Cash / Currency → 🇨🇳 China

Full details

China General Administration of Customs requires arriving travelers to declare cash exceeding CNY 20,000 in renminbi notes or the foreign-currency equivalent of USD 5,000 (Notice No. 102 of 2003 and subsequent updates). Failure to declare can result in seizure pending investigation and an administrative penalty under the Customs Law of the PRC. Outbound thresholds are the same; SAFE permits may be required for larger sums.

ENFORCEMENT

Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.

At the airport

1. STEP 1If carrying USD 5,000 equivalent or more in foreign currency, you must declare this on the Chinese Customs Declaration Form (Entry/Exit Card). Mark the 'cash' box.
2. STEP 2At PVG or PEK Red Channel, present the completed declaration to the China Customs officer along with your passport.
3. STEP 3RMB above CNY 20,000 may not be imported without prior SAFE approval. Undeclared amounts above thresholds may be seized and a fine levied under China Customs Law Article 62.

Leaving China with cash / currency

Under SAFE (State Administration of Foreign Exchange) regulations and Customs Announcement 43/2012, individuals may carry up to USD 5,000 (or equivalent) in foreign currency out of China without declaration. For amounts above USD 5,000, a foreign currency carrying permit (waibi xie dai zheng) from an authorised bank is required. RMB 20,001–50,000 requires a bank exchange certificate (shuihui dan). The annual individual FX conversion quota is USD 50,000 equivalent. Violation carries administrative fines under SAFE regulations.

OFFICIAL SOURCES · VERIFIED 2026-04-25