Technical article

Carrying Gold and Cash Across a Border

Gold coins are the item where the European Union counts something other places leave off the page.

By Neil Solomon · 3 min read

Imagine a couple leaving Germany for a new home abroad. In the bag they carry some banknotes and a few gold coins. In all, it adds up to about EUR 12,000 (approximately US$13,000). Does anyone need to hear about it?

In the European Union, yes. Here is what the sources show for each place.

The lines

Reading the table

The United States asks for a report when currency or monetary instruments over US$10,000 in total are carried in or out. The regulation covers people who carry, mail or ship, and people who receive such amounts from abroad.

The European Union goes further than the others on gold. Its cash rule counts gold coins of at least 90% gold, and bars, nuggets and clumps of at least 99.5%, as cash for this purpose. The rule applies to a person, to luggage and to a vehicle. Authorities can also ask for a declaration of unaccompanied cash.

Great Britain lists notes, coins, bearer bonds, traveler's checks and certain cheques. The government page lists gold only for Northern Ireland. A declaration can be made from 72 hours before travel, and family or group totals count together.

Canada says there is no limit on carrying money. The line is for reporting only. If the full amount is not reported, the border agency can seize it. Seized funds may be returned after a penalty of 5% to 50%. Funds suspected of coming from wrongdoing are not returned. The page does not mention gold or jewelry.

Australia treats cash and bullion in two places. The financial intelligence agency says bullion and other precious metals need not be reported to it and sends travelers to the Border Force site. The agency also says splitting an amount among travelers to stay under the line is an offence.

Press reports say the United Arab Emirates asks travelers 18 and over to declare cash, cheques, jewelry, precious stones and personal items worth more than AED 60,000 (approximately US$16,000) through an online platform. That figure comes from news reports.

Voicing the doubt

You might say, "It is my own money, so why report it?" The sources do not call carrying wrong. Canada says carrying has no limit. The line is about telling the border office what moves. Gold coins are the item where the European Union counts something other places leave off the page.

Who this touches

Great Britain adds up family or group totals, so a spouse who carries part of the money is counted with the rest. The record of where the money came from is a paper the family might want to keep.

Doors you could open

You could add up every note, coin and bar in the family's bags and compare the total with each line on the route. You could move the money by bank instead. You could look at the declaration form before the day of travel, since Great Britain takes forms up to 72 hours ahead.

How have you moved gold or cash when you changed countries? Share what the officer asked. Someone planning the same trip may benefit.

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