Flying with Cash between USA and India? Know the Rules for Safe Entry

Passengers flying from USA to India with more than $10,000 in cash are often stopped at the origin airport. Certain customs rules apply to carrying cash out of India for USA-bound travelers. Indians or NRIs carrying above $3000 or Rs 25,000 in cash to USA are likely to be held up in India. Whether you are a US citizen, an OCI cardholder, a Green Card holder, or an Indian expat, certain limits apply to carrying cash money between India and USA. This guide is precisely for you to get over any confusion about how much Indian currency or US dollars you can legally carry while traveling.

How much cash you can bring into India from USA

There is no fixed limit on how much cash in a foreign currency (like US dollar) you can carry aboard flights from USA to India. However, if you are carrying more than $5,000 in cash, or if the total value of your foreign currency, including cash and traveler’s cheques, exceeds $10,000, you must declare it to Indian customs upon arrival at the entry airport.

For example, if you’re carrying $6,000 in cash or $4,000 in cash plus $7,000 in traveler’s cheques, you must declare it to evade penalties or a legal trouble. In Indian currency, the limit is ₹25,000 per person. So, if you’re carrying ₹30,000 in cash, you’re required to declare any amount over the permissible limit. In some instances, charges may also be framed under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and the Customs Act, 1962, depending on the amount and the intent.

How to Declare: Use the Currency Declaration Form (CDF) available on most USA to India flights or at airport customs. Submit it when you arrive in India via the “Red Channel” or via the ATITHI app. Undeclared amounts can lead to penalties, delays, or even confiscation of the money.

How much money you can carry to USA from India

Just like India, the United States also doesn’t place a limit on how much money you can bring in. You can carry any amount of money with you on flights to USA from India, but if you’re carrying more than $10,000, whether in cash, traveler’s cheques, money orders, or similar instruments, you are officially required to declare it.

How to Declare: Declaration of money can be done by filling out FinCEN Form 105 and noting the amount on your CBP customs declaration form upon your arrival in the United States. Failing to declare cash money over the permissible limit can lead to seizure of funds and serious penalties, so it’s important to follow the process properly.

However, India has restrictions for outbound travelers carrying cash. Precisely, you can carry a maximum cash of $3,000 per person from India to USA or any other country. If you need to carry more than that, you can use other forms like forex cards, traveler’s cheques, or bank drafts. The total foreign exchange you’re allowed to take out of India under the Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS) is $10,000.

If you’re carrying Indian currency, you’re allowed to take not more than ₹25,000 per person on international flights to USA from India. Anything beyond the above limits is not permitted without a formal declaration, or unless you have special approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).