Having cash on hand when you’re travelling can provide peace of mind. After all, what happens if your debit card doesn’t work? Or you lose your wallet? Cash can always be converted, so it’s a good practice to carry local currency and your own currency, just in case.
You may be wondering how much money you can take to the airport. There are no limits to how much money you can take with you as long as you’re comfortable; however, if you are travelling with more than $10,000 during an international flight, you may need to fill out a form, depending on the countries you are travelling to.
Key Takeaways
- There are no limits to how much money you can take to the airport, but if you are traveling internationally with more than $10,000, you may need to fill out a form depending on the countries you are traveling to.
- If your destination country thinks that the money you are carrying may be for criminal activity, they could take your money. It’s important to understand the regulations in the country you are traveling to and to be prepared to claim your money and follow proper procedures.
- To keep your cash safe while traveling, keep it out of public view, keep it in your carry-on bag, and keep your personal items within your eyesight. Also, be honest with airport security about what you intend to use the money for, and be aware of any foreign transaction fees you may need to pay.
Travelling With Cash Internationally
It’s important to understand the regulations in the country you are travelling to. For example, if you are travelling to the United States, you’ll need to report the amount of money you are travelling with to U.S. Customs if the amount exceeds $10,000. This also includes if there’s $10,000 in cash among family members.
The good news is that there’s no tax or duty you need to pay on this money. Instead, they just want to know when large amounts of cash are coming in and out of the country, though keep in mind there may be some cases where large amounts of cash could be confiscated.
Why Could My Money be Confiscated?
If your destination country thinks that the money may be for criminal activity, they could take your money. This includes drug trafficking, money laundering, and more. If this is the case, they will turn it over to the local law enforcement agencies. You could need to go to court to recover it, so that’s why it’s important to understand what you need to claim or how much you can travel with.
While you may have to pay foreign transaction fees, you could always withdraw the money once you arrive at your destination to prevent issues. Claiming it and following proper procedures can also help you avoid losing your money, even if it’s just temporarily.
How to Keep Your Cash Safe
If you do need to travel with a large amount of money, there are several things you can do to keep it safe.
- Keep your cash out of public view. Do not count it or take it out to check on it. This makes you a target for thieves, and it’s possible that your cash could be stolen, especially as many work in teams to distract you.
- Keep your money in your carry-on bag. Do not check your luggage with a large amount of cash in it. The airline will not reimburse you if your luggage is stolen or some of the cash is missing. You never want to take the risk that an airport employee could steal your cash.
- Keep your personal items within your eyesight. Again, your luggage will need to pass through airport security, so there will be a brief time that it will not be on your person. During this time, make sure that you always have visibility into your personal items. You do not want to leave them unattended should someone accidentally grab your bag.
Your items may be flagged by airport security, so make sure to be honest about what you intend to use the money for. Just know that large purchases you may need to pay taxes on and claim on your customs forms when you return.
Some of these issues may not be the case if you are flying domestically, but it’s still important to know local regulations and what you need to do to fly safely with large amounts of cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is there a limit to how much money I can take to the airport?
There are no limits to how much money you can take to the airport, but if you travel internationally with more than $10,000, you may need to fill out a form depending on the countries you are traveling to.
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What happens if I travel to the United States with over $10,000 in cash?
If you travel to the United States with over $10,000 in cash, you’ll need to report the amount of money you are traveling with to U.S. Customs.
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Is there any tax or duty I need to pay on the money I’m traveling with?
You need to pay no tax or duty on the money you are traveling with, but if your destination country thinks that the money may be for criminal activity, they could take it.
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What should I do to keep my cash safe while traveling?
Keep your cash safe while traveling, keep it out of public view in your carry-on bag, and keep your items within your eyesight.
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Can my money be confiscated at the airport?
If your destination country thinks that the money you are carrying may be for criminal activity, they could take your money. This includes drug trafficking, money laundering, and more.
