How much cash can you take to China?
There is no cap on what you may carry into China. At USD 5,000 or more you must tell customs, which is free and takes a few minutes. The same figure applies leaving.
Entering China
USD 5,000
or more — declare it
Leaving China
USD 5,000
or more — declare it
Applies per person. Each traveller has their own figure. That does not make splitting a large sum across a group to avoid the threshold lawful — several countries treat that as an offence in its own right.
Check your actual route
The figure above is only one end of the trip. Add where you're coming from or going to for both.
Pick both countries to see the rules for each end of your trip.
The rule in China, in full
Foreign currency: must declare cash/traveller's cheques exceeding USD 5,000 (or equivalent) on both entry and exit. Per traveller. RMB (CNY): up to CNY 20,000 can be carried in or out without declaration; above CNY 20,000 requires declaration and approval. IMPORTANT: to re-export foreign currency you declared on entry above USD 5,000, you must show the entry declaration. Non-declaration or false declaration is subject to fine and possible confiscation.
Form: Inbound/Outbound Passenger Baggage Declaration Form (W.Hg.S.18). Get it from the authority at the border or their site — we don't mirror it here, because forms are revised without notice and a stale copy is worse than none.
General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) Last checked 2026-08-10
Heading to China? The duty-free allowance page for China covers what you can bring in without paying duty.