How Much Gold Can You Travel With In 2025?

One reason people like owning physical gold bars or coins is that they’re portable and universally accepted. So, the question is, how much gold can you travel with? Is there a limit on the amount you can bring if you fly or travel internationally?

This article explains the travel rules for the United States and ten other countries to give you a starting point for what to keep in mind if you want to travel with gold.

Travel with gold definitions

It’s important to note that the specific rules that we’re providing below are around investment gold, which we also call bullion. It’s not the same thing as jewelry or collectible coins. Investment gold means London Bullion Market Association (LBMA)-approved gold that is at least 99.5% pure.

Also, all of our information is specific to gold bullion coins or bars for personal use, not commercial purposes.

Customs rules on gold: 11 country examples

Different countries have their own regulations about traveling with gold, which is why we can’t list ALL of them here. Instead, we pulled the current regulations for eleven popular travel destinations as a starting point.

If you want to bring gold internationally, always research each country’s declaration rules and possible tax implications. These laws are constantly changing, and you don’t want to get caught off guard because you weren’t aware of a declaration requirement.

Here is an at-a-glance of the rules for these eleven countries:

Country	Declaration threshold	Declaration form
United States	Declare all. Extra form at $10,000 USD	CBP 6059B or FinCen 105
Mexico	Declare above $300-$500 USD, formal process over $3,000 USD	SAT customs form
Canada	10,000 CAD	Form E677
United Kingdom	10,000 GBP	CPC 40 00 073
France	10,000 EUR	EU cash declaration or DALIA
Italy	10,000 EUR	EU or national ADM form
Spain	10,000 EUR	EU cash declaration
Germany	10,000 EUR	EU cash declaration
Japan	Over 1 kg of 90% purity+	Payment instruments declaration
India	Up to 1 kg for eligible Indian passport holders	Declare on arrival
Dominican Republic	$10,000 USD	E Ticket submission

1. United States

If you’re traveling within the U.S., there aren’t state laws about how much gold you can travel with. You can easily go between states without any issue. If you’re traveling with gold into the U.S., either as a U.S. passport holder or as a foreigner, the rules include:

• Declaration amount: Declare all gold coins or bars to Customs Border Protection.
• Requirement: For gold bars or coins under $10,000, use the CBP Form 6059B. $10,000 and over, you’ll also need to complete FinCen 105.
• Customs duty: As of this writing, if you bring gold for personal use, it’s duty-free.
• Legal implications: If you don’t declare, you’ll face legal action, including penalties and forfeiture of your gold.

2. Mexico

For international travel into Mexico with gold jewelry, coins, or bars, the rules include:

• Declaration amount: You can bring up to $500 of goods into Mexico by air or sea, or $300 by land, without declaring anything. If the value is higher but still under $3,000, you need to declare it. If the value exceeds $3,000, you must use a formal import process, which involves additional paperwork and likely higher duties.

• Requirement: Fill out the “Customs Declaration for Passengers Coming from Abroad” form online via Mexico’s SAT portal up to 30 days ahead of time or upon entry, and present it to customs officials before fiscal traffic lights.​
• Customs duty: You’ll pay customs duty on the value of your gold coins or bars, and the amount of gold above $3,000 requires formal commercial procedures.
• Legal implications: Failing to declare items above the threshold or attempting to enter with undeclared gold can result in fines, seizure of goods, and possible prosecution under Mexican Customs Law.

3. Canada

Canada classifies gold bullion as a financial instrument and applies these rules to importing it:

• Declaration amount: Gold bullion that has a value of $10,000 CAD or over.
• Requirement: Complete the Cross-Border Currency or Monetary Instruments Report (Form E677).
• Customs duty: Bullion that has a 99.5% purity or more is exempt from import duties. Gold jewellery and lower-purity bullion may not qualify and can be subject to taxes.
• Legal implications: If you fail to declare your gold, you may face property seizure and penalties under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA).

4. United Kingdom

The UK recognizes gold as an investment product if it’s at least 99.5% pure and comes in standard bullion weights. Certain gold coins minted after 1800 also qualify if they are at least 90% pure and sell close to their market gold value rather than as collectibles.

• Declaration amount: If your gold exceeds £10,000, you must declare it.
• Requirement: Complete the Customs Procedure Code form CPC 40 00 073.
• Customs duty: Investment gold imports from outside the UK are exempt from VAT.
• Legal implications: Non-compliance with VAT and customs declarations can result in penalties.

5. France

If you want to bring gold into France, you’ll follow the procedures for European Union countries. The EU considers gold bars, nuggets, or clumps with 99.5% gold content or more and gold coins with a gold content of at least 90% to be investment products. The rules include:

• Declaration amount: If your investment gold items have a value of €10,000 or more, you’ll need to declare them.
• Requirement: Declare your gold upon arrival or departure at the customs checkpoint using the EU Cash Declaration form. You can also use France’s DALIA online declaration system to declare your gold 30 days in advance of travel.
• Customs duty: The EU does not impose import duties on gold for personal use.
• Legal implications:  If you do submit a declaration or if there are indications of a link with criminal activity, authorities may hold your cash, and you may face penalties.

6. Italy

Italy’s rules for importing bullion for personal use include:

• Declaration amount: Italy follows the EU customs regulations, so you’ll need to declare the amount of gold over €10,000.
• Requirement: You can use the EU cash declaration form or Italy’s national declaration form for the transfer of cash from the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM).

• Customs duty: Italy exempts investment gold for personal use from VAT and import taxes.
• Legal implications: Failure to report your gold can result in administrative sanctions, seizure of the gold, or criminal penalties under Italian law.

7. Spain

Just like other countries in the European Union, Spain considers gold bullion as an investment product. Spain’s rules include:

• Declaration amount: You’ll need to declare gold worth €10,000 or more.
• Requirement: Declare your gold bullion using the EU cash declaration form.
• Customs duty: Spain follows EU rules and does not impose import duties on investment gold.
• Legal implications: Failure to declare gold bullion or undervaluing it may result in heavy fines, starting at €600, which can escalate to 50% of the undeclared gold’s value.

8. Germany

Germany follows the EU rules around carrying gold in and out of the country. This includes the same rules for investment gold classification versus collectibles or gold jewelry.

• Declaration amount: Declare your gold that’s valued at €10,000 or more.
• Requirement: Submit your declaration on the EU cash declaration form at customs offices or at border crossings.
• Customs duty: Germany does not impose taxes on investment gold, but gold jewellery might have a 19% VAT.
• Legal implications: If you don’t accurately declare how much gold you’re traveling in and out of the country with, you may face fines that can reach as high as 1 million euros, depending on the intent and circumstances.

9. Japan

The rules for how much gold you can travel with to Japan include:

• Declaration amount: Avoid unnecessary delays by declaring any precious metal that has a purity of 90% or higher and exceeds 1 kilogram in weight.
• Requirement: State the declared value on Japan’s Declaration of Carriage of Payment Instruments form available at customs offices or online at NACCS.
• Customs duty: Japan may impose taxes due to strict controls aimed at preventing smuggling and tax evasion related to gold.
• Legal implications: Customs authorities may confiscate, impose fines, or prosecute you under customs and tax laws if you fail to declare gold imports.

10. India

India has different rules around importing gold items than some of the other countries on our list. The first is that only people who have Indian passports returning after a continuous stay abroad for at least 6 months can bring gold as baggage.

The second is that if you’re a foreign national, you can’t take gold coins or bars to India in your baggage on an international flight.

India’s rules include:

• Declaration amount: If you have an Indian passport, you can bring up to 1 kilogram of gold (including jewelry or investment gold) per person.
• Requirement: You’ll need to declare gold to the customs department upon arrival or within 15 days.
• Customs duty: There are taxes on gold that vary based on passenger eligibility, such as citizenship, duration of stay abroad, and form of gold brought into India.
• Legal implications: If you don’t declare your gold, customs officers may confiscate it, and you may face customs fees and legal penalties.

11. Dominican Republic

Many people travel to the Dominican Republic for vacations at all-inclusive resorts. Here are their customs rules on how much gold you can bring:

• Declaration amount: Declare any amount of gold that is $10,000 or more.
• Requirement: You can complete an online E-ticket up to 7 days prior to your arrival. Or, fill out the E-Ticket at one of the kiosks near customs and border protection.
• Customs duty: You may need to pay duty and taxes on your gold. Check the tax website for details.
• Legal implications: The DGA enforces customs laws around precious metals, and failure to declare can result in loss and fines.

Tips for transporting gold internationally

Besides researching the latest rules, the next important thing is to keep your gold safe while you travel.

• Carry on: Always keep your gold coins or bars in your hand luggage for carry-on. It’s precious cargo, and it’s not safe to check your gold in regular bags.
• Proof: In case customs agents ask to inspect your bag, request a private room so that other passengers won’t see your gold. Also, carry proof of ownership.
• Value: When transporting gold bullion, know the current value since each destination country might assign a different declaration amount.

Final thoughts on carrying gold to other countries

For many countries, it’s perfectly legal to bring gold coins or bars when you travel. Check the rules ahead of time and avoid unnecessary delays by filling out the required declaration forms ahead of time.

If you’re considering how gold fits into your broader financial picture, Swiss America has helped thousands of investors buy precious metals for over forty years. We focus on helping you understand your options so you can make the best decisions for your needs. If you’d like to learn more or discuss your options, connect with us today!

How much gold can you travel with: FAQs

Can gold pass through TSA?

Yes, gold coins and bars can pass through TSA. However, the agents may conduct additional screening on your hand luggage because bars and coins are dense and might be flagged by the X-Ray machine. Some tips to make this easier and secure:

• Private screening: Since you’re carrying high-value metals, ask for a private screening area where other travelers can’t see the contents of your bag.
• Documentation: It’s a good idea to bring documentation showing proof of ownership, like invoices, receipts, or appraisal documents.

How much gold can you legally fly with?

There’s no limit to how much gold you can legally fly with on US domestic flights. There’s also no limit to the amount of gold you can bring into the US. If you plan to travel with gold to non-US countries, you should check the regulations to understand:

• Passport holder requirements: Some countries, like India, don’t allow you to travel with gold into the country unless you have an Indian passport.
• Declaration amounts: Each country has different amounts of the value of gold you need to declare.
• Import taxes: In some countries, you may need to pay duty tax on any gold you bring into the country.

How to declare gold at a US airport?

Here’s how you declare gold coins or bars at a US airport:

• CBP Form 6059B: Mark “yes” in the general declaration.
• FinCEN Form 105: If the value of your gold is $10,000 or above, complete this form in addition to Form 6059B.

The information in this post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered tax or legal advice. Please consult with your own tax professionals before making any decisions or taking action based on this information.