUR 72,000 was seized as a guarantee, and above EUR 40,000 no immediate settlement is offered.

In Canada, a seized sum may come back after a penalty. It does not come back if it is suspected of coming from a serious offence.

In the United States, the penalty guideline is a standard figure that may be reduced by up to 30%. Separately, a news report from Orlando in 2019 describes a traveler who said US$15,000, then wrote US$51,000, and had more than US$72,000 in a backpack. The currency was seized.

The objection

You might say, "My money is lawful, so a line on a form hardly matters." The rules put the report first and the lawfulness second. In Australia the report is owed for cash of any origin, and gold falls under goods.

Who this touches

A spouse who travels with you adds to the same total. A child carrying an inheritance across a border does too. Papers that show where the money came from, such as a bank statement or a sale receipt, sit with the family.

Doors you could open

You could read the border agency's page for each country on your route. You could ask the bank about a transfer instead of carrying. You could ask whether gold counts as cash where you are going.

Have you carried cash or gold on a long trip? Share what you learned. Someone may find it useful.

Figures are estimates for planning, based on public data. Date read: October 2026.