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Cross-border Currency and Monetary Instruments Reporting Regulations (SOR/2002-412)

Regulations are current to 2024-10-30 and last amended on 2024-07-01. Previous Versions

Table of Contents

Cross-border Currency and Monetary Instruments Reporting Regulations

SOR/2002-412

PROCEEDS OF CRIME (MONEY LAUNDERING) AND TERRORIST FINANCING ACT

Registration 2002-11-21

Cross-border Currency and Monetary Instruments Reporting Regulations

C.P. 2002-1945 2002-11-21

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Finance, pursuant to subsection 73(1)Footnote a of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing ActFootnote b, hereby makes the annexed Cross-border Currency and Monetary Instruments Reporting Regulations.

Interpretation

  • 1 (1) The following definitions apply in the Act and these Regulations.

    courier

    courier means a commercial carrier that is engaged in scheduled international transportation of shipments of goods other than goods imported or exported as mail. (messager)

    monetary instruments

    monetary instruments means the following instruments in bearer form or in such other form as title to them passes on delivery, namely,

    • (a) securities, including stocks, bonds, debentures and treasury bills; and

    • (b) negotiable instruments, including bank drafts, cheques, promissory notes, travellers’ cheques and money orders, other than warehouse receipts or bills of lading.

    For greater certainty, this definition does not apply to securities or negotiable instruments that bear restrictive endorsements or a stamp for the purposes of clearing. (effets)

  • (2) The following definitions apply in these Regulations.

    Act

    Act means the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. (Loi)

    cargo ship

    cargo ship means a commercial vessel that is engaged in international transportation of shipments of goods other than goods imported or exported as mail. (navire de charge)

    commercial passenger conveyance

    commercial passenger conveyance means a conveyance that is used to carry passengers who have paid for passage. (moyen de transport commercial de passagers)

    conveyance

    conveyance means any vehicle, aircraft or water-borne craft, or other contrivance that is used to move persons, goods, currency or monetary instruments. (moyen de transport)

    cruise ship

    cruise ship means a commercial vessel that has sleeping facilities for over 70 persons who are not crew members but does not include a vessel engaged in passenger or cargo ferry service. (navire de croisière)

    currency

    currency means coins referred to in section 7 of the Currency Act, notes issued by the Bank of Canada under the Bank of Canada Act that are intended for circulation in Canada or coins or bank notes of countries other than Canada. (espèces)

    emergency

    emergency means a medical emergency, fire, flood or other disaster that threatens life, property or the environment. (urgence)

    non-commercial passenger conveyance

    non-commercial passenger conveyance means a conveyance that does not have aboard any person who has paid for passage and includes corporate aircraft, private aircraft and marine pleasure craft. (moyen de transport non commercial de passagers)

    transfer agent

    transfer agent means a person or entity appointed by a corporation to maintain records of stock, debenture and bond owners, to cancel and issue certificates and to send out dividend cheques. (agent de transfert)

Previous Version

Reporting of Importations and Exportations

Minimum Value of Currency or Monetary Instruments

  • 2 (1) For the purposes of subsection 12(1) of the Act, the prescribed amount is $10,000.

  • (2) The amount is in Canadian dollars, or in its equivalent in a foreign currency using

    • (a) the exchange rate that is published by the Bank of Canada for that foreign currency and that is in effect at the time of the importation or exportation; or

    • (b) if no exchange rate is published by the Bank of Canada for that foreign currency, the exchange rate that the person or entity would use in the ordinary course of business at the time of the importation or exportation.

Previous Version

Manner of Reporting

[
  • SOR/2019-240, s. 52(E)
]

3 Subject to subsections 4(3) and (3.1) and section 8, a report with respect to the importation or exportation of currency or monetary instruments shall

  • (a) be made in writing;

  • (b) contain the information referred to

    • (i) in Schedule 1, in the case of a report made by the person described in paragraph 12(3)(a) of the Act, if that person is not transporting on behalf of an entity or other person,

    • (ii) in Schedule 2, in the case of a report made by the person described in paragraph 12(3)(a) of the Act, if that person is transporting on behalf of an entity or other person,

    • (iii) in Schedule 2, in the case of a report made by the person or entity described in paragraph 12(3)(b), (c) or (e) of the Act, and

    • (iv) in Schedule 3, in the case of a report made by the person described in paragraph 12(3)(d) of the Act;

  • (c) contain a declaration that the statements made in the report are true, accurate and complete; and

  • (d) be signed and dated by the person or entity described in paragraph 12(3)(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of the Act, as applicable.

Previous Version

3.1 For greater certainty, although items in Schedules 1 to 3 are described in the singular, a person or entity shall report all known information that falls within an item.

Importation Reporting

  • 4 (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (5) and section 9, a report with respect to currency or monetary instruments transported by a person arriving in Canada shall be submitted without delay by the person at the customs office located at the place of importation or, if it is not open for business at the time of importation, at the nearest customs office that is open for business at that time.

  • (2) A report with respect to currency or monetary instruments transported by a person arriving in Canada on board a commercial passenger conveyance who has as their destination another place in Canada at which there is a customs office may be submitted without delay by the person at that customs office or, if it is not open for business at the time of importation, at the nearest customs office that is open for business at that time, on condition that

    • (a) the person does not disembark from the conveyance at the place of arrival in Canada and the currency or monetary instruments are not removed from the conveyance at that place, other than to be transferred under customs control directly to a commercial passenger conveyance for departure to the other place in Canada or directly to a holding area designated as such for the purposes of the Presentation of Persons (Customs) Regulations; and

    • (b) if the person and currency or monetary instruments are transferred under customs control directly to a designated holding area, the person does not leave and the currency or monetary instruments are not removed from that area, other than to board or to be loaded on board a commercial passenger conveyance for departure to the other place in Canada.

  • (3) A report with respect to currency or monetary instruments transported by a person arriving in Canada on board a non-commercial passenger conveyance at a customs office where, under the Customs Act, customs reporting may be done by radio or telephone may be submitted by radio or telephone to an officer by that person or the person in charge of the conveyance at that location, on condition that

    • (a) when the person informs the officer of their arrival for the purposes of section 11 of the Customs Act, they provide the information referred to in Schedule 1, 2 or 3, as applicable; and

    • (b) on the officer’s request, they present themselves and make available for examination the currency or monetary instruments at the time and place specified by the officer.

  • (3.1) A report with respect to currency or monetary instruments transported by a person arriving in Canada on board a non-commercial passenger conveyance, at a customs office where the person is authorized in accordance with the Presentation of Persons (2003) Regulations to present in an alternative manner, may be submitted to an officer by telephone, by that person or the person in charge of the conveyance before arriving in Canada, on condition that

    • (a) when the person informs the officer of their arrival for the purposes of section 11 of the Customs Act, they provide the information referred to in Schedule 1, 2 or 3, as applicable; and

    • (b) on the officer’s request, they present themselves and make available for examination the currency or monetary instruments on arrival in Canada at the time and place specified by the officer.

  • (4) A report with respect to currency or monetary instruments transported by a freight train crew member arriving in Canada on board the freight train shall be submitted without delay by the crew member at the customs office specified by the officer when the crew member presents himself or herself in accordance with section 11 of the Customs Act.

  • (5) A report with respect to currency or monetary instruments that are transported by courier into Canada on board an aircraft and that have as their destination another place in Canada at which there is a customs office, shall be submitted at the customs office located at the airport of destination shown on the air waybill, on condition that

    • (a) the currency or monetary instruments are not removed from the aircraft at the place of arrival, other than to be transferred under customs control directly to a holding area designated as such for the purposes of the Presentation of Persons (Customs) Regulations; and

    • (b) if the currency or monetary instruments are transferred under customs control directly to a designated holding area, they are not removed from that area, other than to be loaded on board an aircraft for departure to the other place in Canada.

  • SOR/2002-412, s. 20

5 Subject to section 10, a report made by an exporter with respect to the importation of currency or monetary instruments by mail shall be made by

  • (a) including inside the mail item an importation report with respect to the currency or monetary instruments; and

  • (b) affixing the customs declaration form required by the Universal Postal Convention, as amended from time to time, to the outside of the mail item and indicating that it contains currency or monetary instruments.

6 A report made with respect to the importation of currency or monetary instruments that have been retained under section 14 of the Act shall be submitted by the person or entity to whom the notice was given at the customs office indicated on the notice.

7 A report with respect to the importation of currency or monetary instruments, other than one referred to in sections 4 to 6, shall be submitted without delay at the customs office that is open for business at the time of the importation and that is nearest to the place of importation.

8 In an emergency, the person in charge of a conveyance who must unload currency or monetary instruments from the conveyance before being able to make or submit an importation report in accordance with these Regulations may submit the importation report by telephone or other expedient means and, as soon as possible after that, shall make or submit a report in accordance with these Regulations.

Exceptions to Importation Reporting

  • 9 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), currency or monetary instruments transported by a person arriving in Canada on board a commercial passenger conveyance who has as their destination a place outside Canada are not required to be reported under subsection 12(1) of the Act, on condition that

    • (a) the person does not disembark from the conveyance in Canada and the currency or monetary instruments are not removed from the conveyance in Canada other than to be transferred under customs control directly to a commercial passenger conveyance for departure to the place outside Canada or directly to a holding area designated as such for the purposes of the Presentation of Persons (Customs) Regulations; and

    • (b) if the person and currency or monetary instruments are transferred under customs control directly to a designated holding area, the person does not leave and the currency or monetary instruments are not removed from that area other than to board or be loaded on board a commercial passenger conveyance for departure to the place outside Canada.

  • (2) Subject to subsection (3), currency or monetary instruments that are transported by courier into Canada on board a conveyance and that have as their destination a place outside Canada are not required to be reported under subsection 12(1) of the Act, on condition that

    • (a) the currency or monetary instruments are not removed from the conveyance at the place of arrival, other than to be transferred under customs control directly to a holding area designated as such for the purposes of the Presentation of Persons (Customs) Regulations; and

    • (b) if the currency or monetary instruments are transferred under customs control directly to a designated holding area, they are not removed from that area, other than to be loaded on board a conveyance for departure to the place outside of Canada.

  • (3) Currency or monetary instruments that are transported into Canada on board a cruise ship or cargo ship and that have as their destination a place outside Canada are not required to be reported under subsection 12(1) of the Act, on condition that the currency or monetary instruments are not removed from the cruise ship or cargo ship while it is in Canada.

  • SOR/2003-358, s. 26

10 A person or entity is not required to make a report under subsection 12(1) of the Act with respect to the importation of currency or monetary instruments that are mailed from a location outside Canada to a destination outside Canada but that transit through Canada in the course of post, on condition that they will not leave the course of post until after they have left Canada.

Exportation Reporting

11 A report with respect to currency or monetary instruments transported by a person departing from Canada shall be submitted without delay by the person at the customs office located at the place of exportation or, if it is not open for business at the time of exportation, at the nearest customs office that is open for business at that time.

12 A report required to be made by an exporter with respect to the exportation by mail of currency or monetary instruments shall be made by

  • (a) including an exportation report inside the mail item; and

  • (b) mailing or submitting, at or before the time when the currency or monetary instruments are mailed, a copy of the exportation report to the customs office that is located nearest to the point at which the item was mailed.

13 A report made with respect to the exportation of currency or monetary instruments that have been retained under section 14 of the Act shall be submitted by the person or entity to whom the notice was given at the customs office indicated on the notice.

14 A report with respect to the exportation of currency or monetary instruments, other than one referred to in sections 11 to 13, shall be submitted without delay at the customs office that is open for business at the time of exportation and that is nearest to the place of exportation.

Exception Applicable to the Bank of Canada

15 A person or entity is not required to make a report under subsection 12(1) of the Act with respect to the importation or exportation of currency by or on behalf of the Bank of Canada for the purposes of the distribution, processing, or testing of banknotes intended for circulation in Canada.

Exemption Applicable to Imported Shares

15.1 A person or entity is not required to make a report under subsection 12(1) of the Act with respect to stocks, bonds and debentures imported into Canada by courier or as mail if the importer is a financial entity or a securities dealer as defined in subsection 1(2) of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Regulations or a transfer agent.

  • SOR/2003-358, s. 27

Retention

  • 16 (1) For the purposes of subsection 14(1) of the Act, an officer shall give the person or entity written notice in person or, if the person is not present, shall send the notice by registered mail to the person’s latest known address.

  • (2) For the purposes of subsection 14(2) of the Act, the notice is to be given within 60 days after the day on which the currency or monetary instruments are imported or exported, as the case may be.

17 The prescribed retention period, for the purposes of subsection 14(1) of Act, is

  • (a) in the case of importation or exportation by courier or as mail, 30 days after the day on which the retention notice is given or sent; and

  • (b) in any other case, seven days after the day on which the retention notice is given or sent.

Penalties

18 For the purposes of subsection 18(2) of the Act, the prescribed amount of the penalty is equal to

  • (a) 5% of the value of the seized currency or monetary instruments, up to a maximum of $2,500, in the case of a person or entity who

    • (i) has not concealed the currency or monetary instruments,

    • (ii) has made a full disclosure of the facts concerning the currency or monetary instruments on their discovery, and

    • (iii) has no previous seizures under the Act;

  • (b) 25% of the value of the seized currency or monetary instruments, in the case of a person or entity who

    • (i) has concealed the currency or monetary instruments, other than by means of using a false compartment in a conveyance, or who has made a false statement with respect to the currency or monetary instruments, or

    • (ii) has a previous seizure under the Act, other than in respect of any type of concealment or for making false statements with respect to the currency or monetary instruments; and

  • (c) 50% of the value of the seized currency or monetary instruments, in the case of a person or entity who

    • (i) has concealed the currency or monetary instruments by using a false compartment in a conveyance, or

    • (ii) has a previous seizure under the Act for any type of concealment or for making a false statement with respect to the currency or monetary instruments.

Previous Version

19 to 23 [Amendments]

Coming into Force

SCHEDULE 1(Subparagraph 3(b)(i), section 3.1 and paragraphs 4(3)(a) and (3.1)(a))Information To Be Given by Person Described in Paragraph 12(3)(a) of Act, if Not Transporting on Behalf of Entity or Other Person

PART A

Information with Respect to Person Described in Paragraph 12(3)(a) of Act

  • 1 
    Person’s name
  • 2 
    Person’s permanent address
  • 3 
    Person’s citizenship
  • 4 
    Person’s date of birth
  • 5 
    Person’s telephone number
  • 6 
    Type of document or other information used to identify person and number of document or number associated with information
  • 7 
    Jurisdiction and country of issue of document or other information

PART B

Information on Importation or Exportation

  • 0.1 
    Indication of whether it is an importation or exportation
  • 1 
    Departure point of person making the report (country, city)
  • 2 
    Person’s arrival point (country, city)
  • 3 
    Person’s transit points (country, city)
  • 4 
    Person’s dates of travel

PART C

Information with Respect to Each Currency That Is Imported or Exported

  • 1 
    Type of currency
  • 2 
    Issuing country or jurisdiction
  • 3 
    Amount of currency in the foreign currency and its amount in Canadian dollars and exchange rate used
  • 4 
    Purpose of importation or exportation

PART D

Information with Respect to Each Monetary Instrument That Is Imported or Exported

  • 1 
    Type of monetary instrument
  • 2 
    Amount of monetary instrument in the foreign currency and its amount in Canadian dollars and exchange rate used
  • 3 
    Issuer of monetary instrument
  • 4 
    Date of issuance of monetary instrument
  • 5 
    Serial number or other number that identifies monetary instrument
  • 6 
    Purpose of importation or exportation
Previous Version

SCHEDULE 2(Subparagraphs 3(b)(ii) and (iii), section 3.1 and paragraphs 4(3)(a) and (3.1)(a))Information To Be Given by Person Described in Paragraph 12(3)(a) of Act (if Transporting on Behalf of Entity or Other Person) or by Person or Entity Described in Paragraph 12(3)(b), (c) or (e) of Act

PART A

Information with Respect to Person on Whose Behalf Person Described in Paragraph 12(3)(a) of Act Is Transporting or with Respect to Person Described in Paragraph 12(3)(b), (c) or (e) of Act

  • 1 
    Person’s name
  • 2 
    Person’s permanent address
  • 3 
    Person’s citizenship
  • 4 
    Person’s date of birth
  • 5 
    Person’s telephone number
  • 6 
    Type of document or other information used to identify person and number of document or number associated with information
  • 7 
    Jurisdiction and country of issue of document or other information

PART B

Information with Respect to Entity on Whose Behalf Person Described in Paragraph 12(3)(a) of Act Is Transporting or with Respect to Entity Described in Paragraph 12(3)(b) or (c) of Act

  • 1 
    Entity’s name
  • 2 
    Entity’s permanent address
  • 3 
    Telephone number of entity
  • 4 
    Jurisdiction and country of registration or incorporation
  • 5 
    Nature of entity’s principal business
  • 6 
    Name and title of entity’s contact person

PART C

Information with Respect to Importation or Exportation

  • 0.1 
    Indication of whether it is an importation or exportation
  • 1 
    Date of shipment
  • 2 
    Method of shipment (courier, mail or other)
  • 3 
    Name and permanent address of person or entity shipped to and from
  • 4 
    Name of courier and names of any intermediaries
  • 5 
    Permanent address of courier and permanent addresses of any intermediaries
  • 6 
    Courier’s telephone number
  • 7 
    Name and title of courier’s contact person
  • 8 
    Name and permanent address of the person or entity that is ultimate origin of currency or monetary instrument and, in the case of an entity, the nature of their principal business
  • 9 
    Name and permanent address of the person or entity that is ultimate destination of currency or monetary instrument and, in the case of an entity, the nature of their principal business
  • 10 
    Departure point of currency or monetary instrument (country, city) and date of departure
  • 11 
    Arrival point of currency or monetary instrument (country, city) and date of arrival
  • 12 
    Transit points of currency or monetary instrument (country, city) and dates of arrival at and departure from each transit point
  • 13 
    Points where (country, city) and dates when intermediaries obtain physical possession of currency or monetary instrument

PART D

Information with Respect to Person Described in Paragraph 12(3)(a) of Act or with Respect to Person Acting on Behalf of Person or Entity Described in Paragraph 12(3)(b), (c) or (e) of Act

  • 1 
    Person’s name
  • 2 
    Person’s permanent address
  • 3 
    Person’s citizenship
  • 4 
    Person’s date of birth
  • 5 
    Person’s telephone number
  • 6 
    Type of document or other information used to identify person and number of document or number associated with information
  • 7 
    Jurisdiction and country of issue of document or other information

PART E

Information with Respect to Each Currency That Is Imported or Exported

  • 1 
    Type of currency
  • 2 
    Issuing country or jurisdiction
  • 3 
    Amount of currency in the foreign currency and its amount in Canadian dollars and exchange rate used
  • 4 
    Purpose of importation or exportation

PART F

Information with Respect to Each Monetary Instrument That Is Imported or Exported

  • 1 
    Type of monetary instrument
  • 2 
    Amount of monetary instrument in the foreign currency and its amount in Canadian dollars and exchange rate used
  • 3 
    Issuer of monetary instrument
  • 4 
    Date of issuance of monetary instrument
  • 5 
    Serial number or other number that identifies monetary instrument
  • 6 
    Purpose of importation or exportation
Previous Version

SCHEDULE 3(Subparagraph 3(b)(iv), section 3.1 and paragraphs 4(3)(a) and (3.1)(a))Information To Be Given by Person Described in Paragraph 12(3)(d) of Act

PART A

Information with Respect to Person Described in Paragraph 12(3)(d) of Act

  • 1 
    Person’s name
  • 2 
    Person’s permanent address
  • 3 
    Person’s citizenship
  • 4 
    Person’s date of birth
  • 5 
    Person’s telephone number
  • 6 
    Type of document or other information used to identify person and number of document or number associated with information
  • 7 
    Jurisdiction and country of issue of document or other information
  • 8 
    Name of person’s employer
  • 9 
    Employer’s business address
  • 10 
    Employer’s business telephone number
  • 11 
    Name and title of employer’s contact person

PART B

Information on Shipments of Currency or Monetary Instruments

  • 0.1 
    Indication of whether it is an importation or exportation
  • 1 
    Name of importer or exporter
  • 2 
    Amount, in Canadian dollars, of currency or monetary instrument
  • 3 
    Name and permanent address of person or entity shipped to and from
  • 4 
    Departure point of currency or monetary instrument (country, city) and date of departure
  • 5 
    Arrival point of currency or monetary instrument (country, city) and date of arrival
  • 6 
    Transit points of currency or monetary instrument (country, city) and dates of arrival at and departure from each transit point
Previous Version

Table of Contents

RELATED PROVISIONS

  • — SOR/2023-193, s. 43

    • 43 Section 18 of the Cross-border Currency and Monetary Instruments Reporting Regulations, as it read immediately before the day on which section 35 of these Regulations comes into force, continues to apply in respect of currency or monetary instruments seized before that day.


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