US and Canadian customs are notoriously rigorous (to the point of absurdity) on the $10k limit: most customs officials seem to believe that carrying large amounts of cash (under 10k too) is inherently suspicious.

I understand from OP that this is a theoretical question - still, past experience has shown that people travelling together with over $10k cumulative have frequently run into problems, including seizure, unless it was demonstrated- and provable - that each individual personally owned the amount they were actually carrying.

I think its simple. USA is per declaration form. In Canada its per person just like merchandise. I would assume each person should have the funds on them. "Demonstrated-and provable" above comment is strange. That requirement could be applied to everything one carries when crossing. I never experienced such need as to proof.

Thanks dand99. Yes, absolutely this was a theoretical question. As the OP I can certainly state that we've never travelled with $10,000 or equivalent in total (wishful thinking ). I think the most at any one time was about $8,000 equivalent in Japanese Yen on our last trip there where we stayed 27 days. As many people likely know, Japan is intrinsically a cash society. For example, paying a $2,200 equivalent hotel bill in cash is quite common. If planning a trip we buy Yen at different times to take advantage of best exchange rates.

What intrigued was the reluctance of AC to give us each a customs declaration form. Sure we know that up to four people living at the same address can be included - but we would rather have separate forms and claim our exemptions separately.

Regarding FINTRAC, if separate declarations are used and each individual is carrying less than $10,000 Cdn the funds do not have to be declared, whereas if it's two people on a single form jointly carrying more than $10k but less than $10k individually the funds "seem to" have to be declared.

We see it a lot on "that TV show" where couples carrying over $10k but far less than $20k combined get trapped in this and always seem to end up being forced to pay a $250 fine to be allowed to keep their own money.

Worst of all, there seems to be absolutely nothing in writing available to the public with clear concise guidelines!
It's almost like the authorities don't want people to be able to know what their righs really are!

>> As many people likely know, Japan is intrinsically a cash society.

Never paid cash for hotel stays over the last 25 years, only credit cards. But I don't stay at the cheapest or most expensive places where only cash is accepted.

And used ATM in Japan all those years.

Well beep88, what you say is perfectly understandable and quite true.
However, we are a couple of seniors (72+) travelling for pleasure. We always stay in 4* hotels for the most part in Japan and on the last two visits (21 days and 27 days) we spent the last week of each at the Intercontinental Yokohama Grand where they were quite happy to accept cash. (We used our gold card to secure the reservation - but why charge hotels when we had cash available!).

While you mentioned ATM's, we've never actually looked for one in Japan, but we've heard that some are even time restricted and shut down at night.

No matter, cash really is king over there. The fun thing is to get and use some 2,000 Yen notes. They seem to love getting them, even when the cash registers are not designed to accommodate that denomination!

I also used cash exclusively in Asia and South America myself. Did not have trust in their machines or even credit cards which also charge 2.5 % of the top. Much better exchange rates at home too.

When in doubt (especially for CBSA, along with US/Oz etc...), declare. Worst that can happen is you lose that raw duck and sausages you clearly shouldn't have and spend 30 mins in secondary.

And if you can carry anything explaining what you have, that can help. Like when I declared $790 or so of goods... wasn't an issue (not even secondary) as I had an itemized list.

Always rely on cash with backup card in S/M America, Asia and Africa. With a credit card for backup .. and normally hotel rooms. Sometimes ATMs aren't easy to find, or at least safe ones.

Exactly! It's not always easy for Americans or Canadians to recognise "safe" ATM's in other countries.

We've used ATM's in Ireland, Germany and the UK, BUT, always only at bank branches and never in convenience type stores and definitely never at the unidentified generic type starting to appear even in Canada. We would also never use them in Africa, Asia or S.America!

So much safer and better to carry cash and not have to worry about exchange rates, etc.

BUT, we still need something in writing outlining the rules for (and rights of!) people travelling to/from Canada together by air.

CBSA suggested to me to carry one filled out part way in case NEXUS is on the fritz and you have to go to the special services queue. But other than that hedge if you are not declaring over your exemption it is not required.

I just use my UK cards in the UK :P But theres
a growing trend there of people fitting readers onto machines etc .... Best to walk into a branch if possible, and I've seen people do this in say Kenya, quick it is not.

Its worth stating, as hinted to above that it's $10,000 Canadian in whatever form it takes. So that's like $8k USD. Or U$4k and C$5k, or any other combination. When I travelled over with multiple old currencies (maybe 6-7 types) and some less well known options) I again kept a list and made sure I was well under.

But again, if you can explain it... just declare it and don't book a 1h or other short MCT time at your Canadian port of entry! Even if on the same PNR.

It is written but you are ignoring the comments.
Entering Canada
When you arrive in Canada with Can$10,000 or more in your possession, ...

Leaving Canada
When departing Canada by air with Can$10,000 or more in your possession, ...
Take a look at the declaration instructions: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicati...s/e311-eng.pdf

The first paragraph plainly says that each passenger is responsible for his or her own declaration. (soon to be its own as well)

What else do you want people to say. The Border Security shows you watched is for USA crossing and I personally saw Canadian version where they were adding the sum per person. Certainly if each person on the declaration form has funds under the limit, no explanation is asked for by the agent. They normally will ask you again; then just tell them what each of you have individually and that would be considered a full disclosure and no penalty if you still are unsure if total or per pax is the rule. Crossing the USA, its definitely per declaration card.

I used mine and can't ever seem to get more lady bills!

Coming from Japan to YVR in the past 15 years however YMMV.

We have carried about 1, 500,000 yen to ($14,000-18,000 CAD depending on exchange) a few times.

Each time, we filled out ONE declaration form as a family.

We were told twice by Canada Customs, "thank you for declaring especially when we were not legally required to". I usually carry about $8,000 CAD and wife carries about $7,000 CAD.

We always did because we also carry a foreign currency travel wallet which has a few hundred dollars of USD,EU,RMB,TWD etc which we are never sure the exact value and didn't want to be somehow be over the magical $10,000 limit.

I definitely agree.

I think it can be summed up by a memorable quote from a CBSA officer on "that TV show", along the lines of

"Well, if someone declares $8,000, I think to myself - why not 6,000 ? Why not 12,000 ? And that seems suspicious to me".

hmmm....

I was always under the impression it was a family limit. The declaration card says "I am/we are bringing into Canada..."

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicati...s/e311-eng.pdf

However, reading the actual instructions on the side, it says "Each traveller is responsible for reporting currency and/or monetary instruments totalling C$10,000 or more..."