How much money is allowed to be taken out of Russia in 2025

Visa and Mastercard cards from Russian banks still don't work abroad, MIR is not accepted everywhere, and not everyone always has the opportunity to get a bank card in another country. Then cash comes to the rescue for travel, long business trips, and purchasing real estate abroad. Remember those colorful banknotes with pictures? We're talking about them. Since 2022, Russia has had restrictions on taking currency out of the country. Let's figure out how much money can be taken out of the country in 2025 and what penalties threaten for violating the limits.

How much money can be taken abroad in rubles

It’s OK if you decide to take out a large sum in rubles. You will only need to fill out a declaration if the amount exceeds $10,000 at the Central Bank of Russia exchange rate. This procedure is free; no fee, duty, contribution, or tax will be required for it. However, you will have to answer questions from customs officers if any arise.

How much money can be taken abroad in US dollars

$10,000 per person. Of any age. To any country, even those in the EAEU. This limit includes not only cash but also other monetary instruments. These are traveler's checks, bills of exchange, bearer securities denominated in foreign currency.

Important: monetary instruments are subject to declaration regardless of the amount (except for traveler's checks). In the declaration, we indicate their nominal value or the corresponding amount in currency, the right to receive which is certified by the monetary instrument. If the value or amount cannot be determined, we write the number of monetary instruments being exported in the passenger customs declaration.

It is allowed to take out currency and rubles simultaneously. To do this, make sure that when converted to dollars, you get no more than 10,000 at the current Central Bank exchange rate. Then add the amount in rubles and convert it to dollars again. Exceeded? Everything will need to be declared.

When crossing the border with an amount in rubles whose dollar equivalent exceeds 100,000, you will need to provide not only a completed declaration but also documents confirming the origin of the money. Bank statements, loan agreements, income certificates, sales contracts, or inheritance documents will be useful here.

Even with a declaration, it is not allowed to take out foreign currency from Russia exceeding $10,000 at the Central Bank of Russia exchange rate.

How much can be carried across the border in different currencies

Still the same $10,000 per person. The currency can be any – euros, yuan, pounds sterling, yen. The amount will still have to be recalculated based on the dollar exchange rate on the day of departure and fit within the same limit. However, any amount can be held on bank cards and accounts; there are no restrictions here.

How to calculate limits for a couple or family

The limit applies to each person, even a child, regardless of their age. Thus, a couple is allowed to legally carry $20,000, and a family of five – $50,000.

How to declare cash

So, you have taken with you an amount in rubles exceeding $10,000 in dollar equivalent. It must be declared. This can be done independently from the age of 16. Before this age, the document is submitted by parents, guardians, or representatives. Children under 16 traveling alone cannot carry such amounts.

How to fill out the declaration:

1. Download the form from the Federal Customs Service website or the airport website. A mandatory condition is that the document must be printed in two copies on one sheet, double-sided. Download and print the declaration annex in the same way, then fill it out.
2. In the FTS personal account: show it when passing through customs.
3. Take the form at the airport before the customs control zone. Filling it out will require additional time, don't forget to allow 20-30 minutes.

We remind you that in this case, when passing through customs, you must go through the red corridor. And be prepared to answer where your funds came from and for what purpose you are taking them abroad.

What penalties threaten for exceeding the limit

If you attempt to take more than $10,000 in cash out of Russia, you may be fined an amount from 50% to 200% of the amount exceeding the limit and/or have this money confiscated. Carrying over $20,000 without declaration can be classified as large-scale cash smuggling and lead to a criminal case. In this case, the fine is from 300% to 1,000% of the excess amount. For amounts over $50,000, the fine is even higher – from 1,000% to 1,500% of the excess.

For an attempt to carry an undeclared amount in rubles, also exceeding $10,000 in dollar equivalent, the fine is 50% of the excess.