Declaring cash when entering or leaving the UK
From 15 June 2007 if you are travelling to or from a country outside the European Union (EU)
you will need to declare any sums of cash of 10,000 euros or more (or the equivalent in another currency) to HM Revenue and
Customs (HMRC).
When you need to declare cash
You only need to declare cash if you are carrying over 10,000 euros or the equivalent and are travelling to
or from a country outside the EU.
Definition of the EU
For the purposes of 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).
Definition of cash
The term 'cash' covers:
- currency notes and coins
- bankers' drafts
- cheques of any kind, including travellers' cheques
How to declare cash to HMRC
You must declare cash on duplicate form C9011, and post the completed top Copy 1 in the drop box provided
at the port or airport.
You can get this form at the port or airport and complete it there, or you can download and print it by following
the link below, which allows you to fill it in before you start your journey.
HMRC officers may ask to see evidence that you have made a declaration. Therefore it is important
to keep a copy of the completed form. This is automatically generated on carbon Copy 2 if you make your declaration on a form
provided at the port or airport. If you use the printed down form, you will need to photocopy the completed 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 give incomplete or false information.
Your rights if your cash is seized
HMRC officers will only keep 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 without a court order (not including public holidays and
weekends).
A court may order seized cash to be:
- held while investigations are carried out
- withheld permanently if the investigation shows it is associated with criminal activity
If your cash is seized, you will be given information on how to appeal against the decision.
