Carrying cash from India 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 India, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (India) caps what you may carry at INR 25,000, a prohibition, not a form. 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.
Closed currency
INR is a closed currency: taking it out of India is restricted regardless of the amount. Convert before you travel.
The two legs
| Leg | Limit | Form | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaving India | max INR 25,000 | Currency Declaration Form (CDF) | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (India) |
| Entering China | max CNY 20,000 | Customs declaration form | General Administration of Customs of China |
Export of Indian currency is prohibited, with a concession: Indian residents travelling abroad may carry up to ₹25,000 in Indian notes. Tourists and NRIs may take out foreign currency only up to the unspent amount they declared on the CDF when they arrived.
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
India: Seizure and proceedings under the Customs Act and FEMA.
INR 25,000 is a hard limit leaving India : carrying more is prohibited, and a declaration does not make it legal. CNY 20,000 is a hard limit entering China : carrying more is prohibited, and a declaration does not make it legal.
Currencies
India uses INR; China uses CNY.
Sources: rules as of 22 September 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; always check the official authority before travelling.