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The short answer
Yes, if you or your travelling group carry £10,000 or more in cash, in any currency, when leaving Great Britain for Nigeria. You must declare it before you go, online or by phone on 0300 322 9434, no earlier than 72 hours before travel. Undeclared cash can be seized, and you may have to pay a penalty of up to £5,000 to get it back.
The rule in brief
GOV.UK's page on taking cash in and out of the UK says you must declare cash of £10,000 or more to UK customs when travelling between Great Britain and a country outside the UK. Nigeria is outside the UK, so the rule applies to every flight from a British airport to Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt, direct or via a connection. At the border, Border Force officers deal with declarations and seizures; appeals go in writing to the Fraud Investigation Service.
What counts as cash
- Banknotes and coins, in any currency, including naira, dollars and euros as well as pounds.
- Bearer bonds.
- Travellers' cheques.
- Signed cheques that are not made out to a named person or organisation.
Gold coins, bullion and prepaid cards are listed as declarable only on routes into or out of Northern Ireland, where the threshold is €10,000. A debit card linked to your bank account is not cash.
Groups and families
A family or group must declare if it carries £10,000 or more between them, even if no individual reaches that amount. Two spouses carrying £6,000 each must declare.
How to declare
- Declare online through the GOV.UK page or by phone on 0300 322 9434 (24 hours).
- Do it before you leave; the earliest is 72 hours before you plan to travel.
- Give details of the people travelling, your journey, the amount and type of cash, its source and its intended use.
- Keep the reference number you are given; customs may ask for it at the airport.
If you are arriving in the UK, you can declare before travel or at customs through the red channel. When leaving, the declaration must be made before you go.
If you do not declare
| Situation | What GOV.UK says can happen |
|---|---|
| Failed to declare £10,000 or more | All the cash you are carrying can be seized by a Border Force officer |
| Getting it back | You may have to pay a penalty of up to £5,000, taken from the cash before the rest is returned |
| Suspicion of crime | Cash can be seized and held for 48 hours; after that a court order is needed |
| Appeal | Write to the Fraud Investigation Service within 30 days of the penalty notice |
If your cash is seized, ask the officer for the paperwork, note the reference and the officer's details, and keep copies of everything you hand over. The 30-day appeal window runs from the date of the penalty notice, so act promptly.
Customs can also seize cash below £10,000 if there are reasonable grounds to suspect a crime. Declaring does not make lawful money unlawful, and it does not trigger a tax charge; it simply records what you are carrying.
Adding up mixed currencies (example)
The threshold applies to the total value of all cash, whatever the currency. Example only, with assumed rates of €1.18 and US$1.30 to £1: you carry £6,000 in notes, €2,000 and US$3,000. The euros are worth £1,694.92 (2,000 ÷ 1.18) and the dollars £2,307.69 (3,000 ÷ 1.30). The total is £10,002.61, so you must declare, even though no single currency is near £10,000. Use the rates on the day you travel; if you are close to the line, declaring is the safer choice.
Naira counts too
Naira notes are cash under the rule, valued in pounds like any other currency. Few travellers carry enough naira to matter, but a large bundle of notes being taken back for family should be added to the total.
Before you fly: evidence of source
Because the declaration asks where the money came from, have the proof ready: the bank withdrawal record, payslips or a sale receipt. If the cash came from a UK bank account, the withdrawal and the statement are usually enough. For money that originally came from Nigeria, see proving source of funds.
Nigeria's rule on arrival
The UK declaration does not cover Nigeria. On arrival, Nigeria requires cash above US$10,000 or its equivalent to be declared to the Nigeria Customs Service, as officers at Lagos airport told stakeholders in July 2025. Because that threshold is in dollars, it is reached at a lower pound amount than the UK's. Our companion guide covers both thresholds together.
Where Pryme fits
If the cash is for family, bills or a project in Nigeria, a transfer often avoids carrying it at all. A Pryme account holds GBP and NGN; you Swap when you choose, with the rate and fee shown before you approve, and send naira within Nigeria. Outside Nigeria, Pryme works through regulated partners. See how it works.
Questions people ask
How much cash can I take out of the UK without declaring?
Up to £9,999.99 per traveller or group. At £10,000 or more you must declare before leaving.
Do I need to declare naira or dollars leaving the UK?
Yes, if their value is £10,000 or more. The rule covers cash in any currency.
How do I declare cash at Heathrow or Gatwick before going to Nigeria?
Declare online or by phone on 0300 322 9434 before you travel, no earlier than 72 hours ahead, and keep the reference.
What is the penalty for not declaring cash in the UK?
The cash can be seized, and you may need to pay a penalty of up to £5,000 to get it back.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Take cash in and out of the UK (Great Britain) · accessed Oct 2026
- Peoples Gazette: Customs sensitises airport stakeholders to currency declaration (9 Jul 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.