Guide to Detecting Counterfeit Canadian Dollar (CAD) Bills

How to Identify Counterfeit CAD (C$) Currency Notes

If you're an Indian traveler planning a trip to Canada, here's something most people overlook—fake currency. While it's easy to assume every note you receive is genuine, counterfeit Canadian dollars do circulate, and unsuspecting tourists can be easy targets. Whether you’re exchanging INR in India before traveling or exchanging CAD in Canada, knowing how to spot a fake can save you a lot of hassle. This guide will walk you through the security features of each denomination and help you tell real from fake at a glance.

Key Security Features of Canadian Dollar Bank Notes

Polymer Material:

The polymer material of genuine notes prevents colours from running when wet, a characteristic that counterfeit paper notes often fail to replicate.

Raised Ink:

Raised ink, which can be felt by touch on key elements like the portrait, denomination, and bank name.

Transparent Windows with Metallic Elements:

Transparent windows are another prominent security feature, often containing metallic elements such as portraits, buildings, and symbols that exhibit colour-shifting properties when the banknote is tilted.

Frosted Maple Leaf Window:

The denominations feature a frosted maple leaf window with a distinct transparent outline, as well as matching numbers corresponding to the note's value and the word "Canada" printed in a slightly raised manner.

A Detailed Guide to Identifying Counterfeit CAD Currency by Denomination

The below guide is about the security features of the current series of Canadian banknotes, which are the Frontiers series of polymer notes and the vertical $10 banknote. These are the banknotes mostly in circulation. The Canadian $1, $2, $25, $500, and $1000 notes (from older paper series) are no longer legal tender in Canada as of January 1, 2021.

Denomination	Portrait	Raised Ink	Transparent Window Features	Metallic Elements
C$5	Sir Wilfrid Laurier	Large "5", “Bank of Canada” texts, “Canada”, matching numbers.	Maple leaves bordering and crossing the window.	Metallic portrait of Laurier (colour-shifting, visible from the back).
C$10	Viola Desmond	Portrait, "Canada", Large "10".	Large transparent window, eagle feather (colour-shifting), 3D maple leaf (appears raised but flat), 3 maple leaves above portrait.	Metallic library ceiling, maple leaves, symbols (colour-shifting).
C$20	Queen Elizabeth II	Large "20", “Bank of Canada” texts, “Canada”, matching numbers.	Maple leaves bordering and inside window.	Metallic portrait of Queen (colour-shifting), Peace Tower, holographic portrait.
C$50	William Lyon Mackenzie King	Large "50", “Bank of Canada” texts, “Canada”, matching numbers.	Maple leaves bordering and inside window.	Metallic portrait of King (colour-shifting), Centre Block of Parliament.
C$100	Sir Robert Borden	Large "100", “Bank of Canada” texts, “Canada”, matching numbers.	Maple leaves bordering and inside window.	Metallic portrait of Borden (colour-shifting).

The C$5 Bill

The C$5 banknote features a portrait of Sir Wilfrid Laurier.
Raised Ink on the Large Number "5": Run your finger over the large "5" on the front of the note; it should have a distinct raised texture.
Frosted Maple Leaf Window: Check the transparent window for a frosted maple leaf design with a clearly transparent outline.
Raised Ink on "Banque du Canada" and "Bank of Canada": Feel the words "Banque du Canada" and "Bank of Canada" for a raised texture.
Matching Numbers and Raised "Canada": Locate the denomination number "5" and the word "Canada," both of which should feel slightly raised.
Metallic Portrait of Sir Wilfrid Laurier: Within the large transparent window, there is a smaller metallic portrait of Sir Wilfrid Laurier that matches the main portrait. When you tilt the note, this metallic portrait should change colour and be visible from the back.
Maple Leaves Bordering and Crossing into the Large Window: Observe the edges of the large transparent window for maple leaf designs that appear to border and partially enter the window.

The C$10 Bill

The $10 banknote features a portrait of Viola Desmond.
Raised Ink on Portrait, "Canada," and Large "10": Feel for raised ink on the portrait of Viola Desmond, the word "Canada," and the large number "10" at the bottom of the note.
Colour-Shifting Eagle Feather: On the back of the note, look at the pattern within the eagle feather. Tilting the note should cause the pattern to move up and down while the colour shifts from gold to green. This colour shift is also visible in the smallest maple leaf located above the portrait on the front.
3-D Maple Leaf: A large maple leaf on the note will appear to be raised, but when touched, the surface should be flat.
Transparent Maple Leaf: On the front of the note, the maple leaf should be clear and feel slightly raised.
Large Transparent Window: This prominent window contains detailed metallic images and symbols.
Metallic Symbols and Images: Within the large transparent window, the metallic elements should exhibit sharp colour changes when the note is tilted. Flipping the note over will reveal the library ceiling and maple leaves repeated in the same colours and detail on the other side.
Maple Leaves Above the Portrait: There are three maple leaves above the portrait. The smallest leaf shows the gold-to-green colour shift of the eagle feather from the back, and the largest leaf is a clear window.

The C$20 Bill

The $20 banknote features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Raised Ink on the Large Number "20": Feel for a raised texture on the large "20".
Frosted Maple Leaf Window: Look for a frosted maple leaf window with a transparent outline.
Raised Ink on "Banque du Canada" and "Bank of Canada": Feel the raised texture of these words.
Matching Numbers and Raised "Canada": Locate the matching "20"s and feel for the slightly raised word "Canada".
Metallic Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II: In the large window, the metallic portrait should match the main portrait. Tilting the note will cause it to change colour, and it will be visible on the reverse.
Maple Leaves Bordering and Crossing into the Large Window: Observe the maple leaf designs along the edges and within the large transparent window.
Holographic Image of the Portrait: A holographic replication of the main portrait is also visible within the large window.
Metallic Building (Peace Tower): The Peace Tower is depicted in metallic form within the large window. It will change colour when the note is tilted and is visible on the other side.

The C$50 Bill

The C$50 banknote features a portrait of William Lyon Mackenzie King.
Raised Ink on the Large Number "50": Feel for a noticeable raised texture on the large "50".
Frosted Maple Leaf Window: Look for the transparent window with a frosted maple leaf design and a clear outline.
Raised Ink on "Bank of Canada" and "Banque du Canada": Feel the raised texture of these words.
Matching Numbers and Raised "Canada": Locate the denomination number "50" and the word "Canada," both of which should feel slightly raised.
Metallic Portrait of William Lyon Mackenzie King: The smaller metallic portrait in the large window should match the main portrait. Tilting the banknote will cause the metallic portrait to change colour, and it will be visible on the other side.
Maple Leaves in the Large Window: Examine the large transparent window for maple leaf designs bordering and crossing into it.
Metallic Building (Centre Block of Parliament): The Centre Block of Parliament is featured in metallic form, changing colour when tilted and visible on the reverse.

The C$100 Bill

The C$100 banknote features a portrait of Sir Robert Borden.
Raised Ink on the Large Number "100": Feel for a raised texture on the large "100".
Frosted Maple Leaf Window: Look for the transparent window with a frosted maple leaf and a clear outline.
Raised Ink on "Banque du Canada" and "Bank of Canada": Feel the raised texture of these words.
Matching Numbers and Raised "Canada": Locate the matching "100"s and feel for the slightly raised word "Canada".
Metallic Portrait of Sir Robert Borden: The smaller metallic portrait in the large window should match the main portrait. Tilting the note will cause the metallic portrait to change colour, and it will be visible on the reverse.
Maple Leaves in the Large Window: Observe the maple leaf designs that border and cross into the large transparent window.

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