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

Updated on February 24, 2024

From: Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)

This guidance explains the requirements of the Ministerial Directive on Financial Transactions Associated with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

This guidance is related to the Ministerial Directive issued by the Minister of Finance that was published in the Canada Gazette and came into force on July 25, 2020.

1. Why this Ministerial Directive was issued

The Financial Action Task Force issued a statement in February 2020 which expressed its particular and exceptional concerns regarding Iran's failure to address strategic deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism regime, and the serious threat this poses to the integrity of the international financial system. The Financial Action Task Force called on its members to apply effective counter-measures to protect their financial sectors from such risks.

As such, Canada's Finance Minister issued this Ministerial Directive to ensure the safety and integrity of Canada's financial system.

This Ministerial Directive includes requirements that:

• enhance existing obligations of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Regulations; and
• extend the obligations of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Regulations

2. Who needs to apply this Ministerial Directive

This Ministerial Directive came into effect on July 25, 2020, and is applicable to every person or entity referred to in paragraphs 5(a), (b) and (h) of the Act. The specific persons and entities that are to take action in response to this Ministerial Directive are:

• banks
• credit unions
• financial services cooperatives
• caisses populaires
• authorized foreign banks
• money services businesses

3. Requirements of the Ministerial Directive

Every bank, credit union, financial services cooperative, caisse populaire, authorized foreign bank and money services business must:

• treat every financial transaction originating from or bound for Iran, regardless of its amount, as a high-risk transaction for the purposes of subsection 9.6(3) of the Act
• verify the identity of any client (person or entity) requesting or benefiting from such a transaction in accordance with Part 3 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Regulations
• exercise customer due diligence in relation to any such transaction, including ascertaining the source of funds or virtual currency, the purpose of the transaction and the beneficial ownership or control of any entity requesting or benefiting from the transaction
• keep and retain a record of any such transaction, in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Regulations, regardless of the monetary thresholds set out in those Regulations; and
• report all such transactions to the Centre

3.1 Determining that a transaction originated from or is bound for Iran

When determining whether a transaction originates from or is bound for Iran, you need to look at a variety of elements because the circumstances of each transaction are different. You must consider the facts, contexts and indicators of a transaction to determine whether it is subject to the Ministerial Directive. Transactions originating from or bound for Iran may include, but are not limited to:

• electronic funds transfers, remittances or other transfers that include an Iranian originating or destination address - this may include transactions where the ordering person or entity, beneficiary, or third party details are Iranian
• the activities of representatives of the Government of Iran (for example, transactions on an Embassy of Iran's bank account in Canada)
• receiving Iranian rial as a deposit to an account or for a virtual currency transaction
• conducting a foreign currency or virtual currency exchange transaction that includes Iranian rial (for example, Canadian dollar to Iranian rial, Iranian rial to US dollar, virtual currency to Iranian rial, etc.); and
• issuing or redeeming bank drafts or other negotiable instruments that include an Iranian rial component

This Ministerial Directive does not apply to transactions where there is no suspicion or explicit connection with Iran and there is no evidence of the transaction originating from or being bound for Iran. For example:

• a client who has previously sent funds to Iran requests an outgoing electronic funds transfer, where the transaction details do not suggest that this transaction is bound for Iran and you are unable to obtain further details about the transaction destination
• the client's identification information is the only suggestion of a connection to Iran (for example, a transaction where the conductor's identification document is an Iranian passport); or
• the details of a person, who is your client in Canada, are Iranian, but there are no additional details on the entity involved, or the sender of, or the recipient to, the transaction, to suggest the transaction is associated with Iran

For further clarity, if the details of your client in Canada include an Iranian address and the client requests that funds be sent to a beneficiary in a country other than Iran, where additional facts, context and indicators (for example, beneficiary account details) point to an association with Iran, then this transaction must be considered as bound for Iran, and treated accordingly.

Similarly, if the details of your client in Canada include an Iranian address and this client receives funds into their account from a sending account in a country other than Iran, but where additional facts, context and indicators (for example, sending account details), point to an association with Iran, then this transaction must be considered as originating from Iran, and treated accordingly.

Alternatively, if the details of your client in Canada include an Iranian address and this client requests that funds be sent to a beneficiary in a country other than Iran, for which additional facts, context and indicators do not bring to light an association with Iran, then this transaction is not required to be considered for the purpose of the Ministerial Directive.  

Unless the transaction is being carried out by, or benefitting, a representative of the Government of Iran in Canada, then the details of your client in Canada are not likely enough to consider the transaction against the obligations of the Ministerial Directive.

3.2 Verifying the identity of every client who requests or benefits from a transaction originating from or bound for Iran

Under this Ministerial Directive, you must take enhanced identification measures that go beyond the identification triggers and requirements prescribed under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Regulations. Transactions that fall below the reporting threshold amounts typically do not require that you verify the identity of clients. However, under this Ministerial Directive, you must:

• verify the identity of every client (including those you have a business relationship with) that requests or benefits from such a transaction in any amount in accordance with the methods prescribed in the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Regulations; and
• for transactions that meet the reporting threshold amounts, apply enhanced measures to verify the identity of each client, as described in FINTRAC's ongoing monitoring guidance. Enhanced measures could include obtaining additional information on the client (for example, occupation, volume of assets, information available through public databases, Internet, etc.); gathering additional documents, data or information; or taking additional steps to verify the documents obtained, etc.

3.3 Additional measures required

You must treat all transactions originating from or bound for Iran as high risk. In addition to verifying the identity of any client requesting or benefiting from such a transaction, under this Ministerial Directive, you must:

• apply customer due diligence measures to these clients for all transactions (any amount)
• assess the client information to determine whether there are reasonable grounds to suspect the commission or attempted commission of a money laundering or terrorist activity financing infraction and to report it through a Suspicious Transaction Report or Listed Person or Entity Property Report to FINTRAC
• apply enhanced measures to every client who meets the identification threshold (threshold transactions)
• obtain the purpose and the source of funds or virtual currency of any such transaction; and
• obtain the beneficial ownership or control information of any entity requesting or benefiting from such a transaction

4. Records you must keep and their retention period

4.1 Records of electronic funds and virtual currency transfers of any amount

For an electronic funds or virtual currency transfer of any amount originating from or bound for Iran, you must keep:

• the information included in an electronic funds transfer record, and the information included in a record for virtual currency transfers, even if the transaction is below $1,000 CAD or an equivalent amount in virtual currency:
  • if you are a bank, credit union, financial services cooperative or caisse populaire, you will find your record keeping requirements in the Record keeping requirements for financial entities guidance
  • if you are a money services business, you will find your record keeping requirements in the Record keeping requirements for money services businesses and foreign money services businesses guidance
• the source of funds or virtual currency of the transaction; and
• the purpose of the transaction

4.2 Records of receipt of cash or virtual currency – of any amount

You must keep a record of every cash or virtual currency transaction (any amount) that you receive that reflects a connection to Iran (such as cash received for the issuance of negotiable instruments or foreign exchange using Iranian rial). You must record:

• the information included in a large cash or virtual currency transaction record, even if the transaction is below $10,000 CAD or an equivalent amount in virtual currency, and the information included in a foreign or virtual currency exchange transaction record, including the information that is required when a transaction is over $3,000 CAD:
  • if you are a bank, credit union, financial services cooperative or caisse populaire, you will find your record keeping requirements in the Record keeping requirements for financial entities guidance
  • if you are a money services business, you will find your record keeping requirements in the Record keeping requirements for money services businesses and foreign money services businesses guidance
• the source of funds or virtual currency of the transaction; and
• the purpose of the transaction

4.3 Records of redeeming other negotiable instruments and records for issuing or redeeming transactions – of any amount:

Transactions originating from or bound for Iran also include the redemption of other negotiable instruments (for example, bank drafts, money orders, traveller's cheques, etc.) in any amount. These too will have to reflect a connection with Iran, such as the use of Iranian rial in the transaction, for the Ministerial Directive to be applicable. You must record:

• the information included in a transaction record, even if the transaction is below $3,000 CAD or an equivalent amount in virtual currency:
  • if you are a bank, credit union, financial services cooperative or caisse populaire, and a client is redeeming any amount in one or multiple money orders, your record keeping requirements are referenced in the Record keeping requirements for financial entities guidance
  • if you are a money services business, and a client is redeeming money orders in any amount, your record keeping requirements are referenced in the Record keeping requirements for money services businesses and foreign money services businesses guidance
• the source of funds or virtual currency of the transaction; and
• the purpose of the transaction

4.4 Information on records and retention

If you are required by this Ministerial Directive to keep a record of information that is readily available in other records, you do not have to record the same information again. This means that if you keep the required information and can produce it during a FINTRAC examination, you do not need to create a new record to meet the obligations.

You must keep all records applicable to this Ministerial Directive in accordance with their associated record retention requirement, or for at least five years from the date the record was created.

5. Reporting transactions captured under this Ministerial Directive

5.1 Reporting an electronic funds transfer in any amount to FINTRAC:

• SWIFT electronic funds transfers that are under the reporting threshold of $10,000 CAD and do not aggregate to $10,000 CAD under the 24-hour rule and involve Iranian rial (IRR), must be reported using the SWIFT Electronic Funds Transfer Report with the following addition:
  • Insert the prefix IR2020 before entering your reporting entity's report reference number. For example, if your reporting entity's report reference number is ABCD1234, then your reporting entity's report reference number would be IR2020ABCD1234.
• SWIFT electronic funds transfers that are under the reporting threshold of $10,000 CAD, do not aggregate to $10,000 CAD under the 24-hour rule, and do not involve Iranian rial (IRR), must be reported using the Non-SWIFT Electronic Funds Transfer Report with the following addition:  
  • Insert the prefix IR2020 before entering your reporting entity's report reference number. For example, if your reporting entity's report reference number is ABCD1234, then your reporting entity's report reference number would be IR2020ABCD1234.

• Non-SWIFT electronic funds transfers that are under the reporting threshold of $10,000 CAD, and do not aggregate to $10,000 CAD under the 24-hour rule, must be reported using the Non-SWIFT Electronic Funds Transfer Report with the following addition: 
  • Insert the prefix IR2020 before entering your reporting entity's report reference number. For example, if your reporting entity's report reference number is ABCD1234, then your reporting entity's report reference number would be IR2020ABCD1234.
• SWIFT and Non-SWIFT electronic funds transfers of $10,000 CAD or more, and SWIFT and Non-SWIFT electronic funds transfers resulting from aggregated transactions of $10,000 CAD or more captured under the 24-hour rule are to be reported normally:
  • No prefix is required
• Transfers of funds within Canada, of any amount, where it is deemed that the transaction is originating from or bound for Iran, must be reported using the suspicious transaction report as follows:
  • Insert the prefix IR2020 before entering your reporting entity's report reference number. For example, if your reporting entity's report reference number is ABCD1234, then your reporting entity's report reference number would be IR2020ABCD1234.
  • As applicable Part B1, Item 5 – "other description" – transfer gov't Iran
  • As applicable Part B2, Item 12 – "other description" – transfer, gov't Iran
  • Insert the prefix IR2020 into the G section of the Suspicious Transaction Report as well.
  • Because the report is related to the Ministerial Directive, you must ensure that information provided, such as currency type, or address or disposition details, reflect the connection to Iran.   

5.2 Reporting the receipt of any amount of cash to FINTRAC:

• Any cash received (for example, Iranian rial deposited to an account, or Iranian rial received in exchange for virtual currency, CAD, or any other type of currency) that is under the reporting threshold of $10,000 CAD and does not aggregate to $10,000 CAD under the 24-hour rule must be reported using the Large Cash Transaction Report. Select 'IR2020' in the Ministerial Directive field to indicate the transaction is being reported under the Ministerial Directive.

  Note: Because the report is related to the Ministerial Directive, you must ensure that the information provided reflects a connection to Iran.

• Large cash transactions of $10,000 CAD or more, and large cash transactions that total $10,000 CAD or more when aggregated under the 24-hour rule are to be reported normally.

5.3 Reporting virtual currency transactions using the Large Virtual Currency Transaction Report :

• Any transaction involving the receipt of virtual currency for exchange to Iranian rial that is equivalent to an amount under the reporting threshold of $10,000 CAD must be reported using the Large Virtual Currency Transaction Report. Select 'IR2020' in the Ministerial Directive field to indicate the transaction is being reported under the Ministerial Directive.

  Note: Because the report is related to the Ministerial Directive, you must ensure that the information provided reflects a connection to Iran.

• Virtual currency transactions received in an amount equivalent to $10,000 CAD or more, and virtual currency transactions received that fall under the 24-hour rule are to be reported as normal.

5.4 Reporting negotiable instruments and issuing or redeeming transactions:

• Any negotiable instrument, and issuing or redeeming transaction that originates from or is bound for Iran, must be reported using the Reporting suspicious transactions to FINTRAC. In order to identify these transactions, submit the Suspicious Transaction Report with the following additions when the transactions do not meet the reasonable grounds to suspect the commission or attempted commission of a money laundering or a terrorist activity financing offence threshold:
  • Insert the prefix IR2020 before entering your reporting entity's report reference number. For example, if your reporting entity's report reference number is ABCD1234, then your reporting entity's report reference number would be IR2020ABCD1234.
  • Insert the prefix IR2020 into the G section of the suspicious transaction report as well.
  • Because the report is related to the Ministerial Directive, you must ensure that there is a connection to Iran, such as the Iranian rial, or the conductor address is Iranian.

5.5 Reporting suspicious transactions and listed person or entity property:

• All transactions that are associated with Iran must be treated as high risk and must be monitored for the purpose of determining whether a Suspicious Transaction Report or a Listed Person or Entity Property Report must be submitted to FINTRAC.
• For the purpose of this Ministerial Directive, only completed transactions must be reported if the sole reason for reporting is that the transaction is inbound from or outgoing to Iran. Attempted transactions remain reportable in instances where the reporting entity has reasonable grounds to suspect that the transaction is related to the attempted commission of a money laundering or a terrorist activity financing offence.
• See Reporting suspicious transactions to FINTRAC for more information.
• If you have property in your possession or control that is owned or controlled by or on behalf of a listed person or entity you must submit a Listed Person or Entity Property Report to FINTRAC. This includes information about any transaction or proposed transaction relating to that property. See Reporting listed person or entity property to FINTRAC for more information.

5.6. Reporting timeframes:

• Where the Ministerial Directive reflects an enhancement to a current transaction reporting obligation (for example, the threshold to report has been reduced or eliminated) the timing for reporting that transaction remains that of the obligation being enhanced:   
  • Electronic funds transfers must be reported no later than 5 working days after the day the reporting entity knows that the transfer must be reported;
  • Large cash transactions must be reported within 15 days after the transaction.
• Where the Ministerial Directive reflects an extension of reporting obligations to transactions that previously had no reporting obligation, such as the redemption of a negotiable instrument, transfers of funds within Canada, which are to be reported by means of the suspicious transaction reporting form, it is reasonable for the reporting entity to report this as soon as practicable.

Other

Your compliance program's policies and procedures should already include information on how your organization becomes aware of Ministerial Directives issued by the Minister of Finance and information on how your organization will respond. Once a Ministerial Directive has been issued, you must take steps to meet its requirements.

Your policies and procedures must also fully describe how you will make the determination that a transaction originates from or is bound for Iran and what specific mitigation measures you will take upon making this determination. For example, your policies and procedures could outline that you ask the purpose of a transaction. Similarly, you could research the origin or destination of a transaction to determine if the details about the sender, beneficiary or entities involved in the transaction, indicate that the transaction is originating from or bound for Iran.

Guidance on how to conduct and document your risk assessment can be found in the Risk assessment guidance. You are required to implement certain measures to mitigate the risk of transactions involving jurisdictions that are identified in Ministerial Directives. Examples of these measures can be found in General information on Part 1.1 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act provided by the Department of Finance Canada.

During a compliance examination, FINTRAC may assess your compliance with any Ministerial Directive in order to verify that you have taken appropriate mitigating measures in relation to related transactions. FINTRAC may also review your overall risk assessment to verify that you have documented and assessed the risk related to your business activities and clients involving these jurisdictions. Failure to comply with the measures of a Ministerial Directive is a very serious offence. The existing administrative monetary penalties regime extends to all Ministerial Directives, and failure to comply with a directive could result in a penalty. Penalties applicable to the breach of a directive can be found in the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations.