How Much Gold Can You Carry with You When Flying Internationally?
If you’re about to fly across international borders and go through customs when you land, how much gold can you carry with you?
The Simple Answer Is . . .
Go online and research the rules and import regulations that apply to the country where you’ll be arriving – because they differ.
We’ve made it easier for you to do research . . . here are sources of information for you for some countries where you are likely to travel:
Just be sure to investigate the information you find carefully because it is complicated. And bear in mind that your country of citizenship will probably affect how much gold you can carry with you. If you are a citizen of India who is flying there, for example, rules apply to you that are different from those imposed on citizens of other countries, so be sure to do your research ahead of time.
What About Bringing Gold into the U.S. If You Are an American Citizen?
If you’ll be arriving in the U.S. from another country, you’ll want to spend time online researching U.S. regulations about what you can – and cannot – bring with you into the U.S. without paying duties.
You can’t bring in suitcases of gold without paying duty – at the very least, you are going to have to answer a lot of questions. However, the fact remains that there is no duty to be paid when bringing investment-grade gold bullion or coins into the U.S.
That’s surprising, but true. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection website says:
“There is no duty on gold coins, medals or bullion but these items must be declared to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer.”
However, different laws may apply when bringing foreign currency into the U.S. If you bring in “spendable” foreign currency (“legal tender”) that is made of gold or backed by gold, different laws could apply.
To quote again from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website:
“Please note a FINCEN 105 form must be completed at the time of entry for monetary instruments over $10,000. This includes currency, i.e. gold coins, valued over $10,000. The FINCEN definition of currency: The coin and paper money of the United States or any other country that is (1) designated as legal tender and that (2) circulates and (3) is customarily accepted as a medium of exchange in the country of issuance.”
No matter what you do – or intend to do – your best protection is to declare everything you intend to bring into the U.S.
Of course, you would do that, right? What would the point be of getting your gold confiscated by a customs agent at an airport or other point of entry? Here’s another quote from U.S. Customs and Border Protection:
“If you have doubt whether your gold/gold coin is considered a monetary instrument it is in your best interest to declare the item(s) with a CBP Officer, so you do not give a false declaration.”
To state the obvious, those rules don’t mean that you can bring in any form of gold you like without paying duty! If you show up at a U.S. airport with a briefcase full of gold bars, don’t expect to waltz through customs with no questions asked. And if you want to avoid long delays at U.S. customs, ask questions of your own before you fly and be sure to declare everything you should.
Wearing It Is Not a Defense Against Paying Duties
A gray area does exist in the rules for wearing gold (and other) jewelry across national boundaries. If you wear a gold wedding ring or a platinum engagement ring through customs, it is doubtful that the customs agent will expect you to declare it. But what if you bought that ring while you were abroad and are now wearing it into the U.S. on your return?
And what if you are wearing not a gold wedding band, but a large gold chain or necklace? You can’t really expect U.S. Customs agents to pretend they just don’t see it. And what if you are not wearing that chain, but have it stuck in a pocket or in your shoe or in the bottom of a carry-on bag?
The best policy in all cases is to declare any and all items you are bringing into the U.S. U.S. customs agents are not there to make life difficult for you, they are almost all cooperative, especially if you declare what you are carrying on a customs form and don’t make them hunt for items.
And Why Not Ship Items into the U.S.?
If you are intending to give gold and gold scrap to Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners to be tested and evaluated – and if those materials are not located in the U.S. now – call Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners before you ship, at 800-426-2344. We can advise you on the correct way to bring foreign gold and gold scrap into the U.S. Why not give us a call today?
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