Promote:
Find public support
The organizations that help companies export from and invest in Canada, grouped by what you need. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
1. Where to start
TCS, Invest in Canada and CBSA: the guide’s first stops, of the 19 organizations below.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
- Get advice
National trade promotion service
TCS
Trade Commissioner Service
Gives eligible Canadian businesses export advice, funding information, market contacts and support at trade missions.
Visit TCS (opens in a new tab)Source: Global Affairs Canada, export support from the trade team (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
National investment promotion agency
Invest in Canada
Promotes foreign direct investment in Canada and coordinates government, private-sector and other efforts on it.
Visit Invest in Canada (opens in a new tab)Source: Justice Laws, Invest in Canada Act (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Meet requirements
Customs and border agency
CBSA
Canada Border Services Agency
Receives export declarations through the CERS Portal and sets the exporter reporting rules.
Visit CBSA (opens in a new tab)Source: CBSA, Exporters' guide to reporting (opens in a new tab) · as of October 21, 2024
2. Export development and market information
5 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
National trade promotion service
TCS
Trade Commissioner Service
Gives eligible Canadian businesses export advice, funding information, market contacts and support at trade missions.
Visit TCS (opens in a new tab)Source: Global Affairs Canada, export support from the trade team (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Find finance
Export credit and insurance
EDC
Export Development Canada
Offers trade credit insurance, financing and working capital guarantees for companies that sell abroad.
Visit EDC (opens in a new tab)Source: Global Affairs Canada, export support from the trade team (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Find finance
Small business development bank
BDC
Business Development Bank of Canada
Offers business loans, advice and free resources for small and medium-sized companies preparing to export.
Visit BDC (opens in a new tab)Source: Global Affairs Canada, export support from the trade team (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Research markets
National statistics office
StatCan
Statistics Canada
Publishes national trade, price and economic statistics.
Visit StatCan (opens in a new tab)Source: Statistics Canada, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Meet requirements
Agriculture ministry
AAFC
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Supports agriculture and agri-food exporters, including market preparation through the Agriculture and Food Trade Commissioner Service.
Visit AAFC (opens in a new tab)Source: Global Affairs Canada, export support from the trade team (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
3. Investment and business setup
5 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
National investment promotion agency
Invest in Canada
Promotes foreign direct investment in Canada and coordinates government, private-sector and other efforts on it.
Visit Invest in Canada (opens in a new tab)Source: Justice Laws, Invest in Canada Act (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Industry and innovation ministry
ISED
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Runs notification and review of foreign investments under the Investment Canada Act.
Visit ISED (opens in a new tab)Source: ISED, Investment Canada Act home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Meet requirements
Federal company registry
Corporations Canada
Handles federal incorporation, the register of individuals with significant control and filings by federal corporations.
Visit Corporations Canada (opens in a new tab)Source: Corporations Canada, federal incorporation (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Meet requirements
Immigration department
IRCC
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Runs work permits and other immigration services for foreign staff of businesses that set up in Canada.
Visit IRCC (opens in a new tab)Source: IRCC, Work in Canada (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Finance ministry
Finance Canada
Department of Finance Canada
Publishes the Foreign Trade Zone page that describes duty and tax relief programs for investors.
Visit Finance Canada (opens in a new tab)Source: Finance Canada, Foreign Trade Zone page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
4. Customs and tax
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
Customs and border agency
CBSA
Canada Border Services Agency
Receives export declarations through the CERS Portal and sets the exporter reporting rules.
Visit CBSA (opens in a new tab)Source: CBSA, Exporters' guide to reporting (opens in a new tab) · as of October 21, 2024
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
CRA
Canada Revenue Agency
Issues the Business Number and registers non-resident businesses for tax program accounts.
Visit CRA (opens in a new tab)Source: CRA, register as a non-resident doing business (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
5. Standards and sector requirements
4 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
Foreign affairs and trade ministry
GAC
Global Affairs Canada
Issues export permits for controlled goods and runs Canadian sanctions measures.
Visit GAC (opens in a new tab)Source: Global Affairs Canada, export and import controls (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Meet requirements
Food safety and export certifier
CFIA
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Issues export certificates for food, plants and animals and publishes food requirements by country.
Visit CFIA (opens in a new tab)Source: CFIA, exporting food, plants or animals (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Meet requirements
National standards body
SCC
Standards Council of Canada
Promotes voluntary standardization in Canada under its Act.
Visit SCC (opens in a new tab)Source: Justice Laws, Standards Council of Canada Act (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Meet requirements
Intellectual property office
CIPO
Canadian Intellectual Property Office
Delivers intellectual property services in Canada and explains how to use them.
Visit CIPO (opens in a new tab)Source: Canadian Intellectual Property Office, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
6. Chambers and industry associations
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
National chamber of commerce
Canadian Chamber
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Certifies certificates of origin online and offers ATA Carnets for border clearance.
Visit Canadian Chamber (opens in a new tab)Source: Canadian Chamber of Commerce, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Get advice
Indigenous business council
CCIB
Canadian Council for Indigenous Business
Builds links between Indigenous businesses and corporate Canada.
Visit CCIB (opens in a new tab)Source: Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Get advice
Women's business council
WBE Canada
Women Business Enterprises Canada Council
Connects women-owned businesses with larger corporate and public buyers and offers certification.
Visit WBE Canada (opens in a new tab)Source: WBE Canada, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
7. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Compare Canada with other countriesSet Canada beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Canada project.
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Promote:Canada is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 30, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.