Includes steps involved in establishing a local office.
Last Published: 9/30/2019
U.S. companies can establish a representative office or branch offices, set up a sole proprietorship or partnership, or incorporate a wholly owned subsidiary or joint venture in Canada. Corporations can be public or private, and incorporated federally or under the laws of a province. For additional information, visit the Government of Canada’s Corporations Canada website at: www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/home.

Private or public corporations incorporated federally under the Canada Corporations Act may operate nationally or in several provinces. Provincial and territorial legislation requires you to register your corporation in each province and territory in which it will conduct business. For more information, visit the Government of Canada’s Corporations Canada website Provincial and Territorial Registrar information page at: www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/cs04578.html; and the Justice Laws website at laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-1.8/.

While incorporating your federal corporation online, you can at the same time register your corporation in the provinces of Ontario, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador. Registration fees are minimal and vary by province. For more information, visit the Government of Canada’s Corporations Canada "Provincial Registration of Federal Business Corporations" information page at: www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/cs07075.html.

Corporations incorporated in Quebec must adopt a corporate name in French under Section 63 of Quebec's Charter of the French Language. For more information about Quebec’s Charter of the French Language, visit: www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2andfile=/C_11/C11_A.html.

Extra-provincial corporations registered in Quebec must supply a French version of their corporate name. Firms considering establishing operations in Quebec should contact the Office Québécois de La Langue Française: ("Quebec Office of the French Language") that helps companies comply with Quebec's language laws. For more information, visit www.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/coordonnees.html.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.