Unclaimed property outside the US: Canada, the UK, Israel, Australia and more

Where to look abroad

NAUPA, the association of US state programs, says there are many national and international sources beyond the states,³ and its members include several foreign jurisdictions.¹

The sections below cover official programs in Canada, Israel, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and France, then what US state programs say about owners who live abroad.

Canada: the Bank of Canada and provincial programs

In Canada, where to look depends on where the money was held.

Federally regulated banks. If you do not use certain financial products for 10 years, a federally regulated financial institution treats the balance as unclaimed and must transfer it to the Bank of Canada.⁴ Before that, it must try to contact you in writing at the last address on file.⁴ The Bank of Canada then holds balances of less than $1,000 for 30 years and balances of $1,000 or more for 100 years.⁴ You can search by last name, business name or account number.⁶ Searching and starting a claim are free, and you do not need a third party.⁵ The average processing time is 120 days.⁵ The signed claim form and documents go online, or by mail if the claim is over $5,000.⁵ If your documents do not arrive within 12 months, the claim is closed.⁵ Heirs to an estate with no will can claim.⁵

Provinces. NAUPA’s directory of official programs lists Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Quebec, as well as the Bank of Canada.² Ontario is not on that list.

In Alberta, submitting a claim is free, but you may have to pay administration costs for the property, such as storage or holder fees.⁷ A locator in Alberta cannot charge more than 10% of the value.⁷ A search on Alberta’s own site sends you to MissingMoney.com for the results,⁷ and MissingMoney.com covers Alberta along with over 40 state and provincial registries.⁷ See how MissingMoney works.

In Quebec, Revenu Québec warns that people who find heirs or owners may charge high fees, and says you can claim yourself at any time using its forms.¹⁰ In British Columbia, if you are unsure whether a letter from the Society is genuine, the province says you can ask the Office of the Comptroller General at [email protected].⁸

Israel: the Administrator General and Har HaKesef

There are two main official routes in Israel.

Abandoned property (רכוש עזוב). The Ministry of Justice’s Administrator General manages property whose owner, or the owner’s heirs, cannot be located and which nobody is authorized to handle.¹⁹ It covers real estate, money, movables and rights.¹⁹ Transfer to the State does not take away a person’s right to claim the property.¹⁹ What the official page requires:

• Documents signed outside Israel, such as the request form, an affidavit or a power of attorney, must be authenticated either before an Israeli consulate in the country where they were signed¹⁹ or by apostille: a local notary’s certification plus certification by that country’s competent authority.¹⁹
• An heir must provide inheritance orders or probate orders issued by a competent authority in Israel.¹⁹
• A management fee is charged. For real estate it is 5% of the value, plus any management expenses.¹⁹

Dormant bank accounts, pensions and life insurance. In 2016 the Bank of Israel launched a free system to locate bank accounts and deposits with no transactions, and accounts of deceased people.¹⁷ The results show only which banks hold such accounts, not the balances, and the Bank of Israel says to contact those banks for the details.¹⁷ The site is at itur.mof.gov.il.¹⁷ It is called Har HaKesef (“Money Mountain”) and searches pension savings and life insurance policies as well as bank accounts, including those of a deceased relative.¹⁸

United Kingdom: dormant assets and unclaimed estates

Dormant bank accounts. Under the UK’s Dormant Assets Scheme, banks and other firms may choose to transfer dormant funds.¹¹ Owners can reclaim what they would have been owed at any time.¹¹ The government says to contact the firm that held the money first, or to trace dormant bank accounts through My Lost Account.¹¹

Unclaimed estates (bona vacantia). When someone dies with no will or known family, their property passes to the Crown as ownerless property.¹² If you are a relative, you could be entitled to a share.¹² For an estate in England and Wales (outside Cornwall and Lancashire), a claim needs a family tree showing your relationship and two pieces of identification.¹³

Australia, New Zealand and France

Claiming US unclaimed property while living abroad

If you have moved out of the US, you can still claim from a state program. The details vary by state:

• Phone. Delaware has a separate number for international callers, 302-232-3022.²⁰
• ID. Florida accepts photo identification issued by a foreign nation when the claimant has no valid driver license.²²
• Payment. Wyoming pays by check only to people in the US or Canada;²³ if you live in another country you can ask for a foreign wire transfer.²³ Pennsylvania does not pay international claims by direct deposit.²⁵ Compare how states pay.
• Large payments. In fiscal year 2025, Wyoming’s largest single payment, more than $6.53 million, went to a foreign claimant.²⁴

Which US state holds your property can depend on the address a company has for you. If its records show a foreign address, Delaware treats the property as reportable to Delaware when the company is domiciled or incorporated there.²¹ So property from a Delaware company may be held by Delaware even if you never lived there. See the state directory and the claim deadlines table.

Staying safe

Programs abroad warn about fees and unexpected contacts too. Revenu Québec says finders may charge high fees.¹⁰ France’s Caisse des Dépôts says it does not contact people about unclaimed sums.¹⁶ Bank of Canada searches and claims carry no fee.⁵ See how to spot unclaimed property scams.

Next step

For property abroad, start with the official program of that country or province above. For property in the US, use the multi-state checklist and follow the claim guide.

Questions people ask

How do I locate unclaimed property in Israel?

Israel's Administrator General manages abandoned property, including real estate, money, movables and rights.¹⁹ Anyone who finds property they may have a legal right to can apply to the Administrator General for its return.¹⁹ For dormant bank accounts and pension or life insurance savings, the government's Har HaKesef site shows where accounts are held.¹⁷¹⁸ Documents signed outside Israel must be authenticated at an Israeli consulate or by apostille.¹⁹

Is there unclaimed property in Canada?

Yes. Federally regulated banks send balances to the Bank of Canada after 10 years without use,⁴ and its search is free.⁵ Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec have their own provincial programs.⁷⁸¹⁰

Can I claim US unclaimed property if I live abroad?

Yes, owners abroad can claim from state programs. Delaware has a phone line for international callers.²⁰ Florida accepts photo ID issued by a foreign nation.²² Wyoming pays claimants outside the US and Canada by foreign wire transfer.²³ Pennsylvania does not offer direct deposit for international payments.²⁵

Does MissingMoney.com search Canada?

It searches Alberta. Alberta says MissingMoney.com searches its registry along with over 40 other state and provincial registries.⁷

Sources

Footnote numbers point here. Open "Quoted text" for the exact words relied on ("[…]" marks words left out).

1. Who We Are National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) · unclaimed.org · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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   NAUPA, an affiliate of the National Association of State Treasurers, is the foremost authority on unclaimed property and is comprised of the unclaimed property programs of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as several foreign jurisdictions.

2. Search for your unclaimed property (it's free) National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) · unclaimed.org · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (1)

   Select any of the options below to go directly to the official government unclaimed property program for that state or province:

3. Search Beyond Your State National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) · unclaimed.org · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (2)

   In addition to state government programs, there are many national and international sources for unclaimed property.

   Search for unclaimed accounts in federally regulated banks held by The Bank of Canada.

4. Unclaimed bank balances Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (Government of Canada) · canada.ca · archived copy, captured May 13, 2026 (view capture) · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (4)

   If you don’t use certain financial products for 10 years, federally regulated financial institutions will consider the balance to be unclaimed. They must transfer unclaimed balances to the Bank of Canada.

   Your financial institution must try to contact you before transferring an unclaimed balance to the Bank of Canada. They must do so in writing.

   They will try to contact you at the last address on file after the following times have gone by:

   The Bank of Canada will hold unclaimed balances of less than $1,000 for 30 years. They will hold unclaimed balances of $1,000 or more for 100 years.

5. Resources for claimants Bank of Canada, Unclaimed Properties Office · unclaimedproperties.bankofcanada.ca · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (5)

   Claimants are not required to authorize a third-party, and there is no fee associated with searching for and initiating a property claim.

   The claim form will need to be completed and signed and submitted, along with the required documentation, online or by mail if the value of your claim is over $5,000.

   If we do not receive the requested documentation within 12 months from the date of this email, your claim request will be closed.

   The average processing time for an unclaimed bank balance is 120 days, depending on time of the year, the complexity of the claim and the degree to which the claim package has been properly and fully completed by the claimant.

   A heir or beneficiary to an Estate with no Will

6. How to claim unclaimed property Bank of Canada, Unclaimed Properties Office · unclaimedproperties.bankofcanada.ca · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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   Type in your last name/business name or your account number in the corresponding fields and click SEARCH.

7. Unclaimed property Government of Alberta, Treasury Board and Finance · alberta.ca · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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   As of March 31, 2026, there were approximately 325,631 unclaimed items in the unclaimed property repository, with an estimated value of $178 million.

   MissingMoney.com searches the Alberta registry, as well as over 40 other state and provincial registries in North America.

   After searching the Alberta Search for Lost Property and Money website, you will be directed to MissingMoney.com for the results of your search.

   Claims must be submitted within 10 years from the date the property was received by TRA.

   The locator fee in Alberta cannot be greater than 10% of the value of the property.

   There is no charge to submit a claim; however, you may be required to pay a fee for the administration costs of the property (for example, storage costs, holder fees).

   A claim may take up to 120 days to be reviewed. It may take longer if more documentation is needed.

8. Unclaimed Property Program Province of British Columbia, Office of the Comptroller General · www2.gov.bc.ca · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (3)

   The Office of the Comptroller General (OCG) is responsible for the legislation of the Unclaimed Property Program as authorized by the Unclaimed Property Act.

   To search for unclaimed property visit the BC Unclaimed Property Society.

   If you are in doubt about the authenticity of a letter you can inquire with the OCG, Financial Management Branch, at [email protected].

9. BC Unclaimed BC Unclaimed Property Society · bcunclaimed.ca · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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   BC Unclaimed keeps unclaimed money until we find the rightful owner. The money is left behind in places like credit union accounts, estates and courts.

10. General Information Concerning Unclaimed Property Revenu Québec · revenuquebec.ca · archived copy, captured Sept. 11, 2025 (view capture) · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (4)

    We receive, provisionally administer and liquidate unclaimed property such as unclaimed financial assets, the property of unclaimed successions and property located in Québec whose

    A right-holder can claim the value of property remitted to the State, provided a claim is filed within the prescribed time period. Certain fees apply.

    Such persons or businesses may charge high fees.

    Note that you can claim property yourself at any time using the appropriate forms.

11. The Dormant Assets Scheme GOV.UK (Department for Culture, Media and Sport and HM Treasury) · gov.uk · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (3)

    Owners are able to reclaim what they would have been owed had their asset not been transferred into the Scheme at any time.

    The Scheme allows businesses to transfer funds voluntarily from dormant assets.

    Under the current Scheme, customers should contact the firm that held their funds in the first instance, or they can trace their dormant bank accounts through My Lost Account

12. Claim or refer an unclaimed estate: Overview GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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    When someone dies with no will or known family, their property passes to the Crown as ownerless property (or ‘bona vacantia’).

    You could be entitled to a share of a deceased relative’s property (‘estate’) if you’re a relative.

13. Claim or refer an unclaimed estate: Make a claim on an estate GOV.UK · gov.uk · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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    If you think you’re entitled to an estate in England and Wales (but not Cornwall or Lancashire):

    You’ll be asked to send a family tree showing your relationship and 2 pieces of identification:

14. Find unclaimed money Moneysmart, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) · moneysmart.gov.au · archived copy, captured Oct. 8, 2026 (view capture) · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (4)

    Finding unclaimed money is a free service provided by the Australian Government.

    ASIC holds money from bank, credit union and building society accounts that have not been used in 7 years and contain a balance of $500 or more.

    Lost money is available to be claimed at any time by the rightful owner and there is no time limit on claims.

    Search for lost superannuation by registering for the Australian Taxation Office's online services via myGov.

15. Unclaimed money Inland Revenue (Te Tari Taake), New Zealand · ird.govt.nz · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)

    If the organisation or person has not been able to find the owner of the unclaimed money, it is transferred to us, Public Trust or Treasury.

    Money is generally unclaimed after 5 years. In limited cases it can be less than 5 years.

16. Ciclade, le service de recherche de sommes oubliées Caisse des Dépôts (France) · ciclade.caissedesdepots.fr · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)

    Ce site, gratuit, est le seul service permettant la recherche de sommes non réclamées transférées à la Caisse des Dépôts.

    La Caisse des Dépôts ne contacte pas les particuliers, ni les notaires, ni les avocats pour les informer de l'existence de sommes non réclamées, ni pour leur remettre directement ces sommes.

17. A new system to locate money held at banks Bank of Israel, Banking Supervision Department · boi.org.il · Sept. 12, 2016 · archived copy, captured Feb. 12, 2025 (view capture) · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (4)

    The Bank of Israel Banking Supervision Department today is launching a system that will enable bank customers to locate—easily and at no cost—bank accounts and deposits with no transactions, as well as deceased individuals’ accounts.

    It is important to emphasize that for protection of privacy of the customer and the information, the search results only indicate a list of banks in which there are inactive accounts/deposits.

    To clarify those details, contact the banks that appear on the list in response to the query, using the contact details on the site.

    To locate inactive deposits and accounts of deceased individuals, go to the Money Mountain 2 website at https://itur.mof.gov.il .

18. Har HaKesef (הר הכסף) Israel Ministry of Finance · itur.mof.gov.il · archived copy, captured Dec. 23, 2024 (view capture) · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (3)

    איתור חסכונות פנסיוניים ופוליסות לביטוח חיים - הר הכסף

    איתור חשבונות בנק - הר הכסף

    חיפוש כספים על שם קרוב שנפטר - חשבונות בנק - הר הכסף

19. השבת נכס או רכוש עזוב באגף האפוטרופוס הכללי (Return of abandoned property, Administrator General) Israel Ministry of Justice, Administrator General and Inheritance Registrar · gov.il · archived copy, captured Dec. 11, 2024 (view capture) · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (9)

    רכוש עזוב או נכס עזוב הינו רכוש אשר לא ידוע היכן בעליו או יורשי בעליו, ולא נמצא גורם הרשאי לטפל בו.

    סוגי הנכסים העזובים: נדל"ן, כספים, מיטלטלין וזכויות.

    כל אדם אשר ביצע חיפוש של נכס או רכוש עזוב ומצא כי ישנה סבירות כי הינו בעל זכות חוקית בנכס, רשאי לפנות ליחידה לאיתור נכסים עזובים ולהשבתם, שבאגף האפוטרופוס הכללי.

    כל מסמך אשר מוגש במסגרת הבקשה (תצהיר, טופס בקשה, ייפוי כוח ועוד) אשר נערך ונחתם בחוץ לארץ יש לאמתו על פי חוק בדרכים הבאות:

    בפני קונסוליה ישראלית בארץ בו נערך המסמך.

    בדרך של "אפוסטיל"- אימות של נוטריון מקומי ועליו אימות של רשות מוסמכת של המדינה בה נערך המסמך.

    במקרה זה יידרש הטוען להמציא צווי ירושה או צווי קיום צוואה רלוונטיים שניתנו על ידי ערכאה מוסמכת בישראל

    מדובר בשכר בגובה 5% מערך המקרקעין וכן יידרש לשלם הוצאות ניהול ככל שהיו.

    אין בהעברה זו שלילת זכות של אדם לטעון לרכוש

20. Contact Us Delaware Department of Finance, Office of Unclaimed Property · unclaimedproperty.delaware.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    302-232-3022 (International Callers)

21. Holder Handbook: Instructions for Preparing Delaware Unclaimed Property Reports Delaware Department of Finance, Office of Unclaimed Property · unclaimedproperty.delaware.gov · August 2026, Version 1 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    Second Priority Rule: Owner’s address is unknown or foreign, and holder is legally domiciled or incorporated in Delaware.

22. Chapter 717, Florida Statutes (2026), Florida Disposition of Abandoned Personal Property Act The Florida Legislature · leg.state.fl.us · 2026 Florida Statutes · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)

    If the claimant has not been issued a valid driver license at the time the original claim form is filed, the department must be provided with a legible copy of a photographic identification of the claimant issued by the United States, a state or territory of the United States, a foreign nation, or a political subdivision or agency thereof or other evidence deemed acceptable by the department by rule.

    This chapter does not apply to any property held, due, and owing in a foreign country and arising out of foreign transaction.

23. FAQs for Wyoming Unclaimed Property Wyoming State Treasurer's Office · statetreasurer.wyo.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
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    At this time, Wyoming will only make payment via check to anyone residing in the United States or Canada.

    If you live in another country, you may request that we utilize a foreign wire transfer to make payment.

24. Treasurer's Annual Report FY2025 (revised 12-7-25) Wyoming State Treasurer's Office · statetreasurer.wyo.gov · FY2025, revised Dec. 7, 2025 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    The largest payment exceeded $6.53 million and went to a foreign claimant while the largest U.S. claim was for mineral royalties and totaled $1.06 million.

25. Treasurer Stacy Garrity: Many Unclaimed Property Claims Now Being Paid by Direct Deposit Pennsylvania Treasury Department · patreasury.gov · Nov. 16, 2022 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    Direct deposit is not available for claims filed by finders or for those requesting international payments.