Why You Can't Take More Than €60 in Cash From Lithuania or Latvia to Belarus (2026)

Where the '€60 limit' comes from

In March 2022 the Council of the EU banned the sale, supply, transfer or export of banknotes denominated in any EU member state's currency (including the euro) to Belarus, its government, its central bank, or for use in Belarus. This is part of the broader EU sanctions package, originally targeting the euro and later widened to cover all EU member-state currencies.

The ban carries one exception: it does not apply to banknotes needed for the personal use of natural persons travelling to Belarus, or their accompanying family members. In practice, Lithuanian and Latvian customs and border services have set the working threshold for that 'personal use' exception at €60 in cash per person. Amounts above that are treated as exceeding personal needs and fall under the export ban.

How the rule is enforced at the Lithuanian and Latvian border

The key detail: the restriction only applies in one direction — exporting cash euros (and other EU currencies) FROM Lithuania and Latvia TO Belarus. Bringing euros back into the EU from Belarus is not restricted. Checks are done on a spot basis — a customs or border officer may ask you to show the cash in your wallet when exiting the EU towards Belarus, especially at bus and car checkpoints.

What happens if you're found with more than €60

• ▸The cash is usually not confiscated on the spot — you're simply not allowed to proceed with the excess and asked to return into the EU to exchange it into another currency (USD, PLN, etc.) or leave it behind.
• ▸For larger amounts, the cash can be seized pending a court decision, with the return of funds decided judicially.
• ▸Violations carry administrative liability under the exiting country's law.
• ▸Enforcement strictness varies by checkpoint and shift — some checkpoints check almost every traveller, others only spot-check.

How to avoid a problem

• ▸Before travelling, count all the cash euros in your wallet and every pocket of your bag — the limit is a per-person total, not just what's visible.
• ▸If you need to carry more, convert the excess into another currency (US dollars, Polish złoty) — these are not covered by the EU banknote export ban.
• ▸For amounts above €10,000 equivalent (in any currency), file a declaration and keep proof of the funds' origin.
• ▸Ask your driver or tour operator about current enforcement practice at the specific checkpoint — it changes periodically.

How much can you bring into Belarus duty-free

This is a separate question governed by Belarusian customs law rather than EU sanctions. The allowance for entering Belarus by land transport is up to €500 in value and up to 25 kg of goods per person (as of 2026). Exceeding the limit requires declaring the goods and paying duty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the restriction only apply to euros?

Originally it applied only to the euro, but the ban was later extended to banknotes of any official EU member-state currency (Polish złoty, Czech koruna, Swedish krona, etc.). US dollars and non-EU currencies are not covered.

Does the limit apply when entering the EU from Belarus with euros?

No. The restriction only applies to exporting banknotes FROM EU countries TO Belarus. Bringing cash euros (or other currencies) from Belarus into Lithuania, Latvia or other EU countries is not restricted by this rule — only the standard declaration requirement above €10,000 applies.

Is the €60 limit per car or per person?

The limit applies per person. If several passengers travel in the same car, each may individually carry up to €60 in cash — but amounts cannot formally be pooled and carried as one passenger's money.