Cash / Currency 🇩🇪 Germany
EU rule: declare EUR 10,000 or more when entering or leaving the EU.
Can I bring Cash / Currency into Germany?
EU rule: declare EUR 10,000 or more when entering or leaving the EU.
No quantity limit; declaration required for EUR 10,000+
- EU Cash Declaration form (Zollamt K 0460) for EUR 10,000+
Required at the destination customs authority
Full details
Germany follows EU Regulation 2018/1672 on cash controls. Travellers carrying EUR 10,000 or more in cash (or equivalent in other currencies) must declare it to German customs (Zoll) when entering or leaving EU territory via Germany. The declaration must cover all forms of cash including notes, coins, traveller's cheques, and bearer instruments. German customs may inspect and temporarily seize undeclared cash if suspected of criminal origin. Within the EU (intra-EU travel), there is no mandatory declaration but Germany customs can request declarations if suspicious. Penalties for non-declaration include fines up to EUR 1 million.
PENALTIES
- Fine: 250–5000 EUR
- Civil penalty only
Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.
Leaving Germany with cash / currency
Travellers departing from Germany carrying cash, banker's cheques, bearer bonds, or other bearer-form negotiable instruments totalling EUR 10,000 or more must complete Zoll 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 EU Cash Control Regulation 2018/1672 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).
Declare at Zoll before reaching border control. Retain documentation of the source of funds (bank statements) to facilitate declaration and avoid seizure.
No quantity limit; declaration required for EUR 10,000+
- EU Cash Declaration form (Zollamt K 0460) for EUR 10,000+
EU Regulation 2018/1672; German Customs Act (Zollverwaltungsgesetz)
This page covers destination customs rules in Germany. 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
🇦🇪 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
Cash / Currency
🇫🇷 France
EUR 10,000 declaration required (EU rule)