How much cash can you bring into the UK? Declaring £10,000 or more at the border

When you must declare cash at the Great Britain border

Gov.uk: you must declare cash of £10,000 or more to UK customs if you are carrying it between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and a country outside the UK — in both directions, on entry and on exit. Source: gov.uk — Taking cash in and out of Great Britain.

This article covers the rules for Great Britain. Gov.uk sets out separate rules for Northern Ireland — if you travel via Northern Ireland, check them directly at gov.uk — Take cash in and out of the UK.

What must be declared on the UK side

For Great Britain, gov.uk lists:

• notes and coins — in any currency,
• bearer bonds,
• travellers’ cheques,
• cheques that are signed but not made out to a person or organisation.

The £10,000 threshold applies to the total of these. Ordinary bank transfers are not cash carried across the border and are not covered by this declaration.

How and when to declare

According to gov.uk the route depends on the direction of travel:

• leaving the UK (for example GB → Poland) — you must declare before you go, as a rule online; if you cannot use the online form, HMRC accepts a declaration by phone (0300 322 9434), by the red phone at listed ports (for example Dover Eastern Docks or the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone) or on paper form BOR9011 at seven listed airports (including Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted),
• coming into the UK — online or by phone before you travel, or at customs when you arrive (‘goods to declare’ / red channel).

Source of the alternative routes: HMRC notice under the Cash Controls (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

The earliest you can declare is 72 hours before you plan to travel. Carrying legitimate cash above the threshold is not prohibited; the obligation is to declare it. Declared cash can still be seized if officers have reasonable grounds to suspect a crime. It is sensible to carry documents showing where the money comes from (for example a property sale agreement or a bank statement). Source: gov.uk — Take cash in and out of the UK.

What happens if you do not declare

Gov.uk: if you do not declare cash that you should have, a Border Force officer can seize all the cash you are carrying, and you may have to pay a penalty of up to £5,000 to get it back. Source: gov.uk — Taking cash in and out of Great Britain.

Taking cash from the UK to Poland — two separate obligations

Anyone moving back to Poland with savings (for example after selling a house in the UK) has two separate obligations, and meeting one does not satisfy the other:

• UK — when leaving Great Britain: £10,000 or more, counted together for a family or group (described above).
• EU — when entering the EU (Regulation (EU) 2018/1672): cash worth EUR 10,000 or more in total; the threshold applies per person. The declaration is made to the competent authorities of the Member State through which you enter the EU (Article 3(1) of the Regulation) — in Poland that is KAS, but if you enter the EU through another country (for example by ferry to the Netherlands) you declare there. The PUESC portal only lets you register a preliminary currency declaration in advance, which you then use at the Polish border crossing to file the mandatory declaration; it does not replace declaring at the border. Source: granica.gov.pl.

The EU definition of cash is wider than the UK one: besides banknotes and cheques it covers, among others, coins with a gold content of at least 90%, gold bars, nuggets or clumps with a gold content of at least 99.5% and non-personalised prepaid cards. Failing to declare on the EU side is a breach of the obligation, and the funds may be detained pending clarification.

If you are relocating, combine this with the formalities for your belongings: transfer of residence from the UK to Poland.

Cash, business transport and drivers

The UK rule has no exemption for business journeys: a driver or transport company employee carrying cash of £10,000 or more between Great Britain and a country outside the UK is subject to the same obligation. A cash declaration is separate from the customs formalities for goods — a complete set of transport documents (see driver documents for entry to the UK) does not replace it. Paying for goods by bank transfer is not carrying cash; for trade settlements see also commercial invoice and EORI number.

Summary

UK side: £10,000 or more, counted together for a family or group; when leaving GB declare before you go (online, at the earliest 72 hours before travel; phone, red phone or paper form only as listed by HMRC); the red channel on arrival applies only to journeys into the UK; failure to declare — seizure of all the cash and a penalty of up to £5,000. When taking cash to Poland there is a separate EU obligation: EUR 10,000 per person, declared to the customs authorities of the EU country through which you enter (in Poland: KAS; PUESC is for a preliminary declaration only). This article was checked against gov.uk on 2026-09-25.

FAQ — frequently asked questions

We are travelling as a family and each of us carries less than £10,000. Do we need to declare?

Yes, if together you carry £10,000 or more. On the UK side the threshold applies to the whole family or group, even if each individual carries less. Splitting the money between family members does not remove the UK declaration requirement.

I sold my house in the UK and I am moving back to Poland with my savings in cash. What do I need to declare?

Two separate declarations. The UK one — when leaving Great Britain with £10,000 or more (counted together for a family or group). The EU one — when entering the EU with cash worth EUR 10,000 or more per person, made to the customs authorities of the Member State through which you enter the EU (in Poland: KAS); in Poland you can register a preliminary declaration in PUESC beforehand and use it at the border crossing. Meeting one obligation does not satisfy the other. The declaration itself is free.

How and when do I declare cash at the Great Britain border?

According to gov.uk, if you are leaving the UK you must declare the cash before you go: online, at the earliest 72 hours before you travel. If you cannot use the online form, HMRC allows a declaration by phone, by the red phone at listed ports (for example Dover or the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone) or on paper form BOR9011 at seven listed airports. Declaring at customs on arrival (the ‘goods to declare’ / red channel) applies only when you are coming into the UK.

What must be declared on the UK side?

According to gov.uk, for Great Britain: notes and coins, bearer bonds, travellers’ cheques, and cheques that are signed but not made out to a person or organisation. The EU definition of cash is wider and also covers, among others, gold coins, gold bullion and non-personalised prepaid cards.

What happens if I do not declare cash in Great Britain?

According to gov.uk, a Border Force officer can seize all the cash you are carrying, and you may have to pay a penalty of up to £5,000 to get it back.

Does the rule apply to drivers carrying company cash?

Yes. The UK rule applies to anyone carrying cash of £10,000 or more between Great Britain and a country outside the UK — there is no exemption for business journeys. A cash declaration is separate from the customs declaration for goods.

Official sources

• Taking cash in and out of Great Britain — GOV.UK Border Force — GOV.UK
• Take cash in and out of the UK — GOV.UK — GOV.UK