If you carry cash of €10,000 or more in or out of Northern Ireland, you do not need to declare if you are entering or leaving a country in the EU.

You need to make a declaration if you’re carrying €10,000 or the equivalent in any other currency of cash and travelling to or from a non-EU country.

You need to make a declaration if you’re carrying €10,000 or more of cash and travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

You do not need to make a declaration when you’re taking cash from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.

Cash includes:

• notes and coins
• bankers’ drafts
• travellers’ cheques
• cheques (including travellers’ cheques) that are signed but not made out to a person or organisation

If you’re travelling in a group you need to declare if the total amount of cash being carried is €10,000 or more.

What you’ll need

You’ll need to provide information on:

• the currencies your cash is in
• how your cash is made up – for example notes or cheques
• where your cash came from
• how you’ll use your cash
• who owns the cash
• who is getting the cash
• your passport number
• the details of your journey, including any connections or changes. If you are travelling from a private airfield or port, you must tell us

If you’re carrying more than 5 currencies, you need to upload a document with details of the types of cash (for example, notes or cheques) and amounts.

How to declare

You can make a declaration using an online form.

You may make the declaration at any time in the 72 hours prior to the time of travel.

If travelling through a port that has no Border Force Officer, and you cannot complete the form on-line then you can call the Customer Service Group on 0300 322 9434. (Monday to Friday 08:00 – 18:00)

How to appeal a penalty

You could face a penalty of up to £5,000 if you do not declare your cash or give incorrect information.

Your declared cash can be seized by customs officers if they have reasonable grounds to suspect a crime. They can keep the cash for 48 hours – after that they need a court order.

You can write to Border Force Reviews and Appeals if you disagree with a penalty. You must state why you disagree with the decision you’ve been given.

You have 30 days to appeal from the date of the penalty notice.