Carrying cash from United States 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 States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires a declaration above USD 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 States | USD 10,000 | FinCEN Form 105 (CMIR) | U.S. Customs and Border Protection |
| Entering China | max CNY 20,000 | Customs declaration form | General Administration of Customs of China |
The same reporting duty applies when leaving the United States.
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 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
United States uses USD; China uses CNY.
Sources: rules as of 22 September 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; always check the official authority before travelling.