Carrying cash from United Kingdom to China
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 United Kingdom, HM Revenue & Customs requires a declaration above GBP 10,000. Entering China, General Administration of Customs of China caps what you may carry at CNY 20,000, a prohibition, not a form. 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 United Kingdom | GBP 10,000 | Declare cash online (GOV.UK) or form C9011 | HM Revenue & Customs |
| Entering China | max CNY 20,000 | Customs declaration form | General Administration of Customs of China |
The same threshold applies on the way out.
The renminbi limit is a hard cap in both directions, carrying more than ¥20,000 in cash is prohibited, not merely declarable. Foreign currency has no quantitative limit, but cash worth more than USD 5,000 must be declared on arrival.
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
United Kingdom uses GBP; China uses CNY.
Sources: rules as of 22 September 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; always check the official authority before travelling.