Hi,
Just wondering what are the consequences, if any, of carrying 20,000 dollars in cash into Argentina? I assume the sensible approach is to officially declare it and not take any chances with a non declaration? What actually happens when you declare it? Are questions asked regarding the purpose of the money etc.? Is there any possibility that some of it could be seized as the total exceeds 10k?
Thanks.
The X-rays and some sniffer dogs at EZE do detect cash.
If you are selected to have your
bags (including carry-on, duty free shopping bags, purses etc) X-rayed and they see a wad of cash on the screen, they may ask you to show them how much cash you have.
If you declare it, then it simply means there is an official record of it having legally entered the country. As in most countries the data usually gets registered on some international watch lists also in case you are being suspected of money laundering somewhere. You usually need to state the source of the funds and if you seem suspicious it is possible you will be asked to substantiate that (e.g. bank withdrawal slip/ statement)
Most countries have similar requirements to declare on departure, so it may help if you also have a declaration from your country of departure as well to show you are genuinely being compliant etc and avoid unexpected issues prior to even getting to Argentina.
If you are caught not declaring, then undeclared amounts exceeding $10.000 are subject to confiscation (as if you were caught taking in too many bottles of alcohol or other items exceeding customs limits) and payment of fines, or potentially worse penalties, according to the customs code.
Further, if you don't declare it coming in and for whatever reason need to leave with it, you may also face the same issues. I understand that to leave, anything above $10.000 actually needs to be transferred by bank transfer and carrying $20.000 is simply not allowed.
In more practical / every day scenarios, if declaring at EZE for sure you do run a smallish but real risk of encountering an agent who wants to give you a hard time and make you think you have done something wrong, usually resolved with a little something in exchange / "on the spot fine".
Best to have the applicable law(s) printed out, along with your form, so if you want to challenge them you can ask them to show you exactly where it says you
cannot bring in $X amount etc, at which point they may just rudely tell you to get lost or decide to find something else to give you a hard time about. Unfortunately as I have heard many times from travellers, such customs agents usually target people who cross their paths who don't speak Spanish well or look easy to intimidate.