MundoKit

China cash declaration checker

Enter one traveler’s RMB and foreign cash, select entry or exit, and supply conversion rates. See declaration or permit actions and cases that need Customs confirmation.

Inputs
CNY
Illustrative exchange rates only. Replace with rates accepted by Customs. One line per currency, up to 50 lines. Leave blank for no foreign cash. Exclude RMB.

Results

Cash-only check
Below ordinary foreign-cash declaration threshold
RMB cash
10,000.00 CNY — Within RMB cash cap
Foreign cash equivalent
USD 4,100.00
Foreign-cash action
Below ordinary foreign-cash declaration threshold
Your conversion assumptions — RMB is checked separately
CurrencyCashUSD per unitUSD equivalent
USD3,000.0013,000.00
EUR1,000.001.11,100.00
  • This is a cash-only check for one traveler, not clearance approval or permission to use the green channel. Other goods may require declaration.
  • Use Customs-accepted exchange rates. Display rounding does not change the threshold comparison. Bank balances, cards, gold and silver are outside this checker.

Results update as you type. The share link stores your inputs after the # in the address, which is not sent to our server, but anyone you send it to can read them.

Last checked 2026-11-14. Rules change, sometimes at short notice. We list the date we last checked each official source; confirm with the official government source before you travel, buy or file. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.

This is a general estimate for information only, not tax, legal or financial advice. Real rules have more conditions than a calculator can show, so check the official source below or a qualified professional for your situation.

How it works

RMB cash is checked against its separate CNY 20,000 per-person, per-crossing cap. Foreign cash is combined in USD equivalents using the rates you supply:

foreign cash in USD = sum(amount of each currency × USD per unit)

For ordinary entry, SAFE requires written declaration above USD 5,000 equivalent. For ordinary exit without a prior declaration exception, the 2003 framework requires no permit at or below USD 5,000, a bank permit above USD 5,000 through USD 10,000, and special authorization above that range. The notice was republished in April 2024.

Comparisons use unrounded totals. Foreign-currency totals display up to six decimals to make near-boundary cases visible. Rates are illustrative, not official Customs rates. A declaration does not lift the RMB cap.

Worked examples

Two foreign currencies on entry

USD 3,000 at 1 plus EUR 1,000 at an illustrative 1.10 USD/EUR totals USD 4,100. With CNY 10,000 separately, ordinary cash thresholds are not exceeded. Other goods still need their own checks.

Ordinary exit with USD 7,000

USD 7,000 with no prior declaration or frequent-crossing exception lies above USD 5,000 and at or below USD 10,000: a bank-issued exit permit is required.

RMB excess is not a declaration allowance

CNY 20,001 and no foreign cash is CNY 1 above the RMB cap. Declaring the cash does not itself authorize carrying the excess.

Frequently asked questions

What if I carry exactly USD 5,000?
SAFE’s ordinary entry rule says “over” USD 5,000, but Shanghai’s inbound guide lists USD 5,000 or above. Confirm the declaration procedure with Customs at this boundary. The ordinary outbound permit exemption explicitly includes USD 5,000.
Is CNY 20,000 a declaration threshold or a cap?
It is the RMB cash cap. At exactly CNY 20,000, Shanghai’s inbound guide also calls for declaration. The checker flags this boundary rather than giving a green-channel instruction.
Do frequent crossings change the result?
Yes. SAFE describes repeated crossings within one day or 15 days. Second and later entries require foreign-cash declaration regardless of amount. Repeated exits have special treatment and are referred to Customs here.
Can I reuse my entry cash declaration when leaving?
The last-entry declaration record can change outbound permit treatment. Present it to Customs with the cash details. Enter the declared USD equivalent. If outgoing cash is at or below the record, present it to Customs; no exit permit is required. If outgoing cash exceeds it, ordinary permit thresholds apply to the whole outgoing amount, not the excess. Uncertain records and frequent exits require Customs review.
Does this cover gold, silver or money in bank accounts?
No. This checker covers physical RMB and foreign cash only. It does not assess precious metals, other goods or bank balances, and its result is not general Customs clearance.

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-11-14; next review due by 2027-02-12. The method is written out above so you can check our math.