The Kremlin Has Reduced The Amount Of Cash Allowed To Be Taken Out Of Russia By A Factor Of Eight
- 29.09.2026, 14:22
A similar limit was introduced in 2022.
Vladimir Putin has tightened restrictions on taking rubles in cash out of Russia. Under the president’s new decree, citizens are prohibited from taking more than 1 million rubles to countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)—Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan—as well as to Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. For legal entities and sole proprietors, the ban applies regardless of the amount, according to The Moscow Times.
If the ban is violated, an individual will have any amount exceeding 1 million rubles confiscated, while a legal entity or sole proprietor will have all cash being taken out of the country confiscated. An exception is provided if a citizen takes money out of the country through international airports designated by the government and can confirm, with bank statements, that the entire amount was withdrawn from their accounts. Separate exceptions have also been made for legal entities engaged in international transportation and those supporting the operations of Russian diplomatic and consular missions. The decree takes effect on the date of its signing—September 29. Prior to this, Putin had restricted the export of ruble cash from Russia earlier this spring. Starting April 1, Russians were allowed to take no more than $100,000 in ruble equivalent—or about 8.4 million rubles at the current exchange rate—with them to EAEU countries. Thus, the limit was reduced by more than eight times. At the same time, after the start of the war in Ukraine, Russians were prohibited from taking foreign currency worth more than $10,000 out of the country.
Last December, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak presented a plan for structural changes in the economy through 2030. One of its provisions called for a ban on the unregulated export from Russia of ruble cash of unknown origin—including to EAEU member states—as well as the export of gold bullion. These measures are part of a plan to “clean up” the economy, which Putin had called for. The government expects that these efforts will help reduce the share of the “shadow economy” by 1.5% of GDP over the next three years and generate 1 trillion rubles in additional tax revenue for the budget.
Meanwhile, EAEU member states have begun tightening the rules for depositing cash rubles since June of this year. In Belarus, at least eight banks have imposed fees of 2–5%, Kazakhstan’s BZK charges 5%, and Kyrgyzstan’s Ekoislamikbank charges 5% for certain transactions. At the same time, some banks in Armenia have completely stopped accepting cash rubles.