FAQs · SEPBLAC procedures
Moving cash is legal. Moving it undeclared, above certain amounts, is extremely expensive.
The S-1 declaration must be filed by any natural person transporting means of payment — even on behalf of third parties — worth €10,000 or more when entering or leaving Spain, or €100,000 or more in movements within Spanish territory (art. 34 of Ley 10/2010). It is filed before the movement takes place and must accompany the money throughout the journey.
What counts as "means of payment". Not just banknotes: also bearer cheques and instruments, non-nominative prepaid cards and even gold and other highly liquid commodities. We detail it in what are means of payment?.
Where and how. The S-1 form is available at the Spanish Tax Agency's electronic office, which accepts electronic filing; when crossing the border, the declaration is filed and stamped before Customs. For movements in and out of the European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1672 also applies, harmonising these controls across the EU.
What happens if you do not declare. Officials can seize the cash on the spot (think of an airport control), and the penalty runs from €600 up to half of the amount transported. It is, by far, the most expensive way to save yourself a form.
A common clarification: the S-1 is neither a permit nor a tax — declaring costs nothing and does not mean paying tax on that money. It is traceability: evidencing who moves how much and where it comes from. If your business involves moving cash with customers (sales, trade, events), it pays to have the criteria written into your internal procedures.
Legal basis and official sources:
Reviewed: August 2026 · PBK Asesores — external experts in AML/CTF before SEPBLAC since 2010, more than 900 exams performed.
Need to put this in order? Tell us your case → Contact · +34 91 110 28 29
Related: