Carrying cash from China to United Kingdom
Two separate rules apply to any cash journey: one where you leave, one where you arrive.
Do you need to declare?
Part of this route is a hard limit, not paperwork. Leaving China, General Administration of Customs of China caps what you may carry at CNY 20,000, a prohibition, not a form. Entering United Kingdom, HM Revenue & Customs requires a declaration above GBP 10,000. The two rules are independent: satisfying one does not satisfy the other.
Travelling as a family or group?
The threshold applies to your combined total, not per person. A family of four each carrying a little under the limit is still over it, and splitting cash between travellers to stay under does not make it legal.
The two legs
| Leg | Limit | Form | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaving China | max CNY 20,000 | Customs declaration form | General Administration of Customs of China |
| Entering United Kingdom | GBP 10,000 | Declare cash online (GOV.UK) or form C9011 | HM Revenue & Customs |
The same ¥20,000 cap applies on departure. Foreign currency above USD 5,000 is released on the strength of the declaration made on your last entry, so keep the endorsed copy, without it, customs releases only what a certificate from the Foreign Exchange Bureau or an authorised bank covers.
Declare cash of GBP 10,000 or more carried between Great Britain and any other country. Northern Ireland has separate rules.
If you do not declare
United Kingdom: Cash may be seized and a penalty of up to GBP 5,000 applied.
There is no limit on how much you may legally carry in either direction, the duty is to report it, not to keep under it. Failing to report is the offence.
Currencies
China uses CNY; United Kingdom uses GBP.
Sources: rules as of 22 September 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; always check the official authority before travelling.