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Almost every country requires you to declare cash above a certain threshold — commonly around $10,000, but sometimes much lower, like $5,000 in Turkey or Vietnam, or India's strict cap on exporting rupees. Undeclared cash over the limit can be seized outright at customs, even if it's completely legitimate money — declaring late or claiming you forgot isn't a valid defense. The threshold usually covers cash, traveler's cheques, and similar instruments combined, and typically applies both entering and leaving.
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