Travelling with €10,000 or more? The customs declaration can be submitted online before you reach the border

Are you planning to enter or leave the Republic of Moldova carrying €10,000 or more in cash, or the equivalent in another currency? The mandatory declaration can be completed and submitted online before you arrive at the customs post.

Starting from 1 July 2026, the Customs Service allows travellers to electronically submit both the traveller’s customs declaration and the declaration regarding monetary funds through the eCustoms Public Customs Portal. This means that some customs formalities can be completed in advance using a phone, tablet or computer.

When and for whom is the declaration of funds at customs mandatory?

If you carry monetary funds amounting to €10,000 or more, or the equivalent in another currency, when entering or leaving the Republic of Moldova, a written declaration is mandatory.

The threshold applies per person and per journey, regardless of whether the funds being carried belong to you personally or are being carried on behalf of another individual. The rule applies both when entering and when leaving the Republic of Moldova, to residents and foreign nationals alike.

If the amount is below €10,000, a written declaration is not mandatory, although the person is entitled to make one. At the same time, if a customs officer requests information about the funds being carried, their value must be disclosed.

How can you submit the declaration online?

The electronic declaration can be prepared before travelling through the eCustoms Public Customs Portal.

The process generally involves:

• registering as a user in the system and entering identification details;
• completing the electronic declaration with the required information about the funds being carried;
• submitting the declaration through the platform;
• obtaining the unique reference number generated by the system;
• presenting this number to the customs officer during the customs control.

The declaration can be completed before arriving at the customs post or even at the border, using a phone, tablet or computer.

What happens when you arrive at customs?

Submitting the declaration online simplifies the procedure, but it does not replace customs control.

When crossing the border, the person must provide the customs officer with the unique reference number received after submitting the electronic declaration. This allows the declaration to be identified and verified in the Customs Service’s system.

At the same time, if you are carrying funds that must be declared, you must use the appropriate customs channel. The green channel is intended for persons who do not have goods or funds subject to declaration, while the red channel must be used when carrying funds that are subject to the declaration requirement.

What are the risks if you don’t declare the amount?

The declaration requirement is not merely a formality. Monetary funds carried without complying with the applicable declaration requirements may be seized and may be subject to confiscation, and the person may also be sanctioned.

Therefore, if you are planning to travel with an amount close to or exceeding the legal threshold, it is important to check the applicable rules in advance and ensure that the declaration is completed correctly.

Conclusion

The obligation to declare amounts of €10,000 or more is not new. What is new is the possibility of completing this formality electronically, before arriving at customs. The digitalisation of the procedure reduces the time required to complete documents at the border and allows travellers to prepare the necessary information in advance. The Customs Service integrates the electronic declaration into the customs control process through the unique reference number generated by the Public Customs Portal.

The procedure is now simpler, but the declaration requirement and the rules governing customs control remain applicable.

If you have questions regarding the declaration of funds or other legal obligations applicable when crossing the border, the JURISTA team can help you understand the relevant requirements and the steps to be taken in your specific situation.