Financial Services Resources Reporting International Movements of Cash and Non-cash Currency

If you are travelling into or out of Australia, or mailing/shipping currency, you may have reporting obligations under Australia's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006.

Physical Currency

There is no limit to the amount of physical currency that may be brought into or taken out of Australia. However, travellers entering and departing Australia must report any currency they are carrying of $10,000 or more in Australian dollars, or the foreign currency equivalent. Mailing or shipping currency of $10,000 or more in Australian dollars, or the foreign currency equivalent, must also be reported.

AUSTRAC allows you to submit an online declaration form before you pass through customs.

Bearer-negotiable Instruments

Travellers must disclose whether they are carrying bearer negotiable instruments (BNIs). A BNI is a non-cash monetary instrument which may contain the instruction ‘pay to the bearer’. Common examples of BNIs are cheques, promissory notes, traveller's cheques, bearer bonds, money orders and postal orders. There is no monetary threshold for a BNI and even if it has no face value (for example, a blank cheque) it needs to be declared if requested by a Customs or police officer.

A Customs or police officer may request a person to complete a Cross-Border Movement – BNI reporting form when entering or departing Australia. This usually occurs at the Customs examination area.

Further information about the requirement to report physical currency and BNIs is available on the AUSTRAC website.