Taking cash in or out of Greece: What are the rules?

Flying to Greece and need to carry cash? You’ll need to know about the rules on how much cash you can take in and out of the country, or you could face an unpleasant time at customs.

In this helpful guide, we’ll walk you through the rules and limits for taking cash in and out of Greece. Nearly every country has these rules, so that authorities can check the cash hasn’t come from criminal activity or been stolen.

We’ll also show you a convenient cash-free alternative for spending abroad - the Wise card.

How much cash can you bring to Greece? What are the limits?

You can bring up to €10,000 (or the equivalent in another currency) into Greece, without needing to declare it or take any other action.¹

If you have more than that with you, you’ll need to complete a customs declaration when you arrive.

What qualifies as cash when moving through borders?

For the purposes of moving it across Greek borders, the following are usually classed as cash:¹

• Banknotes and coins of any currency
• Cheques of any kind (including travellers’ cheques)
• Stocks, bonds, money orders, promissory notes and bills of exchange
• Gems and precious metals.

Are there penalties if you bring in too much cash to Greece?

If you bring in €10,000 or more and you don’t declare it to customs, you risk having it seized by Greek customs. You could even be fined.

How to declare cash at customs when you travel

Haven’t declared cash or anything else at customs before? It can be a little daunting, especially if you don’t speak any Greek.

Read the below though and you’ll have a better idea of what to expect.

Declaring cash before your trip

It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to declare cash before your trip to Greece.

But if you do want to be organised and save yourself some time at customs, you can complete the declaration form in advance.

There are two routes you can take:

1. Complete the EU cash declaration form
2. Complete the Greek declaration form.

Declaring cash on arrival to Greece

The most common way to declare cash is on arrival. Here’s what you need to do when you arrive in Greece:

1. At the airport or port, look for the ‘goods to declare’ or ‘red channel’ signs.
2. Tell a customs official you wish to declare cash, and you may be asked to fill in a form. If you already have a completed form, hand it over.
3. Follow all instructions and have your passport and other documents ready - we’ll run through what else you might need next.

Checklist for cash declarations at Greek customs

While the requirements vary between EU countries, and some are stricter than others, it’s sensible to have the following ready to provide at customs:

• Your passport, address and other personal details as the person carrying the cash
• Details of who owns the cash and the intended recipient, if it’s not you.
• Details of your journey, including flight numbers, ferry routes and any countries you’ve passed through in transit
• The type of cash being carried (the currency, and whether it’s notes or coins)
• The total amount of cash
• Details of what the cash will be used for
• Details and evidence (if you have it) of the source of the money, including the country of origin and how it was generated. For example, through a property sale, earnings from a business, inheritance or another reason.

How much cash can you take out of Greece? Are there limits?

The same rules apply for taking cash out of Greece as for bringing it in. You can take up to €10,000 EUR or the currency equivalent out of the country.¹

Take anything above that sum, and you’ll need to make a customs declaration.

How much cash can I take to the UK from the EU?

You’ll be permitted to take up to €10,000 EUR out of Greece without declaring it to customs.

But there’s also the rules of your destination country to consider. For the UK, the limit on how much you can bring into the country is £10,000 GBP or the currency equivalent.² Anything above this and you’ll need to declare it at customs.

So, bearing in mind the currency conversion, you should be fine to bring €10,000 EUR into the UK, as it works out at around £8,500 GBP.

What are the penalties for travelling with too much cash?

If you bring too much cash into Greece or fail to declare it, you risk your money being seized.

You could also have to pay a fine, which varies depending how much you’re over the permitted limit. The penalty could be as much as 25% of the amount of undeclared cash. ³

Destinations where a declaration isn't needed

If you’re travelling to another EU country immediately after leaving Greece, you may not need to declare your cash.

This is because Greece uses EU rules on how much money you can carry. However, it may also have its own border rules in force, so it’s recommended to check in advance whether or not you’ll need to make a declaration. If unsure, it’s best to play it safe and declare the cash.

Destinations where declaration is needed

If you’re carrying €10,000 or more in cash and travelling outside of the EU, you’ll definitely need to declare it at the Greek border.

Additional tips for travelling with cash

Avoid travelling with cash if you can

Travelling with large amounts of cash is a real security concern, so it’s best avoided unless absolutely necessary. Consider withdrawing cash at an Greek ATM on arrival instead, or having the money sent by bank transfer.

Get a money belt

The safest way to carry cash is on your person, so invest in a good quality money belt to wear under your clothes for the duration of the journey. Alternatively, a small crossbody bag or waist bag will ensure your cash is close to your body and secure.

Split your cash

Carrying one big wad of cash isn’t very discreet, and it’s risky too - if it’s misplaced or stolen, that would be all your money gone. So consider splitting your money between a money belt worn on your person, between members of your travelling party, and between pieces of luggage too.

Be aware that exchanging currency in cash can be costly

If you’re carrying money to pay for your trip and need to exchange it once you get to Greece, you might struggle to find a good deal.

Many of the exchange bureaus and offices which are in the most convenient locations - the airport or your hotel, for example - offer poor exchange rates. That means you have to choose between spending your precious holiday time searching for a better deal, or getting ripped off on the exchange.

Wise – An international alternative to carrying cash

Rather avoid the security concerns and inconvenience of carrying cash between countries? Check out the Wise card instead.

The Wise card is a truly international debit card, as it works in 150+ countries and has no foreign transaction fees*.

It automatically converts currency at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend, for just a small conversion fee*.

And the good news is, if you already have the currency in your Wise account, there’s no fee to pay.

You can also use Wise to send money worldwide for great exchange rates at low fees*.

So whether you need travel money or to pay for goods, services or bills in other countries, Wise is the ideal solution.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

FAQs: How much cash can you travel with?

What else needs to be declared at Greek customs?

The following must be declared at Greek customs:

• €10,000 (or currency equivalent) or more in cash
• Anything over your duty-free allowance in cigarettes, alcohol or other goods.
• Any banned or restricted goods.

If you’re not sure whether or not you need to make a declaration for something you’re travelling with, it’s always worth checking with customs officials.

How much cash can I bring to Greece without declaring?

Technically speaking, you can bring up to €9,999.99 EUR (or the currency equivalent) into Greece before you need to make a customs declaration.

It’s not advisable to cut it that fine though, just in case you’ve made a mistake when counting your money. If in doubt, declare it.

What is the duty-free allowance from Greece to the UK?

You can bring the following into the UK when arriving from Greece without having to pay any duties or taxes (or make any declarations):⁴

• 4 litres of spirits or strong liqueurs, or 9 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or any other alcoholic beverage of less than 22% ABV.
• 42 litres of beer, and 18 litres of still wine.
• 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g of tobacco or 200 sticks of tobacco for heating.
• Other goods worth up to £390.

How much cash should I bring to Greece for a week?

How much money you’ll need for your trip all depends on where in the country you’re staying, as Athens is more expensive than a village on one of the islands, for example. It also depends on your board basis and what activities you want to do.

But on average, it’s a good idea to take spending money of at least £500 (approx. €585 EUR) per person for a week in Greece.⁵

How much cash can I take on a plane to Greece?

The amount of money you can carry on a plane to Greece is the same as the customs rules for entering the country. Unless you’re prepared to declare it when you land, it’s not advisable to take more than the permitted amount on the plane with you.

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Sources used for this article:

1. Thessaloniki Airport - Currency restrictions
2. GOV.UK - Taking cash in and out of the UK
3. Independent Authority for Public Revenue - Cash reserves information
4. Border Force - UK Customs information
5. TUI - Holiday budget calculator

Sources checked on 12-04-2024.