CanExport SMEs

• Certificate of incorporation or Legal Name Change Certificate, if applicable
• GST 34 return or FPZ-500-V for Quebec-based applicants
• Latest fiscal year Income Statement from Form T2SCH125, if exempt from GST/HST or exclusively conducting international sales

Who is eligible?

• Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises established in Canada
• For-profit incorporated legal entities, limited liability partnerships, and cooperatives
• Businesses with an active Canada Revenue Agency business number
• Businesses with 3 to 500 full-time employees and $300,000 to $100 million in annual revenue declared in Canada
• Companies in agricultural technology, agrotechnology, food technology (post-harvest), agricultural machinery and equipment, and life sciences, as long as their core business is not primary agriculture, agri-food production, or agri-products

Who is not eligible

• Businesses that are not legally established in Canada
• Non-profit organizations
• Businesses without an active Canada Revenue Agency business number
• Businesses with fewer than 3 or more than 500 full-time employees
• Businesses with less than $300,000 or more than $100 million in annual revenue in Canada during the last fiscal year, or the last 12 months for quarterly filers

Eligible expenses

• Travel costs to foreign markets for meetings or events, including costs related to gas, parking, and tolls when using a personal or company vehicle
• Costs to participate in international trade events
• Custom market research, reports, and studies
• Costs to apply for intellectual property protection, create or adapt contractual agreements, obtain supplier diversity certifications, and seek expert legal or business advice in international markets
• Translation, adaptation, or creation of marketing materials tailored to target markets

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Expenses incurred before the application is submitted.
• Virtual event participation costs.
• Internal operating costs and overhead.
• Advertising and digital marketing expenses not tied to eligible activities.
• Travel costs for non-employees, including consultants.

• Whether the project represents new or expanded initiatives that go beyond the company’s core activities and support its international business development goals
• Whether the objectives, activities, expected outcomes, expenses, and timelines are specific, realistic, and reasonable
• Whether the applicant demonstrates commercial potential in the target market through market research or other supporting information
• The applicant’s export readiness and history, including human and financial capacity, previous export history, commercialization readiness, and past performance on CanExport projects
• Special consideration may be given to overseas export diversification, priority markets, defence projects, and businesses owned or led by diverse exporters

• Find out if you qualify and review the application tips before starting.
• Register for an online portal account, or sign in if you are a returning applicant.
• Complete or update My Profile and the Account Profile; new applicants must wait for the Account Creation Verification email showing Criteria Met before the Primary Account Contact completes the Account Profile.
• Upload the required documents during the application process.
• Complete and submit the CanExport SMEs Application in the portal under My Applications > CanExport > New Application > SME.
• Submit the application at least 60 business days before the start date of the first proposed activity.

• You will receive a confirmation email after submitting your application.
• Complete applications are assessed based on eligibility requirements, alignment with program objectives, and the information provided in the application.
• CanExport SMEs aims to communicate funding decisions within 60 business days of receiving a complete application, or up to 90 days for projects targeting the United States, except projects in the defence sector.
• Decisions are sent by email to the Legal Signing Authority, are final and non-negotiable, and any costs incurred before the funding agreement are at the applicant’s own risk.
• Successful applicants receive the funding agreement by email within 20 business days and must review, sign, and return it within 20 business days or the funding is forfeited; NRC IRAP manages funding agreements, claims, and payments.

• Once submitted, an application cannot be edited or changed.
• Funding decisions are based only on the information provided in the application.
• All funding decisions are final and non-negotiable.
• Unsuccessful applicants may submit a new project that addresses program feedback, but this does not guarantee approval in a future intake.