Guide · Canada and United States

Carrying $10,000 or more across the Canada-US border: what CBSA and CBP say

General information, not official or legal advice. Customs, immigration and border rules change and every situation is different. Check the linked official sources and the agency’s current page before you travel. This site is not affiliated with CBP, the CBSA, DHS or any government.

Steps

1. The CBSA's threshold is CAN$10,000 or more in currency and monetary instruments.^[1] CBP says families or groups total what they carry collectively.^[2]
2. Entering Canada, the CBSA lists these ways to report: an airport kiosk, the CBSA Declaration Card (if one was provided), Advance Declaration, or verbally to a border services officer.^[1]
3. Leaving Canada by land, sea or rail, the CBSA says to report to a CBSA office before leaving.^[1]
4. For the US, CBP says to report on FinCEN Form 105; filing electronically is recommended, or the form can be completed before departure or on arrival and presented to a CBP officer.^[2]
5. The CBSA says that if you cross carrying CAN$10,000 or more, you cannot use NEXUS.^[1]

Canada: what counts and how to declare

The CBSA says to declare any currency (cash) or monetary instruments valued at CAN$10,000 or more, in Canadian or foreign currency or a combination. Monetary instruments include stocks and bonds, cheques, money orders, bank drafts and traveller's cheques.^[1] This applies to all travellers, couriers and people carrying money on behalf of someone else.^[1] If you carry your own money you may complete the individual form; if you carry money for someone else, the general form.^[1]

When leaving Canada you must report before you leave: by air, to the CBSA office on the arrivals level of an international airport before entering security screening; by land, sea or rail, to a CBSA office.^[1] Small airports without a CBSA office require a visit to the nearest office before your flight.^[1]

Canada: penalties and what happens to the report

The CBSA has 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 range from 5% to 50% of the seized funds, and funds suspected of being proceeds of crime or terrorist financing are not returned. You can file a review to dispute a seizure.^[1] Your forms go to FINTRAC for assessment and analysis.^[1]

Sending money by mail or courier

For CAN$10,000 or more sent to Canada by mail, the CBSA says to complete the general form, place it inside the parcel and attach a Universal Postal Convention declaration. From Canada by mail, submit a copy to the nearest CBSA office and attach a CN23. By courier, complete the general form and give it to the courier, who completes a courier form.^[1]

United States: who must file

CBP says anyone who brings, sends or receives currency or monetary instruments totalling more than $10,000 at one time into or out of the US must report, including those who transport, mail or ship for themselves or for another person or business. A common carrier of goods is also subject unless the shipper states the shipment contains currency or monetary instruments.^[2] For families or groups, the $10,000 threshold applies to the total carried collectively, not per individual.^[2]

United States: what counts and how to file

CBP lists as monetary instruments U.S. or foreign coins and currency, traveler's checks in any form, negotiable instruments such as checks, promissory notes and money orders that are in bearer form, endorsed without restriction, made out to a fictitious payee or otherwise transferable, incomplete signed instruments, and securities or stock in bearer form. Checks or money orders made payable to a named person that are not endorsed or bear restrictive endorsements are generally not considered monetary instruments for reporting.^[2] CBP recommends filing electronically on the FinCEN Form 105 website; you can also print the form beforehand and present it to an officer, or complete it on arrival or before departure. Mobile Passport Control users can file along with their declaration.^[2]

United States: if you do not file

CBP says failing to file or submitting false information risks forfeiture and seizure of the currency, and in some instances civil or criminal penalties including fines or imprisonment.^[2]

Two different thresholds

The CBSA's threshold is CAN$10,000 or more (Canadian or foreign currency, or a combination, valued at that amount); CBP's is more than $10,000 at one time, and CBP lists foreign currency among monetary instruments. The pages we read do not explain conversion between the two. The CBSA's general advice is: "Not sure? Ask a border services officer."^[3] The CBSA says its dollar amounts are Canadian unless otherwise specified.^[3]

About this guide

Officers decide at the border; this is general information, not official guidance. travel.tnaado.ca is not affiliated with CBP, CBSA, DHS or the Government of Canada.