Cash / Currency 🇫🇷 France
EUR 10,000 declaration required (EU rule)
Can I bring Cash / Currency into France?
EUR 10,000 declaration required (EU rule)
EUR 10,000 declaration threshold
- EU Cash Declaration Form
Required at the destination customs authority
Full details
Under EU Regulation 2018/1672, travelers entering or leaving the EU with EUR 10,000 or more in cash must declare to customs. France applies this strictly. Declaration is made to French Customs (Douanes). Failure to declare can result in confiscation of the entire sum.
PENALTIES
- Fine: 250–5000 EUR
- Civil penalty only
Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.
Leaving France with cash / currency
Travellers departing from France carrying cash, banker's cheques, bearer bonds, or other bearer-form negotiable instruments totalling EUR 10,000 or more must complete DGDDI cash declaration at customs before boarding. This threshold aggregates all currencies at exchange-rate parity. Failure to declare is grounds for seizure of the entire cash amount under Code monétaire et financier Art. L152-1 plus criminal prosecution for aggravated cases. Source-of-funds documentation (bank withdrawal receipts, payroll records, sale contracts) may be requested. Legitimate declared movements are not restricted; the requirement is transparency-based to combat money laundering and tax evasion.
Values at or above this threshold must be declared (EUR).
The EUR 10,000 threshold includes all forms of cash: banknotes, coins, traveler's cheques, and bearer instruments.
EUR 10,000 declaration threshold
- EU Cash Declaration Form
EU Regulation 2018/1672, French Customs Code
This page covers destination customs rules in France. Whether you can carry cash / currency through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.
Cash / Currency rules in other countries
Cash / Currency
🇺🇸 United States
Must declare cash or monetary instruments over USD 10,000 on arrival and departure.
Cash / Currency
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Must declare cash of GBP 10,000 or more when entering or leaving Great Britain.
Cash / Currency
🇩🇪 Germany
EU rule: declare EUR 10,000 or more when entering or leaving the EU.
Cash / Currency
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Must declare cash of AED 60,000 or more (approx. USD 16,300) on arrival.
Cash / Currency
🇵🇭 Philippines
PHP 50,000 limit; foreign currency over USD 10,000 must be declared
Cash / Currency
🇻🇳 Vietnam
VND 15 million limit; USD 5,000 foreign currency