Last Updated: August 30, 2023
How Much Cash Can You Carry on a Plane? (2023 Guide)
It is always a good idea to travel with a bit of cash with you. There is a reason for the saying “cash is king” as having some on you can get you out of a jam, especially in the developing world where card machines and ATMs don’t always work.
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But, what about when you need to travel with a lot of cash, for whatever reason, what are the rules? The last thing anyone needs is to have their cash stolen or confiscated by customs.
Join me as I run through everything you need to know about carrying cash on planes, how much you can carry, and the rules around it.
How Much Cash Can You Carry On A Plane?
- Domestically – There are no limits
- Internationally – under $10,000 without declaring it in the USA
- The same rules apply to most developed nations, but check before you fly.
How Much Cash Can You Carry on a Domestic Flight?
When flying domestically, you can carry as much cash and monetary instruments as you like. There are no limits for a domestic flight as the money is not leaving the country, or entering a new one, it is staying in the same country.
But, if the TSA notices that someone is carrying a lot of cash, they do have the right to ask where the money came from. If the TSA agent thinks the money is a result of criminal activity, like drug trafficking, they can hand over the case to a law enforcement officer to deal with.
How Much Cash Can You Carry on International Flights?
USA
There is technically no limit on the amount of cash you can carry on an international flight into the USA or out of the USA. But, if you have a large sum of $10,000 or more, you have to follow some rules for it to be legal.
When traveling with anything that is considered cash (as per the section above) that totals $10,000 or more, you have to declare it to US customs officials and explain where the money came from.
If you are on an international flight that is departing or arriving in the US, there are no limits as to the amount of money a passenger can carry. If you are caught with $10,000 or more without declaring it, you can face civil and criminal penalties, plus the money can be confiscated by the law enforcement agency.
If you are traveling with $9,999 in cash or less, you do not have to declare it to customs. But, if the TSA finds you have say $9000 of monetary instruments with you, they have the right to ask about it and can hand you over to law enforcement agents.
You will then have to prove where the money came from and that it wasn’t from criminal activity such as money laundering, etc.
Europe
If you are flying to Europe from outside of Europe, the same rules apply as in the USA. You can travel with less than €10,000 without having to declare it.
But, if you are traveling with €10,000 or more, you must declare it to customs by filling out an EU Currency Declaration form before your flight.
However, Spain, Italy, and the UK do not use the EU Currency Declaration form and have their own forms you will need to fill out.
Canada
If you are flying in or out of Canada, you are allowed to have $10,000 Canadian dollars of cash, or less, without having to declare it to customs.
If you have more than $10,000 Canadian dollars of cash, which includes other currencies too, you must declare it to customs.
UK
The UK allows anyone to enter the UK with less than £10,000 of cash on them without declaring it to customs. But, if you are traveling with £10,000 of cash or more, then you must declare it to UK customs.
This is the case when traveling to or from any country outside of the UK, including EU countries.
Mexico
Mexico allows you to travel with $10,000 or less of cash without having to declare it to customs. If you have large sums over $10,000 then you must declare it to customs using the Mexican Customs Declaration form.
How Much Cash Can a Family Bring on a Plane?
If you are traveling as a group or family, you might be thinking that you can each carry $10,000 onto the plane without having to declare it to customs. This is not the case!
When traveling as a family or a group, the combined amount of cash you are carrying has to be $10,000 or less in order to avoid declaring it to customs.
If you, as a group, have $10,500 between you, then you are obligated under the United States Constitution, and the laws of all the countries mentioned, to declare it to customs.
What Qualifies As ‘Cash’?
Let’s just confirm what qualifies as cash when you are traveling. We do not need any ambiguity in situations that involve your hard-earned money.
When you travel on a plane, all currencies are considered cash so long as the currency in question is still in circulation and you can actually buy things with it. Therefore every coin and note you can buy something with in any country in the world is considered cash.
Cheques, traveler’s cheques, and bankers’ drafts are also considered cash.
Precious metals and stones such as gold and diamonds are not considered cash, but they have their own rules that you need to follow when transporting them around the world.
Casino chips are not cash as you can only buy things with them in the casino that they came from.
Does Cash Show Up in Airport Scanners?
Large sums of cash will show up at a screening checkpoint, like the scanner you put your carry-on through.
But, no one knows just how sensitive the scanners are, as TSA (Transportation Security Administration) keeps this a secret for security reasons.
I do know that airport scanners can pick up a carton of cigarettes, so they will most likely pick up a wedge of cash.
The scanners that you walk through will detect cash so do not try to conceal and carry it on your person, as it will get picked up!
Can You Fly With $20k Cash?
Yes, you can fly with $20k cash, and you can fly with a million dollars so long as you follow the rules and can legally prove where the money came from.
If you are flying domestically with $20k cash, you do not have to tell anyone about it. If you are flying internationally, then you have to follow the customs declaration rules for the country you’re leaving and flying to.
Can TSA Agents Seize Cash?
Can the TSA seize cash? No, a TSA officer has no law enforcement powers for cash seizure. However, if a TSA screener discovers large sums of cash on them, they have the right to ask where the cash came from.
If the TSA suspects foul play, then they have the right to hand you over to law enforcement authorities for further inspection.
If the other law enforcement representative thinks the cash is in some way illegal, the federal agency seizes it and it is kept but the US Customs and Border Protection Agency. This is known as Civil Asset Forfeiture proceedings.
What Happens If I Don’t Disclose Cash at Customs?
If you have more than $10,000 and do not declare your cash, you can get in varying degrees of trouble depending on the country you are leaving/arriving into.
In the US, if you do not declare you are carrying $10,000 or more as an individual, or as a group, your cash can be seized.
If you fail to declare you are carrying £10,000 or more in the UK, you can be fined £5,000. I
In Mexico, not declaring $10,000 or more in cash results in criminal prosecution as this kind of criminal activity is taken seriously in Mexico and they are trying to stop it.
How Do You Secure Your Money When Traveling?
Firstly, do not put your cash in your checked baggage as your bag can get lost, and it is easier for someone to steal from than your carry-on.
Split your money up into multiple places in your carry-on so it is not all in one place. Or consider using a neck wallet to keep it safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to put cash in checked luggage?
No, never ever put cash in your checked luggage.
Checked bags get lost between flights, people have access to them and can open them, and therefore your cash is way more likely to be lost or stolen in checked luggage.
Does the TSA ask about cash?
Yes, if the TSA finds a large amount of cash on you, then will ask where it came from. If they suspect something, they will hand you over to law enforcement agents for further investigation.
What are the risks of traveling with large amounts of cash?
The main risks of traveling with large sums of cash are having your cash stolen, losing it, or having it confiscated by customs or law enforcement.
These days, you don’t need to travel with more than a few hundred dollars in cash as pretty much everywhere takes cards. So is it worth the risk? I think not!
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
