All FINTRAC guidance
This page lists all the guidance on the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and associated Regulations developed by FINTRAC.
To see a list of the FINTRAC guidance specifically applicable to your business sector, please select your sector:
Related content
- Glossary
- FINTRAC interpretation notices
- Policy interpretations database
- FINTRAC's Interpretation policy
- Video 1 – Verifying the identity of a client: Government-issued photo ID method
- Video 2 – Verifying the identity of a client: Credit file method
- Video 3 – Verifying the identity of a client: Dual-process method
- Video 4 – Verifying the identity of a client: Affiliate or member method
- Video 5 – Verifying the identity of a client: Reliance method
Compliance program
A documented and comprehensive compliance program is the basis of meeting all reporting entity obligations under the PCMLTFA and associated Regulations.
Compliance program requirements
Know your client requirements
Reporting entities must verify the identity of their clients for certain activities and transactions according to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Regulations (PCMLTFR).
When to verify the identity of persons and entities – Accountants
When to verify the identity of persons and entities – British Columbia notaries
When to verify the identity of persons and entities – Casinos
When to verify the identity of persons and entities – Dealers in precious metals and precious stones
When to verify the identity of persons and entities – Departments and Agents of the Crown
When to verify the identity of persons and entities – Financial entities
When to verify the identity of persons and entities – Life insurance companies, brokers and agents
When to verify the identity of persons and entities – Securities dealers
Methods to verify the identity of persons and entities Updated on August 2, 2023
Business relationship requirements
Ongoing monitoring requirements
Beneficial ownership requirements
Third party determination requirements
Politically exposed persons and heads of international organizations guidance
Transaction reporting requirements
FINTRAC’s multi-year initiative to implement important changes to its reporting forms
- Schedule to implement changes to FINTRAC’s reporting forms Updated on July 13, 2023
- Draft documents to help you prepare for changes to FINTRAC’s reporting forms Updated on August 18, 2023
You are required to complete reports about certain transactions and property and submit them to FINTRAC. Financial transaction reports are critical to FINTRAC's ability to develop and disseminate financial intelligence.
What is a suspicious transaction report?
Reporting suspicious transactions to FINTRAC
Money laundering and terrorist financing indicators—Accountants
Money laundering and terrorist financing indicators—Agents of the Crown
Money laundering and terrorist financing indicators—British Columbia notaries
Money laundering and terrorist financing indicators—Casinos
Money laundering and terrorist financing indicators—Dealers in precious metals and precious stones
Money laundering and terrorist financing indicators—Financial entities
Money laundering and terrorist financing indicators—Life insurance companies, brokers and agents
Money laundering and terrorist financing indicators—Money services businesses
Money laundering and terrorist financing indicators—Real estate
Money laundering and terrorist financing indicators—Securities dealers
Money laundering and terrorist financing indicators—Virtual currency transactions
Reporting terrorist property to FINTRAC
Guideline 7A: Submitting Large Cash Transaction Reports to FINTRAC electronically
Guideline 7B: Submitting Large Cash Transaction Reports to FINTRAC by paper
Guideline 9: Alternative to Large Cash Transaction Reports to FINTRAC
Reporting large virtual currency transactions to FINTRAC
Guideline 8A: Submitting non-SWIFT Electronic Funds Transfer Reports to FINTRAC electronically
Guideline 8B: Submitting SWIFT Electronic Funds Transfer Reports to FINTRAC
Guideline 8C: Submitting Non-SWIFT Electronic Funds Transfer Reports to FINTRAC by paper
Travel rule for electronic funds and virtual currency transfers
Transaction reporting guidance: the 24-hour rule
Guideline 10A: Submitting Casino Disbursement Reports to FINTRAC electronically
Guideline 10B: Submitting Casino Disbursement Reports to FINTRAC by paper
Record keeping
Reporting entities are responsible for keeping certain account, transaction and client identification records. These records are to be kept in such a way that they can be provided to FINTRAC within 30 days upon request.
Record keeping requirements for accountants
Record keeping requirements for departments and agents of the Crown
Record keeping requirements for British Columbia notaries
Record keeping requirements for casinos
Record keeping requirements for dealers in precious metals and precious stones
Record keeping requirements for financial entities
Record keeping requirements for life insurance companies, brokers and agents
Record keeping requirements for money services businesses and foreign money services businesses
Record keeping requirements for securities dealers
Register your money services business (MSB) or your foreign money services business (FMSB)
Before beginning to operate in Canada, you must register your MSB or FMSB with FINTRAC.
Register your money services business (MSB) or your foreign money services business (FMSB)
Prepaid payment product requirements
Financial entities (including life insurance companies and entities that are life insurance brokers and agents) have prepaid payment product (PPP) requirements when they offer PPPs to the public and maintain related PPP accounts.
Prepaid payment product requirements
Correspondent banking relationship requirements
If your business enters into a correspondent banking relationship with a foreign financial institution, you have specific obligations related to this agreement.
Correspondent banking relationship requirements
Foreign branches, foreign subsidiaries and affiliates requirements
If you have foreign branches, foreign subsidiaries or affiliates, you have to develop policies to establish requirements with respect to record keeping and retention, and client identification.
Foreign branches, foreign subsidiaries and affiliates requirements
Ministerial Directives
Directives issued by the Minister of Finance for reporting entities to apply countermeasures to transactions coming from or going to designated foreign jurisdictions or entities; as well as the introduction of regulations to restrict financial transactions coming from or going to designated foreign jurisdictions or entities.
About Ministerial Directives and transactions restrictions
FINTRAC guidance relating to the Ministerial Directive on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) issued on December 9, 2017.FINTRAC provides guidance to help individuals and entities understand their obligations under the PCMLTFA and its associated Regulations, including how you may be assessed in an examination. However, this should not be considered to be legal advice. Please refer to the PCMLTFA and its associated Regulations for the full description of your obligations.
- Date Modified: