Does the gold jewellery I'm wearing count?

The Customs Authority's resolution defines precious metals as gold, silver, platinum and others "whether in artifacts, ingots, or any other condition", and its guidance mentions valuable jewellery. So jewellery counts towards the value. If in doubt, declare.

Can customs hold my money even though I declared it?

Yes, if an officer suspects a link to money laundering, terrorism financing or another crime. The money can be held for three working days while information is gathered, and the case goes to the Public Prosecution if the suspicion is serious (Article 25).

Do I need to declare when leaving Qatar too?

Yes. The duty applies on entry and exit, and to anyone arranging for money to move in or out by cargo, post or other means (Article 23).

A traveller with a suitcase and documents walking through an airport arrivals hall.

Criminal defence7 min read

Carrying cash into or out of Qatar: when must you declare it?

Faysel Al-Mohannadi, lawyer, at Al Faisal Law Firm in Doha

Faysel Al-MohannadiLawyer admitted before the Court of Cassation · Reviewed on 18 October 2026

Short answer

When entering or leaving Qatar, you must declare cash, bearer instruments such as cheques, and gold, precious metals or stones worth QAR 50,000 or more, or the equivalent, on the customs declaration form at the port. Not declaring, or declaring falsely, can mean up to three years in prison or a fine of at least QAR 100,000 (Article 80).

When must you declare cash at Qatar customs?

You must declare when you enter or leave Qatar carrying currency, bearer negotiable instruments, precious metals or precious stones worth QAR 50,000 or more (Anti-Money Laundering Law, Article 23; Executive Regulations, Article 41). The same applies if you arrange for them to travel with another person, by cargo, by post or by any other means.

Item	Examples	Source
Currency	Qatari riyals and any foreign currency, at its riyal equivalent	Article 23; General Authority of Customs
Bearer negotiable instruments	Traveller's cheques, and cheques, promissory notes and payment orders payable to bearer or signed with the payee left blank	Law, Article 1
Precious metals	Gold, silver, platinum and others, whether as worked items such as jewellery, as ingots or in any other form	Customs Resolution No. 2 of 2020
Precious stones	Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, natural pearls and others	Customs Resolution No. 2 of 2020

The threshold is "equal to or more than" QAR 50,000, so exactly QAR 50,000 must be declared. The duty applies to citizens, residents and visitors, in both directions.

Declaring cash is not a tax on it. Gold or jewellery above the personal allowance may, however, attract customs duty (Customs Resolution No. 2 of 2020, Article 3). If you aren't sure whether everything you carry adds up to the threshold, declaring is the safe choice.

How do you declare?

You declare by filling in the Customs Declaration Form at the customs declaration office at the airport, seaport or land border, on arrival or departure, according to the General Authority of Customs.

Before you travel, add up cash in every currency, cheques, gold, jewellery and stones.
Carry papers showing where the money or gold came from, such as a withdrawal slip or invoice.
Ask for the declaration form at the customs declaration office, or in the immigration hall on arrival or departure.
Write the true value and details, and answer the officer's questions about the money's source and purpose.
Keep the stamped copy of the form the customs officer gives you.

Companies shipping cash or precious metals in or out must declare and obtain the competent approvals; non-profit organisations need the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities' approval (Executive Regulations, Articles 42 and 43). Anyone receiving cash or gold from abroad by post or cargo must also declare it (Customs Resolution No. 2 of 2020, Article 2).

What is the penalty for not declaring or declaring falsely?

Intentionally not declaring, declaring falsely, or refusing to give customs further information about the source and purpose of the money is punishable by up to three years in prison, or a fine of QAR 100,000 to 500,000 or double the value carried, whichever is greater (Article 80).

Situation	What the law says	Article
No declaration, a false declaration, or refusing to give information	Up to 3 years in prison, or a fine of QAR 100,000 to 500,000 or double the value, whichever is greater	80, para. 1
What counts as false	Wrong information about the value or the details required, including not declaring at all	Executive Regulations, 1
No suspicion of laundering or another crime	The Customs Law's smuggling prosecution rules apply: proceedings need a written request from the head of the General Authority of Customs or his delegate	80, para. 2; Customs Law 147
Suspicion of money laundering, terrorism financing or another crime	The case goes to the Public Prosecution and can be investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering Law, where laundering carries up to 10 years	25, 78

Not declaring is a misdemeanour, as the maximum is three years (Penal Code, Article 23). Customs must inform the Financial Information Unit of non-declarations, false declarations and suspicious cases (Executive Regulations, Article 46), and keep the records for at least ten years (Article 47).

What happens if customs seizes your money?

If you don't declare or declare falsely, customs can seize the cash, instruments, metals or stones, write a seizure report, and ask where they came from and why you are carrying them (Article 24; Executive Regulations, Article 44).

Customs seizes the items and records the facts in a seizure report.
Officers may hold those involved and hand them at once to the Ministry of Interior's competent security department.
The report and the seized items are referred to the Public Prosecution.
If officers suspect a link to money laundering, terrorism financing or another crime, the items are held for three working days and the case goes to the Public Prosecution if the suspicion is serious (Article 25).

Seizure is not confiscation, which needs a court judgment. On a conviction for money laundering or the original crime, the court must confiscate the money (Article 89). In other cases, a court that convicts for a felony or misdemeanour may confiscate seized items obtained from or used in the crime (Penal Code, Article 76).

Can you get seized money back?

Yes, it is possible, depending on the facts. Seized items can be returned even before judgment, unless they are needed for the case or liable to confiscation (Criminal Procedure Code, Article 138).

Step	What the law says	Article
Ask the prosecutor	Anyone claiming a right to seized items may ask the Public Prosecution to hand them over and, if refused, complain to the Attorney General	81
Who orders return	The Public Prosecution; once the case is in court, only the court	140
Returned to whom	The person who held the items when they were seized, unless they came from a crime	139
Dispute over who is entitled	The matter goes to the competent criminal court	142
File closed or no-grounds order	The order must decide what happens to seized items	143
Unclaimed items	May be sold if not claimed within three years after the case ends	145

Documents showing the money's lawful source help, such as bank records, sale contracts or gold invoices. Where the Attorney General has ordered a freeze or seizure under the Anti-Money Laundering Law, the competent court can modify or lift it at the request of anyone claiming rights in the money (Article 57).

When should you speak to a lawyer?

Speak to a lawyer as soon as possible if customs has seized your money, you have been referred to the Public Prosecution, or you were asked to explain the money's source. Other signs:

You plan to travel with a large sum for business, property or family reasons and want your paperwork ready.
You declared, but customs still held the money.
Your money was seized and you want to ask for it back.
You want to know whether the Customs Law's prosecution and settlement rules apply to your case.
You are a resident worried about your residency or job.

What the law says

This guide relies on the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Law (Law No. 20 of 2019), Articles 1, 23 to 25, 57, 78, 80 (as amended in 2021) and 89, and its Executive Regulations (Cabinet Decision No. 41 of 2019), Articles 1, 41 to 44, 46 and 47. It also relies on Article 147 of the Customs Law (Law No. 40 of 2002), Articles 23 and 76 of the Penal Code, Articles 81 and 138 to 145 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and General Authority of Customs Resolution No. 2 of 2020. Texts checked on 18 October 2026.

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Questions people ask

The Anti-Money Laundering Law sets a duty to declare at QAR 50,000, not a maximum amount. Customs can, however, ask for more information about where the money came from and why you are carrying it (Articles 23 and 24).