Carrying cash from India to United States
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 United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires a declaration above USD 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.
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 United States | USD 10,000 | FinCEN Form 105 (CMIR) | U.S. Customs and Border Protection |
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.
There is no limit on how much you may carry; amounts over USD 10,000 must be reported.
If you do not declare
India: Seizure and proceedings under the Customs Act and FEMA.
United States: Seizure of the currency and possible civil and criminal penalties.
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; United States uses USD.
Sources: rules as of 22 September 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; always check the official authority before travelling.