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50+ jurisdictions · activeCompliance feed · 14 updatesv 2026.05
INNOVAINNOVA
Licensing — MSB / VASP / EMI · Canada

PSP in Canada

Payment service provider

  • Handled locally — the INNOVA Canada desk.
  • The same partner — banking, tax and compliance after registration.
  • One named partner — 24-hour SLA.
  • Regulator-grade documentation from the first filing.
Canada desk · 2026Licensing — MSB / VASP / EMI
Timeline
1 month
start to finish
Cost
From US$ 18,000
depends on jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Canada
Toronto · since 2012
▸ About this service

What is psp in Canada?

PSP is one of 8 parts of our “Licensing — MSB / VASP / EMI” practice. It covers the full cycle from initial scoping to operational launch, run by a single named partner from our Canada desk.

What it is in Canada: payment service provider. FINTRAC oversight for MSB operators. Immigration for founders runs through Express Entry or the Start-up Visa: we know which route is realistic for a given profile.

▸ In detail

How we handle psp

The “PSP” project in Canada is structured as a 4-stage process run by a single named partner.

Fintech, crypto, EMI, and payments licences across Canada, the UK, UAE, Estonia, and Singapore — application through to regulator onboarding.

The same desk that runs psp handles your banking, bookkeeping, compliance and — where needed — your wind-down.INNOVA · Operating model
▸ Jurisdiction

Why Canada

Canada is our primary launchpad for MSB licensing and fintech projects. We know where you can genuinely open a corporate account, how to clear FINTRAC on the first attempt, and how to avoid the common pitfalls in provincial corporate law. A G7 country with a developed banking system, a broad network of tax treaties, and a bilingual operating environment.

01 · Advantage

A reliable regulatory environment

FINTRAC oversight for MSB operators. Immigration for founders runs through Express Entry or the Start-up Visa: we know which route is realistic for a given profile.
02 · Advantage

Banking ecosystem

Tier-1 banks (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC) are realistic with the right KYC packaging. MSB-grade banking exists, but it requires a properly built compliance profile — and we build it.
03 · Advantage

Corporate tax 26.5% federal + provincial blended (Ontario)

The real tax position depends on the structure — we model it before registration.
04 · Advantage

INNOVA desk on the ground

Toronto · since 2012
▸ Why us

Why INNOVA

Operational differences that hold up on the 2nd, 5th and 10th project — not just at first impression.

01

One partner — the whole cycle

Registration, banking, tax, compliance, immigration — run by one team from start to finish.

02

14 years of practice

Working since 2012 through several regulatory cycles — including FATCA/CRS, the tightening of banking, and the introduction of UAE CT.

03

Regulator-grade documentation

Every output document is ready for audit and investor scrutiny — whatever the size of the deal.

04

Multi-jurisdiction within the group

Cross-border work is handled inside the group — no chain of external subcontractors.

▸ Process

How the work is structured

A 4-stage process led by a single named partner — from the intro call to the operational hand-over.

01

Feasibility analysis

Jurisdiction selection and assessment of approval prospects

Result: Feasibility analysis for the licence
10 daysStep 1 of 4
02

Document preparation

Application and supporting documents

Result: Application preparation
3–6 weeksStep 2 of 4
03

Submission and review

The regulator's review process

Result: Beneficial-ownership pack
2–6 monthsStep 3 of 4
04

Post-licence setup

Banking, operating model and monitoring

Result: Business plan and financial model
1 monthStep 4 of 4
▸ Information exchange

What we need from you · what you get from us

What we need from you to begin, and what you receive on completion.

▸ From you
What we need
  • Activity scope + product matrixstructured
  • Beneficial-owner packall UBOs
  • Business plan10–30 pages
  • Financial projections3 years
  • Proof of capitalminimum thresholds
  • Senior-management CVsfit & proper
▸ From us
What you receive
  • Licence issuedin name
  • Regulator approval lettersissued
  • Licence-conditions registertracked
  • Ongoing-reporting calendarset up
  • Bank onboarding initiatedlinked
▸ Engagement formats

Four ways to work together

We don't quote a fixed price without understanding your situation — cost depends on the complexity of your case. Start with a free call, then we pick the right format.

▸ About cost We don't work at dumping rates and we don't publish a fixed price list — every project is scoped individually. The exact price is quoted after the intro call, usually within 24 hours.
▸ Questionnaire

Fill in the questionnaire

Complete the online questionnaire: it creates your account on the portal, where your structure, renewal reminders and documents will live.

Fill in the questionnaire

4 steps · creates an INNOVA portal account · 24h review.

▸ Online · ~5 min
▸ INNOVA portal · what you get

Once you submit the questionnaire we create a portal account. Inside: your live structure, a renewals calendar (annual returns, register updates, tax filings), a document vault (certificates, share register, bank letters), a partner chat and project status. A single place for your entire operational life.

▸ Client review

From a client

A review from a client who went through a comparable project. Verified, the engagement is ongoing.

We needed a Canadian MSB licence and a bank account to go with it — most providers can't handle the second part. INNOVA closed both in a single quarter, and our auditors accepted the compliance programme at first glance.
CA
COO, payments company (MSB)
Toronto, Canada · name under NDA
▸ Sector
Payments / MSB
▸ Project
TOR · 26 mo · ongoing
▸ Status
Anonymised · ongoing
▸ FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The questions we're asked most often. If yours isn't here, an intro call is the fastest way to get an answer.

Most “PSP” projects in Canada run from 2 to 8 weeks start to finish. The fastest stage is document filing; the longest is post-registration onboarding (banking, tax registration). A single named partner runs the project throughout.

▸ Jurisdictions

PSP in other countries

The same service is available across our network.