Do I Need a Customs Declaration for China? (2026)

Short answer: Only if you carry something over the limits. Most tourists have nothing to declare, so they skip the written form and walk through the green channel (“Nothing to Declare”). If you carry RMB 20,000 or more, foreign cash worth USD 5,000 or more, or any other item in the table below, fill in the baggage declaration and use the red channel.

The rules: green or red channel

Customs asks every arriving passenger to answer truthfully. Passengers who carry none of the listed items use the green channel. Anyone carrying one of them uses the red channel. Customs notice No. 43 of 2025 makes the same split: if you carry something that needs a written declaration, fill in the Baggage Declaration for Inbound and Outbound Passengers and take the red channel. If not, you don’t need the form.

Item	Declare (red channel) if you carry
Chinese currency	RMB 20,000 or more
Foreign cash	USD 5,000 or more (equivalent)
Cigarettes	400 or more (or 100 cigars, or 500 g tobacco)
Alcohol	1,500 ml or more of drinks at 12% alcohol or higher
Personal articles for a non-resident	Items staying in China worth RMB 2,000 or more
Plants, animals and their products, biological items	Any
Radio transmitters, receivers, communication security equipment	Any
Commercial goods, samples, advertisements, unaccompanied baggage	Any
Prohibited or restricted goods	Any

Foreign currency has no upper limit on entry, but anything over USD 5,000 in cash must be declared. If you plan to take that cash out again, a declaration endorsed by customs is what lets you leave with it. Fill out two forms. Customs endorses both and returns one copy for your departure.

RMB 20,000 is the most you may bring in or out, and any excess is prohibited. Declare at RMB 20,000 and ask the officer before carrying more.

What to do

1. Check your bag against the table before landing. Count cash in all currencies, including what is in your wallet.
2. Fill in the arrival card if you haven’t. It is a separate immigration form: see arriving in China.
3. Need to declare? Get the paper declaration form in the hall before the checkpoint, fill it in and use the red channel. Customs notes that statements made elsewhere or at other times are not treated as a valid declaration.
4. Nothing to declare? Walk through the green channel. Customs can still inspect your luggage.

Official information is on the General Administration of Customs site.

Mistakes that cause trouble

• Fresh fruit, meat or dairy in your bag. Animals, plants and their products, and food from areas with animal or plant disease are restricted or prohibited. Declare them or leave them at home.
• Undeclared cash. If the declared amount is missing or lower than what you carry, the difference is only released with a certificate from the Foreign Exchange Bureau or an authorised bank.
• Printed matter, drugs, weapons. Arms, ammunition, counterfeit currency, drugs and material that harms China’s political, economic, cultural or moral interests are banned.
• Choosing green “to save time” when unsure. If you are unsure, use the red channel and ask.

Follow the rules above and don’t gamble.

Before you fly, run through the trip checklist and check your entry route with the visa-free checker.

FAQ

Do tourists need to fill in a paper customs form?

Not if you carry nothing over the limits. Use the green channel. Only passengers with items to declare fill in the form and use the red channel.

How much cash can I bring into China?

Foreign currency has no limit on entry, but declare cash worth USD 5,000 or more. For RMB, declare RMB 20,000 or more.

Can I bring cigarettes and alcohol?

Yes, within the thresholds. Declare 400 or more cigarettes, or 1,500 ml or more of alcohol at 12% or higher. Below that, use the green channel.

Next steps for your trip

Official sources: english.shanghai.gov.cn · www.gov.cn · enghunan.gov.cn · english.customs.gov.cn. Rules change; check before you travel.