Bringing Cash of $10,000 or More Across the Canadian Border
What counts
Canadian and foreign currency can be combined to reach the $10,000 total. Monetary instruments include stocks and bonds, cheques, money orders, bank drafts and traveller's cheques. Funds sent by mail or courier must also be reported.
How to report
- Entering Canada: use an airport kiosk, your CBSA Declaration Card (Form E311), your Advance Declaration, or tell a border services officer.
- Leaving Canada by air: report at the CBSA office on the arrivals level before the security screening area. At small airports without a CBSA office, visit the nearest CBSA office before your flight.
- By land, sea or rail: report at a CBSA office before you leave.
NEXUS cannot be used for crossings with $10,000 or more.
Forms
| Form | Used for |
|---|---|
| E677 | Your own money |
| E667 | Money carried for someone else, and mail and courier shipments |
| E668 | Courier form, completed by the courier or person in charge of the conveyance |
| E311 | CBSA Declaration Card |
Penalties
If the full amount is not reported, the CBSA can seize all the currency and monetary instruments. They may be returned after a penalty is paid, from 5% to 50% of the seized funds. Funds suspected to be proceeds of crime or terrorist financing will not be returned. You can request a review of a seizure.
Examples: do I have to report it?
Exchange-rate examples use assumed rates for illustration; use the rate that applies on the day you cross.
| What you carry | Total in Canadian dollars | Report? |
|---|---|---|
| C$6,000 and US$5,000, assuming US$1 = C$1.40 | C$13,000 | Yes |
| US$7,000 alone, assuming US$1 = C$1.40 | C$9,800 | Not at that rate |
| The same US$7,000, assuming US$1 = C$1.43 | C$10,010 | Yes |
| A C$12,000 bank draft | C$12,000 | Yes: bank drafts are monetary instruments |
| C$5,000 cash and a C$5,000 money order | C$10,000 | Yes: the threshold is $10,000 or more |
What a seizure can look like
If you fail to report C$20,000, the CBSA can seize all of it. The penalty to get it back ranges from 5% to 50% of the seized funds, which in this example is C$1,000 to C$10,000. That is only arithmetic on the CBSA range; the officer decides the actual amount, and funds suspected to be proceeds of crime are not returned.
If you are not sure, report it
Reporting is not an offence; carrying the money is legal. Not reporting is what creates the risk. For a flight, mention the cash on your declaration card or kiosk, or tell the officer. When leaving Canada, report at the CBSA office before you go through security.
FAQ
Is it illegal to carry $10,000?
No. The CBSA says carrying $10,000 or more is not illegal as long as you declare it.
Do I report each currency separately?
No. Canadian and foreign currency and monetary instruments are added together.
Do I report when I leave Canada too?
Yes. The reporting obligation applies when entering or leaving.
Can I declare cash in the Advance Declaration?
The CBSA lists the Advance Declaration as one way to report on arrival at participating airports. See Advance CBSA Declaration.
What if I carry exactly $10,000?
The obligation applies at CAN$10,000 or more, so you must report it.
Related guides
- What to declare at the border
- Advance CBSA Declaration (ArriveCAN)
- Personal exemptions for returning residents
- What visitors can bring into Canada
- Duty and tax calculator
- Frequently asked questions
Official sources
- CBSA: Travelling with CAN$10,000 or more
- CBSA: I Declare - guide for residents returning to Canada
- CBSA: Border reminder checklist
Data checked against official sources: October 17, 2026. Rules change; confirm with the CBSA before you travel.