Canada Company Registration for Non-Residents: Corporation, Bank, MSB

Common law, a stable banking system, and a direct line into the US market through CUSMA — at a 15% federal rate that blends to roughly 26.5% with Ontario. A predictable jurisdiction, no surprises.

Most international clients take a federal CBCA corporation — it ports across provinces and carries a national name — or a provincial one in Ontario, BC, or Alberta for a locally-focused operation. Ontario, BC and Alberta ask for no resident directors. A ULC (Unlimited Liability Company) in BC or Nova Scotia fits US parent structures: the IRS reads it as a flow-through and passes the Canadian subsidiary's losses up to the parent.

Federal CBCA incorporation through Corporations Canada takes 1–5 business days, provincial (Ontario, BC, Alberta) 1–3 days, and the full operational cycle to a working account 8–12 weeks. Then, by stage: CRA business number 1–3 days, GST/HST 5–10 days, bank account 2–6 weeks. For a Money Services Business, add the FINTRAC registration step: FINTRAC processes most complete applications within three months.

Federal corporate income tax is 15% (9% for Canadian-Controlled Private Corporations on the first CAD 500,000), plus Ontario's provincial 11.5%, for a combined 26.5% on large corporations. GST is 5% federally; HST replaces it in Ontario (13%) and Nova Scotia (14%). Hire Canadian staff and you add payroll tax and the Employer Health Tax.

No residency is required to hold shares — a non-resident can own a Canadian corporation outright — but the CBCA requires at least 25% of the board to be Canadian residents. Ontario (since 5 July 2021), BC and Alberta have no such requirement: the board can be entirely non-resident. For CBCA structures we close the threshold with a nominee resident director — operational control stays with you.