
EDC — Account Performance Security Guarantee
Last Update: July 29, 2025
Canada
Free up collateral held against a standby letter of credit
At a glance
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Unspecified
Financing Type
Other Support
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Funds Providers
Unspecified
Program status
Open
Overview
Issue letters of guarantee or standby letters of credit with your financial institution without putting up cash or freezing your credit line as collateral.
Financing terms and conditions
- Provides a 100% guarantee to your financial institution for standby letters of credit, replacing the need for collateral.
- Covers contractual and financial letters of guarantee, including bid bonds, acquisition bonds, advanced payment guarantees, performance bonds, warranty bonds, lease bonds, supplier and regulatory guarantees.
- No cost to set up; costs are incurred only when the facility is used, with a pre-set monthly rate agreed in advance.
- EDC covers claims made against letters of guarantee within five business days if called by the beneficiary.
Activities funded
- Issuing contractual or financial letters of guarantee, such as bid bonds, performance bonds, and warranty bonds, to support business operations.
- Facilitating business growth by freeing up working capital for new or ongoing projects.
- Securing supplier and lease guarantees necessary for project execution or expansion.
- Supporting mergers and acquisitions by providing guarantees for acquisition bonds or balance of sale requirements.
- Enhancing competitiveness by enabling rapid issuance of bonding needed to access new business opportunities.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 8,000
Implement lease guarantees for a technology startup
$ 17,500
Apply supplier guarantees for a biotech firm
$ 20,000
Secure performance guarantees for a renewable energy project
$ 24,000
Establish warranty guarantees for a manufacturing firm
$ 15,000
Implement advanced payment guarantees for an IT consulting firm
Eligibility
- The company’s operational and financial health must be reviewed and assessed.
- The company must require a letter of guarantee, such as a bond or standby letter of credit, to support business activities.
- The customer’s profile and the economic conditions of their country must be evaluated as part of the application process.
Who is eligible?
- Export-led businesses operating in Canada
Eligible expenses
- Collateral requirements for letters of guarantee, including bid bonds, acquisition bonds, advance payment guarantees, performance bonds, warranty bonds, lease bonds, supplier guarantees, and regulatory guarantees.
Selection criteria
- Operational and financial health of the company.
- Details and terms of the letter of guarantee.
- Profile of the customer and the economic conditions in their country.
How to apply
1
Initial Contact
- Reach out to Export Development Canada (EDC) to discuss the opportunity that requires a letter of guarantee.
- Contact can be made by calling 1-800-229-0575 during business hours (9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET) or by sending a question through the EDC website.
2
Collaboration with Financial Institution
- EDC works in conjunction with you and your financial institution to set up the Account Performance Security Guarantee (APSG).
- Coordinate with your financial institution to ensure all necessary documentation and agreements are in place.
3
Approval Process
- EDC reviews the application based on your company's managerial, technical, and financial capabilities, as well as the letter of guarantee requirements.
- EDC evaluates conditions and economic outlook in the customer’s country and profiles to determine eligibility.
4
Issuance of Offer
- Once approved, an APSG offer is issued to your financial institution.
- This offer transfers the collateral requirement and risk to EDC.
5
Access to Working Capital
With the APSG in place, you have access to more cash, allowing you to expand your business.
Additional information
- There is no setup cost for the APSG; fees are only incurred when the guarantee facility is used.
- The monthly rate for the guarantee is pre-set and can be included in contract pricing.
- The APSG can be used in conjunction with Performance Security Insurance to provide additional protection.
- An APSG may support mergers and acquisitions by covering acquisition bonds or guarantees on a balance of sale.
Contacts
1-800-229-0575
Frequently Asked Questions about the EDC — Account Performance Security Guarantee Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the EDC — Account Performance Security Guarantee. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the EDC — Account Performance Security Guarantee?
How much funding can be received?
What expenses are eligible under EDC — Account Performance Security Guarantee?
What is the deadline to apply?
Is the EDC — Account Performance Security Guarantee a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Who are the financial supporters of the EDC — Account Performance Security Guarantee?
Who is eligible for the EDC — Account Performance Security Guarantee program?
Who can I contact for more information about the EDC — Account Performance Security Guarantee?
Where is the EDC — Account Performance Security Guarantee available?
Are startups eligible for the EDC — Account Performance Security Guarantee program?
More programs like this

Grant and FundingClosed
CanExport SMEs
Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)Supports Canadian SMEs’ export activities in new international markets
Canada

Grant and FundingOpen
AI Compute Access Fund
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)Supports Canadian SMEs in accessing advanced AI compute resources
Canada

Grant and FundingOpen
Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream
Canadian HeritageFunding for Canadian creative industry exports
Canada

Grant and FundingClosed
Mitacs Accelerate International
MitacsFunding to collaborate with international researchers
Canada

Grant and FundingOpening Soon
International outreach — Travel
Canada Council for the Arts (CCA)Empower Canadian artists and arts organizations to expand global connections and opportunities
Canada

Researchers And FacilitiesPartnering and CollaborationWage Subsidies And InternsOpen
Mitacs Accelerate
MitacsConnect organizations with academia for research and innovation collaboration
Canada

Grant and FundingOpen
Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export Development Stream (EDS)
Canadian HeritageCanadian Creative Export supports global market expansion for creative industries
Canada

Expert AdviceOpen
NRC IRAP Support for Intellectual Property
National Research Council Canada (NRC)IP Advisory services for your innovations
Canada

Canada

Grant and FundingOpen
IP for Business
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)Intellectual property training, tools and expertise
Canada