Declare cash and certain other funds when crossing the border

If you are carrying cash or certain other funds of EUR 10,000 or more when entering or leaving Germany, you must inform Customs.

If you are carrying cash or certain other funds of EUR 10,000 or more when entering or leaving Germany, you must inform Customs.

The customs authorities monitor the movement of cash across Germany's borders. This applies, among other things, to travel from and to the European Union (third countries).

For cash, you must observe certain declaration requirements for a total value of EUR 10,000 or more. You must convert foreign currencies into euros using the exchange rate on the day of entry or exit.

Cash is considered to be:

• Cash such as banknotes and coins that are valid means of payment
• Banknotes and coins that are not valid means of payment but can still be exchanged for a currency that is valid means of payment. For example, the exchange of German marks or Austrian schillings into euros is still possible.
• transferable bearer instruments, such as traveler's checks, promissory notes and certain money orders
• commodities that have a high value in relation to their volume; these are coins with a gold content of at least 90 percent and gold bars, nuggets or nuggets with a gold content of at least 99.5 percent

Basically none, but if required documents about:

• the co-leader
• the owner
• the recipient
• the economic origin and the purpose of use of the cash funds

• You are entering Germany from a third country, travelling from Germany to a third country or transiting through Germany, and
• You are carrying cash with a total value of EUR 10,000 or more.

No legal remedy is given.

The form "Cash declaration declaration" is available online as a service "Declaration of cash receipt" in the customs portal.

To use the service, you need to register once at www.zoll-portal.de. After successful registration you log in and select the service "Declaration of Cash Receipt".

On your way to or from a third country, you must declare cash of 10,000 EUR or more online or in writing:

• You declare cash in writing to the responsible German customs office when entering or leaving the country, without being asked to do so.
• To do this, use the online option offered by the customs portal "Anmeldung von Barmitteln Entgegennahme".
• After submitting your declaration online, you will receive an identification code that you must provide to a customs officer when crossing the border at the customs office, and via which your declaration can be accessed.
• When crossing the border, look for signs on site and ask for counters where you can provide the identification code to call up your declaration.
• If you are entering Germany by air, you may not use the green exit, but must provide the identification code to call up your declaration at the red exit.
• Customs will verify your information. If necessary, you will have to provide appropriate receipts, certificates or other documents.
• If your information and details are proper, complete and conclusive, and there is no reason to believe that the cash may be related to criminal or administrative offences, you may continue your journey unhindered with your means of payment.
• If there is reason to believe this, Customs may seize the cash within the framework of the legal regulations and time limits in order to clarify the origin or intended use.
• In addition to the "Declaration of Cash Receipt" option offered by the Customs Portal, which you can use online, you can also fill out the declaration on the paper form and hand it in to a customs official when crossing the border at the customs office.

Note: Customs may inspect the means of transport and your baggage during inspections. If it is likely that you are carrying cash under your clothing, customs officials may also search you physically.

You must submit the registration directly when entering or leaving the country.

The processing time is at least several minutes. If there are reasons to believe that the cash could be related to criminal or administrative offenses, it could also be several hours.

There are no costs involved.