Taking cash in and out of Egypt: What are the rules?

Planning to travel to Egypt from the UK? You might be holidaying in Sharm el Sheikh, taking in the ancient landmarks of Alexandria or perhaps visiting Cairo on a business trip.

Whatever your plans, you’ll need to know the rules on what you can and can’t bring into the country - and this includes cash.

Lots of tourists travel with cash, but usually not enough that they fall foul of customs rules. But if you are travelling in or out of Egypt with a large amount of cash in your wallet, this guide is for you.

Below, we’ll take a look at the rules and limits for taking cash in or out of Egypt. Plus, info on how and when to declare cash, and what happens if you carry too much without declaring it.

We’ll also show you a convenient cash-free alternative for spending in Egypt and worldwide - the Wise card.

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

You can bring any amount of foreign currency into Egypt, but you must declare amounts worth more than $10,000 USD in value. This is around £8,055 in British pounds (GBP).¹

As for the local currency - Egyptian pounds (EGP) - you can only bring a maximum of 5,000 EGP into the country.¹ This is only around £80 in GBP, so it’s easy to accidentally fall foul of the rules if you’ve ordered spending money in EGP ahead of your trip.

What qualifies as cash when moving through borders?

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

• Banknotes and coins
• Cheques
• Travellers cheques
• Promissory notes
• Money orders
• Securities.

Stamps, postal orders and gold may also be classed as cash.

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

You may face penalties if you carry more than $10,000 USD (or currency equivalent) in foreign currency without declaring it, or bring more than 5,000 EGP into the country.

If you break customs rules on bringing currency into Egypt, you may be fined, prosecuted or even imprisoned. It’s also likely that the money will be confiscated.

How to declare cash at Egypt customs when you travel

If you haven’t ever declared goods at customs before, it’s understandable to feel a little daunted - especially in a foreign country.

To help you know what to expect, read on for info on how to declare cash at the airport in Egypt.

Declaring cash before your trip

In some countries, you can save time at customs by declaring cash before you travel. There may be ways to submit a form online, for example.

However, this option doesn't seem to be available in Egypt, so you may need to wait until you arrive.

Declaring cash on arrival to Egypt

To declare cash at an airport or seaport (i.e. a cruise terminal) once you arrive in Egypt, follow these steps:

1. Look for the ‘goods to declare’ or ‘red channel’ signs
2. Tell a customs official you wish to declare cash, and you’ll be asked to fill in a customs declaration form.
3. Follow all instructions and have your passport and other documents ready - we’ll run through what else you might need next.

If you can’t find a declaration point, ask at the airport or seaport’s information desk. You may also be able to find a phone number of other contact details on the airport’s website.

Checklist for cash declarations at Egypt customs

While you may not be asked for all of it, it’s sensible to have the following information ready to provide at customs:

• Your passport, home address and other personal details
• The address of where you’ll be staying in Egypt (i.e. your hotel address)
• Details of your journey, including where you travelled from, flight numbers, ferry routes, vessel names, travel dates and any countries you’ve passed through in transit
• The total amount of cash
• Details of who owns the cash and the intended recipient, if it’s not you.
• Details and evidence (if you have it) of the source of the money, including the country of origin and how it was generated.
• Details of what the cash will be used for.

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

The rules for how much cash you can take out of Egypt are the same as entering the country.

You can take any amount of foreign currency, but must declare anything over the value of $10,000 USD to customs officials. You are only permitted to take up to 5,000 Egyptian pounds out of Egypt.²

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

Each African country will have its own rules and limits for how much cash you can bring in. So, it’s important to do some research before you travel, so you can avoid falling foul of the rules.

But you also need to take the UK’s own rules into account. You can take up to £10,000 out of the UK without having to make a customs declaration.³

What are the penalties for travelling with too much cash?

If you bring too much cash into Egypt or fail to declare it, you risk your money being seized. There may also be other penalties or consequences, so it really isn’t worth taking any chances.

Destinations where a declaration isn't needed

No matter where you’re travelling to once you leave Egypt, you’ll need to declare any foreign currency in cash exceeding 100,000 USD in value to customs authorities.²

Destinations where declaration is needed

All onward destinations require a customs declaration if you’re carrying more than 100,000 USD (or the currency equivalent) in foreign currency, except if you’re travelling between locations within Egypt itself.²

Additional tips for travelling with cash

Avoid travelling with cash if you can

Travelling with large amounts of cash is a security risk, so it’s best avoided unless absolutely necessary. Consider spending on a card instead or withdrawing cash at an Egyptian ATM on arrival.

Get a money belt

If you do need to have cash on you, the safest way to carry it is on your person using a money belt worn underneath your clothes.

Split your cash

Carrying a large wad of cash isn’t very discreet, and it’s risky too - if it’s lost or stolen, you’d have no spending money left at all.

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 Egypt, you might struggle to find a good deal. This is especially true of exchanging cash in airports and hotels, where exchange rates are notoriously poor.

Wise – An international alternative to carrying cash

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

It’s a truly international debit card, as it works in 150+ countries including Egypt without any foreign transaction fees*.

Your Wise card awaits 💳

Best of all, your Wise card automatically converts currency at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend, for just a small conversion fee*. 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 and low fees*.

FAQs: How much cash can you travel with?

What needs to be declared at Egyptian customs?

As well as currency, you need to declare the following when arriving or leaving in Egypt:

• Anything over your duty-free allowance in cigarettes, alcohol or other goods
• Any prohibited or restricted goods.

Is it better to use cash or card in Egypt?

Debit and credit cards are accepted in Egypt’s bigger towns and cities, but cash is still king in many places.

So, it’s a good idea to have both cash and cards for your trip to Egypt, then you’ll have all bases covered. You may want to withdraw cash from an ATM once you arrive.

What's the best currency to take to Egypt from the UK?

The best currency to take to Egypt is the Egyptian pound, the country’s national currency.
The only thing to bear in mind is that you’re only allowed to bring up to 5,000 EGP (around £80 GBP) into the country.

So you’ll need to change money or withdraw the rest of the cash you need for your trip from ATMs when you arrive in Egypt.

Where can I get Egyptian pounds in the UK?

You can get Egyptian pounds (EGP) at most major travel money bureaux in the UK, although you may need to order in advance.

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Sources used:

1. GOV.UK - Egypt Entry Requirements
2. Cairo Airport - Customs Regulations
3. GOV.UK - taking cash in and out of the UK

Sources last checked on date: 10-Feb-2025