The penalties for failing to report have changed
Penalties for seized currency or monetary instruments equivalent to CAD$10,000 or more are now in effect and range from 5% to 50% of the total value.
It should be noted that CBSA will not return funds if it is suspected they are proceeds of crime or funds for financing terrorist activities.
There are no restrictions on the amount of money you can bring into or take out of Canada, and it is not illegal to do so, as long as you declare it.
This applies to all travellers, couriers and to people carrying money on behalf of someone else.
On this page
- What to declare
- How to declare your money when you enter or leave Canada
- Sending money to or from Canada by mail
- Sending money to or from Canada by courier
- If you fail to report (penalties)
- What happens to your report
- Contact us
- Related link
What to declare
Whether you are leaving or entering Canada, you must declare any currency (cash) or monetary instruments valued at CAD$10,000 or more that you are carrying. This amount includes Canadian or foreign currency or a combination of both.
Monetary instruments include, but are not limited to:
- stocks
- bonds
- bank drafts
- cheques and traveller's cheques
You must also declare funds you send to or from Canada by mail or by courier.
How to declare your money when you enter or leave Canada
If you are carrying CAD$10,000 or more of your own money when entering or leaving Canada, complete this form for individuals and be ready to present it when you travel.
If you are carrying money on behalf of someone else, complete this general form and be ready to present it when you travel.
Arriving in Canada
If you are carrying CAD$10,000 or more you must report it at:
- an airport kiosk
- on your CBSA Declaration Card (if one was provided to you)
- through your Advance Declaration, or
- as part of your verbal declaration to a border services officer
Leaving Canada
When leaving by air carrying CAD$10,000 or more, you must report to the CBSA office at the airport, before clearing security. Before leaving by land, boat or rail, report to the nearest CBSA office.
Important information for NEXUS members
If you are crossing the border with currency or monetary instruments valued at CAD$10,000 or more, you cannot use NEXUS.
More information: NEXUS Terms and conditions
Sending money to or from Canada by mail
If you are sending CAD$10,000 or more in currency or monetary instruments to Canada by mail:
- complete this general form and place it inside your parcel
- attach a Universal Postal Convention (UPC) declaration, available at your nearest postal office, to the parcel
If you are sending CAD$10,000 or more in currency or monetary instruments from Canada by mail:
- complete this general form and submit a copy of it to the nearest CBSA office
- attach a Canada Post Customs Declaration form (CN23), available at your nearest postal office, to the parcel
Additional postal requirements may exist. Contact Canada Post for more information.
Sending money to or from Canada by courier
If you are sending CAD$10,000 or more in currency or monetary instruments to or from Canada by courier complete this general form.
You must give this completed form to the person in charge of the conveyance or the courier. They will:
- complete a courier form
- attach it to your general form
If you fail to report
The CBSA has the authority to seize all currency and monetary instruments if the entire value is not reported. They may be returned after a penalty is paid.
Penalties
Penalties range from 5% to 50% of the seized funds. The CBSA will not return the funds if it is suspected they are the proceeds of crime or funds for financing terrorist activities.
If you wish to dispute the seizing of funds, you may file a review.
Why you need to report
Reporting currency is an important part of helping CBSA fight money laundering and terrorist financing.
The CBSA administers and enforces legislation to help the Government of Canada to:
- detect and deter money laundering and terrorist financing activities
- facilitate the investigation and prosecution of related offences
- respond to the threat posed by organized crime
- fulfill international commitments to fight transnational crime
More information: Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (justice.gc.ca)
What happens to your report
Your completed forms are sent to the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) for assessment and analysis.
The information provided on the currency reporting forms is subject to the Privacy Act and is collected under the authority of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA).
Contact us
- FINTRAC
- Border Information Service, by telephone
Related link
Cross-Border Currency and Monetary Instruments Reporting Regulations
FAQs
You're required to file a form with U.S. Customs and Border Protection when entering or departing the United States with more than $10,000. Failure to report this could lead to legal penalties, including seizure of your money.
How much money can you bring to Canada without declaring? ›
Whether you are leaving or entering Canada, you must declare any currency (cash) or monetary instruments valued at CAD $10,000 or more that you are carrying.
Is $10,000 cash limit per person or family in the USA? ›
Members of a family dwelling in the same home who enter the United States on a joint or family declaration must report on their Customs Declaration Form if they carry money or monetary instruments totalling more than $10,000. Individual members carrying more than $10,000 must then complete a Members FinCEN Form 105.
How much money must you declare at customs? ›
You may bring large sums of money with you in the form of cash, money order, or traveler's checks. There is no maximum limit, however, any amount exceeding $10,000 USD must be declared upon arrival on both the Form 6059B and FinCEN 105. All forms must be filled in completely and truthfully.
What happens when you declare more than $10,000 at customs? ›
You may bring into or take out of the country, including by mail, as much money as you wish. However, if it is more than $10,000, you will need to report it to CBP. Use the online Fincen 105 currency reporting site or ask a CBP officer for the paper copy of the Currency Reporting Form (FinCen 105).
How do I declare $10 000 at US Customs? ›
Before you attempt to carry more than $10,000 into or out of the United States, you'll need to complete a Form 6059B and a FinCEN Form 105. Those are the forms that let you appropriately declare the currency to customs. For convenience, you can complete the FinCen Form 105 online via a computer or mobile device.
How much can a Canadian bring back from the US? ›
You can claim goods worth up to CAN$800. You must have tobacco products and alcoholic beverages in your possession when you enter Canada, but other goods may follow you by other means (such as courier or by post). However, all of the goods you are bringing back must be reported to the CBSA when you arrive.
How much money can I travel with from Canada? ›
Any time you enter or leave Canada, you must declare any money or monetary instruments, such as stocks, bond or cheques, you are carrying valued at $10,000 or more.
What needs to be declared at Canadian customs? ›
You must declare:
- purchased goods.
- gifts, prizes or awards.
- goods bought at a duty-free shop (Canadian or foreign) that are still in your possession.
- the value of any work, including repairs, done outside Canada on items that you are bringing back.
The point of the U.S. customs cash limit is to catch criminals and prevent money from being used to fund illegal activity like money laundering or drug trafficking. Unfortunately, travelers who are otherwise law-abiding citizens sometimes get caught illegally traveling with too much cash.
Yes, there is no limit to how much money you can take with you on domestic flights, but you should be prepared to answer the TSA questions if carrying a large sum of cash with you.
Can cash be detected at airport security? ›
Airport scanners can detect even the smallest amount of metal and can detect paper. The scanners will always look after things that look different to the norm. In this case, if the currency is arranged in bundles, it will be more easily detected.
What happens if you don't declare at customs? ›
When a passenger arriving into the United States acquires merchandise abroad (by purchase, gift, otherwise), they must declare it to U.S. Customs upon returning to the United States. If they do not, the merchandise will be subject to forfeiture and the person can receive a penalty.
How much cash can you fly with? ›
If you are on a domestic flight in the US, there is no limit to the amount of cash or monetary instruments that you can carry. However, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) security officers at the passenger screening area may ask a passenger who is carrying a large sum of cash to account for the money.
How much can you bring without declaring? ›
Failure to declare currency in amounts over $10,000 may be subject to forfeiture and could result in civil and criminal penalties.
What happens if you don't declare more than $10 000 US? ›
“Travelers who fail to truthfully report all of their currency risk their currency being seized and may face criminal charges,” including fines up to $500,000 and a 10-year prison term, the CBP website writes.
Is it illegal to travel with more than $10 000? ›
Are you traveling internationally and need to bring in more than $10,000? Perhaps you have been told that it is illegal to carry that much cash when you travel. In actuality, it is legal, although it may not be the safest decision.
Can you travel with more than $10 000 domestically? ›
Yes, there is no limit to how much money you can take with you on domestic flights, but you should be prepared to answer the TSA questions if carrying a large sum of cash with you.
Can you fly with over $10000 cash? ›
You can fly with any amount of cash. No law prohibits you from bringing any amount of money on a flight. Likewise, the TSA has no rules that limit how much money you can bring through security. In other words, the TSA has no cash limit per person.
