If you enter or leave the European Union (EU) with EUR 10 000 or more, or the equivalent amount in another currency, you must declare the cash to Customs.
This is a mandatory EU rule to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.
In Portugal, cash declarations are handled by the Tax and Customs Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira – AT) through Customs services.
When you must declare cash
You must make a cash declaration if you carry EUR 10 000 or more when entering the EU, or leaving the EU, through an external EU border, including airports and ports in Portugal.
Customs authorities may request that a cash disclosure declaration be lodged when they detect EUR 10 000 or more in cash being sent by post, freight or courier (unaccompanied cash). If requested, this declaration should be made within 30 days by the recipient, sender or by an appointed representative of the two.
What must be declared
You must declare all cash you are carrying, including:
- Banknotes and coins
- Negotiable bearer instruments, such as:
- traveller’s cheques
- personal cheques
- money orders
- promissory notes
- Gold coins with a gold content of at least 90%
- Gold bars, nuggets or clumps with a gold content of at least 99.5%
Where and how to declare
You must lodge a cash declaration, or make the declaration at the customs office at the external EU border where you are entering or leaving.
Go to Portal das Finanças and fill out your Cash Declaration for the money you are carrying, or will carry, when entering or leaving the EU.
At Portuguese airports, go to the Red Channel (Goods to Declare) and inform a customs officer that you are carrying cash above the threshold.
You must complete the EU Cash Declaration Form.
The form requires the following information:
- the amount of cash carried;
- the source of the cash (for example, savings or sale of property);
- the intended use of the cash (for example, purchase of goods or investment);
- identification of the owner and the bearer, if they are different persons.
Consequences of not declaring
If you fail to declare cash of EUR 10 000 or more, or if you provide false or incomplete information, Customs authorities may apply penalties, including:
- Retention or seizure of the cash;
- Fines for breaching the declaration rule.
Associated links
