Carrying cash from India to New Zealand
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 New Zealand, New Zealand Customs Service requires a declaration above NZD 10,000. 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 New Zealand | NZD 10,000 | Border Cash Report (NZCS 337) | New Zealand Customs Service |
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.
Required for NZ$10,000 or more in cash, or the foreign equivalent, carried into New Zealand. You must also speak to a Customs officer on arrival.
If you do not declare
India: Seizure and proceedings under the Customs Act and FEMA.
New Zealand: Cash may be seized and penalties applied under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009.
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
India uses INR; New Zealand uses NZD.
Sources: rules as of 22 September 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; always check the official authority before travelling.