Cash seizure at French customs

At a French border or airport, undeclared cash can be temporarily retained, then consigned and ultimately seized by customs. The procedure follows strict deadlines, so acting quickly is essential to prepare a restitution and limit penalties. This is a short English summary — the full guide is available in French.

• €10,000 threshold — any cross-border transport of cash equal to or above €10,000 (or equivalent) must be declared and made available to customs (CMF art. L.152-1; règlement (UE) 2018/1672).
• Temporary retention — customs may retain the cash for up to 30 days, renewable up to a maximum of 90 days (CMF art. L.152-4).
• Consignation — beyond 90 days, the cash may be consigned, with the public prosecutor’s authorisation, for up to 12 months from the first day of retention.
• Below €10,000 — cash may still be retained where there are indications of a link to criminal activity, whatever the amount (CMF art. L.152-4-1).
• Remedies & urgency — deadlines are short; the strategy is built from the moment the measure is notified. Contacting a lawyer within 24 hours preserves the chances of restitution.

Switzerland · same languageCash controls at the Swiss border →

Règlement (UE) 2018/1672 · Code monétaire et financier, art. L.152-1, L.152-4, L.152-4-1 · Code des douanes, art. L.427-39.