How to declare cash at UK border

How to declare cash at UK border

If you’re leaving the UK, you must declare cash before you leave the country.

If you’re coming to the UK you can declare cash before you travel or as soon as you arrive in the UK.

Declare cash before you travel

Declare online for:

Cash you’re carrying between Great Britain and any other country

Cash you’re carrying between Northern Ireland and a non-EU country

Cash you’re carrying from Great Britain to Northern Ireland

If you cannot use the online service you can make your declaration over the phone.

Customer Service Group

Telephone: 0300 322 9434

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Declare cash when you arrive in the UK

At UK customs, follow ‘goods to declare’ or ‘red channel’ signs, and tell a Border Force officer you want to declare cash.

You may have to use a courtesy phone. They may give you a paper form to fill in or take your declaration themselves.

If there is no way to make a declaration at the port or airport when you arrive, call 0300 322 9434 and make your declaration over the phone.

Penalties

If you do not declare cash that you should have, all the cash you are carrying can be seized by a Border Force officer. You may have to pay a penalty of up to £5,000 to get it back. This can be taken from the cash before the rest is returned.

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