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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:

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

Risk-based approach guide

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 – Money services businesses and foreign money services businesses

When to verify the identity of persons and entities – Real estate brokers or sales representatives, and real estate developers

When to verify the identity of persons and entities – Securities dealers

Methods to verify the identity of persons and entities Updated on May 11, 2023

Business relationship requirements

Ongoing monitoring requirements

Beneficial ownership requirements

Third party determination requirements

Politically exposed persons and heads of international organizations guidance

Politically exposed persons and heads of international organizations guidance for account-based reporting entity sectors

Politically exposed persons and heads of international organizations guidance for non-account-based reporting entity sectors

Politically exposed persons and heads of international organizations guidance for life insurance companies, brokers and agents

Transaction reporting requirements

FINTRAC’s multi-year initiative to implement important changes to its reporting forms

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 real estate brokers or sales representatives, and real estate developers

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 related to the Ministerial Directive on Financial Transactions Associated with the Islamic Republic of Iran issued on July 25, 2020

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.

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