CASH DECLARATION RULES

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka— Cash & Currency

CUSTOMS AUTHORITYSri Lanka Customs

LAST VERIFIED2026-07-01

Declaration Threshold

THRESHOLD (USD EQUIVALENT)

US$10,000

LOCAL CURRENCY EQUIVALENT

USD

You must declare to customs if you are carrying cash, traveler's cheques, money orders, or negotiable bearer instruments totaling above this amount when entering or leaving Sri Lanka.

What Must Be Declared

Instrument	Declaration Required
Physical currency (any currency)	Yes, if above threshold
Traveler's cheques	Yes, if above threshold
Bank drafts / money orders	Yes, if above threshold
Bearer bonds / negotiable instruments	Yes, if above threshold
Credit cards / debit cards	Generally no
Electronic payment apps	Generally no

Failure to declare

Carrying undeclared cash above the threshold can result in seizure of funds, fines, and in some jurisdictions criminal prosecution. When in doubt, declare.

Additional Country Notes

01SAFTA + SAARC member; preferential trade with regional partners.
02FTA with India provides duty-free access for many goods.
03Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR); financial-crisis context (2022-2023) means USD is increasingly accepted.

VERIFIED · 2026-07-01Sri Lanka Customsofficial site →Duty-free allowances for Sri Lanka→