Currency transportation regulation across the customs border

Customs authorities, in accordance with Article 22 of the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated December 26, 2017, No. 123-VI Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On сustoms regulation in the Republic of Kazakhstan» provide consultation on the application of customs legislation. One of the most frequent and relevant questions from individuals pertains to the transportation of cash. Therefore, let's examine the issue of moving cash across the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union.

According to Article 343 of the Customs code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, cash and (or) travelers' checks are subject to customs declaration if the total amount of such cash and (or) travelers' checks being brought into the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union at one time exceeds the equivalent of ten thousand U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the day the customs declaration is submitted to the customs authority.

Thus, the above-mentioned legislative norm indicates that individuals can bring in national and (or) foreign currency in cash without customs declaration if the total amount equals or does not exceed the equivalent of ten thousand U.S. dollars.

As for the export of national and (or) foreign currency in cash, it is important to note that, in order to protect the national interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan and ensure financial stability in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the President of the country signed Decree No. 830 on March 14, 2022, which prohibits the export of foreign currency in cash and (or) monetary instruments in foreign currency in an amount exceeding the equivalent of 10,000 (ten thousand) U.S. dollars, calculated at the exchange rate of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the date of export.

Thus, when traveling from EAEU countries (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia) to Kazakhstan, there are no restrictions on the import of foreign currency without declaration.

When traveling from other countries to Kazakhstan, the import of national and (or) foreign currency in cash without customs declaration is permitted if the total amount equals or does not exceed the equivalent of ten thousand U.S. dollars, and customs declaration is required for amounts exceeding the equivalent of ten thousand U.S. dollars.

When leaving Kazakhstan, the export of national and (or) foreign currency in cash is only allowed if the total amount equals or does not exceed the equivalent of ten thousand U.S. dollars.

Additionally, it is worth noting that one of the advantages of international payment cards is the absence of the need to declare any amount of funds available on the card.