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Cash and other means; registration when crossing the border

If you are carrying cash or certain other funds amounting to EUR 10,000 or more when entering or leaving Germany, you must inform customs.

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If you are carrying cash or certain other funds of EUR 10,000 or more when entering or leaving Germany, you must inform customs.

The customs authorities monitor the movement of cash across Germany's borders. This applies to travel from and to the European Union (third countries), among other things.

You must comply with certain declaration obligations for cash with a total value of EUR 10,000 or more. Foreign currencies must be converted into euros at the exchange rate on the day of entry or exit.

The following count as cash

  • Cash such as banknotes and coins that are valid means of payment
  • Banknotes and coins that are not valid means of payment but can still be exchanged for a currency that is valid means of payment. For example, it is still possible to exchange German marks or Austrian schillings for euros.
  • transferable bearer instruments such as traveler's checks, checks, promissory notes and certain money orders
  • commodities with a high value in relation to their volume; these are coins with a gold content of at least 90 percent and gold bars, nuggets or nuggets with a gold content of at least 99.5 percent

  • You are traveling from a third country to Germany, from Germany to a third country or through Germany and
  • you are carrying cash with a total value of EUR 10,000 or more.

  • Required document/s

    Generally none, but if required documents about:

    • the co-leader,
    • the owner,
    • the recipient,
    • the economic origin and intended use of the cash

The form "Cash declaration" is available online as a service "Declaration of cash receipt" in the customs portal.

To use the service, you need to register once at www.zoll-portal.de. Once you have successfully registered, log in and select the "Declaration of receipt of cash" service.

When traveling to or from a third country, you must declare cash of EUR 10,000 or more online or in writing:

  • You declare cash in writing to the responsible German customs office when entering or leaving the country without being asked.
  • To do this, use the online option "Declaration of cash receipt" offered by the customs portal.
  • After submitting your declaration online, you will receive an identification code which you must provide to a customs officer when crossing the border at the customs office and which can be used to call up your declaration.
  • When crossing the border, pay attention to the signs on site and ask for counters where you can enter the identification code to call up your declaration.
  • If you are traveling to Germany by plane, you may not use the green exit, but must enter the identification code for calling up your declaration at the red exit.
  • Customs will check your details. If necessary, you must provide suitable receipts, certificates or other documents.
  • If your information and details are correct, complete and conclusive and there is no reason to believe that the cash could be connected to criminal or administrative offenses, you may continue your journey unhindered with your means of payment.
  • If there is reason to believe this, customs may seize the cash within the statutory regulations and time limits in order to clarify its origin or intended use.
  • In addition to the "Declaration of cash receipt" option offered by the customs portal, which you can use online, you can also complete the declaration on the paper form and hand it in to a customs officer at the customs office when crossing the border.

Note: Customs may check the means of transport and your luggage during the checks. If it can be assumed that you are carrying cash under your clothing, the customs officers may also physically search you.

There are no costs.

You must submit your registration directly when entering or leaving the country.

The processing time is at least several minutes. If there are reasons to assume that the cash could be related to criminal offenses or administrative offenses, this could also take several hours.

There is no legal remedy.

Status: 09.07.2024
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bundesministerium der Finanzen
Source: Federal Portal
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