- Website or YouTube: Canada gets a different menu for each
- Why EFT in Canadian dollars is the sensible default
- The Canadian dollar thresholds, line by line
- Setting up EFT before the 20th
- When wire transfer still comes up for Canadians
- Payment day, then identity and PIN
- US withholding for Canadian YouTubers
- Other Canadian payout routes to compare
- Frequently asked questions
In Canada, Google's table offers AdSense EFT and wire transfer, but YouTube earnings get EFT only, and check is unavailable on both. EFT pays in Canadian dollars after a test deposit, and Google sets one hundred Canadian dollars as the payment threshold, so finish setup before the 20th.
Canada is one of the odd ones in Google's AdSense payment tables, because the answer changes depending on whether your income comes from a website or from YouTube. I've read through Google's help pages so you can see where that split is, what the Canadian dollar numbers look like, and what to set up before your first payment.
Website or YouTube: Canada gets a different menu for each
Google's payment-method table lists Canada for AdSense with check marked no, EFT marked yes, wire transfer marked yes and Hyperwallet marked no. For YouTube, the same row is shorter: EFT is the only yes. Wire transfer is marked no for Canadian YouTube earnings, and check and Hyperwallet are no as well.
So if you run a blog and a YouTube channel, plan around the fact that EFT is the one route that appears on both sides. If you earn on both, the help pages also note that separate payments accounts for AdSense and YouTube each need to reach their own payment threshold.
Why EFT in Canadian dollars is the sensible default
Google's EFT page lists Canada with the Canadian dollar as the currency, and says a test deposit is required. It describes EFT as a direct deposit into your bank account in your local currency. For most Canadian publishers that means no international wire, no intermediary bank, and no conversion step on your side.
The YouTube payments page also says your bank must be in the same country as your payments address, and that wire transfers don't require a test deposit. For Canada, that second point matters less, since the YouTube side doesn't offer wire.
The Canadian dollar thresholds, line by line
| Threshold | Canadian dollar figure in Google's table |
|---|---|
| Tax information | 0 Canadian dollars |
| Payment method selection | 10 Canadian dollars |
| Payment | 100 Canadian dollars |
| Cancelation | 10 Canadian dollars |
The tax information line is the interesting one. Most currencies in Google's table show it as not applicable, but the Canadian dollar row shows a threshold of zero. In plain terms, Google's table expects tax information from the start for Canadian-dollar accounts, so don't leave it until your first payout. If you aren't sure which form applies, ask a Canadian accountant.
Setting up EFT before the 20th
Timing catches people out more than anything else. Google's EFT page says that if you set EFT as your form of payment after the 20th of the month, it can't guarantee that you'll be paid by EFT that month. Google's example is simple: to be paid by EFT for March earnings, finish the setup before 20 April.
- Sign in to AdSense and open Payments, then Payments info.
- Choose Manage payment methods, then Add payment method.
- Enter your Canadian bank account details exactly as your bank holds them.
- Watch your statement for the small test deposit, which can take one to five business days.
- Enter the amount in AdSense to confirm the account.
Google says the test deposit is usually less than one US dollar. If it hasn't shown after ten working days, check the details with your bank. Three wrong attempts at the amount block you until AdSense support steps in.
When wire transfer still comes up for Canadians
Wire is available on the AdSense side, but it isn't the same kind of payment. Google's wire page says earnings are sent in US dollars or euros, depending on your account currency, via international wire. So a Canadian wire is not a Canadian-dollar deposit, and your bank's rate and charges for incoming wires come into it. If you'd like the money in Canadian dollars with the least fuss, EFT is the cleaner fit.
Payment day, then identity and PIN
If you run both a website and a channel, remember Google's note that each payments account is treated separately. Each one has to reach its own payment threshold before it pays out, so a small balance in one account won't be topped up by the other. Check the Payments page for each before you assume a payment is on its way.
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Google issues payments between the 21st and the 26th of the month once earnings pass the threshold and there are no holds. After that, it says you receive the payment up to seven business days later.
Before any of that, Google asks you to confirm your identity. The identity verification threshold is now zero, and address verification is still ten US dollars or the local equivalent. The PIN is six digits, comes by international standard mail without tracking, and usually takes about three weeks. Enter it wrongly three times and your ads stop. You have four months from when it's generated.
US withholding for Canadian YouTubers
YouTube says all monetising creators must provide tax info. For creators outside the US, withholding is between zero and thirty on earnings from US viewers, and Google says only the portion from US viewers is subject to it once valid information is on file. The IRS list of United States income tax treaties has an entry for Canada, though what that means for you is a job for a Canadian accountant.
Other Canadian payout routes to compare
If you're building several income streams, how the same programme pays out in the UK is a useful contrast, and how Amazon KDP royalties arrive for Canadian authors covers a different payout system. Creators selling memberships can also read how Patreon pays creators in Canada.
Frequently asked questions
Does AdSense pay Canadians by EFT?
Yes. Google's table marks EFT as available for Canada, and its EFT page lists the Canadian dollar with a test deposit required.
Can Canadian YouTubers get paid by wire transfer from AdSense?
Google's table marks wire as unavailable for Canadian YouTube earnings, with EFT as the only yes. For website AdSense, wire is marked yes.
What is the AdSense payment threshold in Canadian dollars?
Google's table shows ten Canadian dollars to select a payment method and one hundred before a payment is made.
Does AdSense send cheques to Canada?
No. Google's table marks check as unavailable for Canada on both the AdSense and YouTube sides.
Why was my EFT payment late?
Google says that setting EFT after the 20th of the month means it can't guarantee EFT for that month. Complete setup and the test deposit before the 20th.
