If you are arriving in the UK from a country outside the European Union (EU), or you're leaving the UK to travel directly to a country outside the EU, you must declare any cash of 10,000 euros or more (or its equivalent in other currencies) to customs officers.
On this page:
You only need to declare cash if you are carrying 10,000 euros or more (or the equivalent value in other currencies) and you are:
If you are entering or leaving the EU through an EU country other than the UK, the declaration is made in that country.
When declaring cash the EU is:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including the Canary Islands), Sweden and the United Kingdom (not including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands).
The term 'cash' covers:
You must declare cash on duplicate form C9011, and post the completed top copy - 'Copy 1' - in the drop-box at the port or airport.
You can obtain and complete this form at the port or airport, or you can download and print it by following the link below.
Customs officers from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) may ask to see evidence that you have declared the cash. It's therefore important to keep a copy of the completed form. If you get the form at the port or airport, it automatically makes a carbon copy as you complete it. This is 'Copy 2'. If you download and print the form, you will need to make a photocopy of Copy 1. (You do not need to complete Copy 2 of the printed form.)
You may be fined if you fail to declare the money or if you give incomplete or false information.
Find form C9011 - Cash declaration
Customs officers will only seize declared cash if they have reasonable grounds to suspect it is the proceeds of, or is intended for use in, illegal activities.
Seized cash cannot be kept for more than 48 hours (not including public holidays and weekends) without a court order.
A court may order seized cash to be:
If your cash is seized, customs officers will explain how you can appeal against the decision.
What to do if you have something seized by Customs
If you need more information about declaring cash when entering or leaving the UK, you can contact the Customs, International Trade and Excise Helpline by following the link below.
Contact details for the Customs, International Trade and Excise Helpline
