AML Compliance Services for Foreign MSBs
You do not need an office in Canada to owe compliance obligations here. Directing your services at customers in Canada is enough, and registration is required before you begin operating at all.
- FINTRAC Registered
- Cross-Border Expertise
- Audit Ready
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Serving Canada Without Being In Canada
A business located outside Canada becomes a foreign money services business when it directs services at persons in Canada and performs the defined activities. No office, no staff, and no incorporation here is required for the obligation to arise. What matters is whether you are offering services to Canadian customers, and marketing, currency support, and local payment options all point toward that.
Registration works differently for foreign businesses than for domestic ones, and the requirements around Canadian contact arrangements catch firms out regularly. So does timing. Businesses frequently discover the obligation after launching into the market, at which point they are operating unregistered rather than preparing to register. Establishing the position before entry is considerably cheaper than correcting it afterwards.
Support for Foreign MSBs
We deliver Canadian obligation assessments, foreign MSB registration, market entry planning, program development meeting Canadian requirements, reporting frameworks, independent effectiveness reviews, and ongoing compliance representation for businesses serving Canada from outside the country.
PSP Registration
End-to-end PSP registration support under Canada's Retail Payment Activities Act framework.
MSB Licensing
Complete MSB licensing and FINTRAC registration for money services businesses nationwide.
Banking
Deliver secure banking compliance solutions supporting regulatory excellence and operational efficiency.
AML Compliance
Build robust AML frameworks ensuring regulatory compliance and effective financial crime prevention.
Regulatory Consulting
Receive strategic regulatory advice supporting sustainable growth and complete compliance confidence.
Transaction Monitoring
Ongoing transaction monitoring and screening to detect and report suspicious activity.
Why Foreign MSBs Choose Us
We establish your Canadian position before you enter the market rather than afterwards, because discovering an obligation while already trading means you are operating unregistered rather than simply preparing properly.
Obligation Established Early
We determine whether Canadian duties apply before you launch, which is considerably cheaper than discovering them afterwards.
Foreign Registration Handled
We manage the foreign MSB registration route, which differs from the domestic process in ways businesses frequently misunderstand.
Canadian Requirements Met
We build programs meeting Canadian requirements specifically, rather than assuming your home jurisdiction framework will simply transfer.
Market Entry Planned
We sequence registration alongside your launch, so compliance never becomes the reason a Canadian rollout stalls.
Foreign Businesses Serving Canadian Customers
We genuinely support money services businesses located anywhere in the world that serve customers in Canada, whether they are entering the market or already operating and now correcting their position.
What Our Clients Say
Canadian financial firms trust ABM Global Compliance to navigate complex regulation with clarity and care. From MSB licensing to ongoing AML support, our clients value our responsiveness, expertise, and genuine commitment to their long-term compliance success.
Let's Talk About Your Compliance Needs
Schedule a Free Consultation
Whether you’re starting a new MSB or need ongoing AML support, our team responds within one business day.
Foreign MSB Questions
Clear answers to the questions foreign money services businesses ask most about when Canadian anti money laundering obligations apply to them.
We have no Canadian office
That does not matter. Directing services at persons in Canada creates obligations here regardless of where you are located.
What counts as directing services?
Marketing to Canadians, supporting Canadian currency, or offering local payment methods all indicate services aimed at this market.
Is registration different for us?
Yes. Foreign businesses follow a separate registration route with additional requirements, including arrangements for Canadian contact and correspondence.
What if we already started?
Then you are trading unregistered, which needs correcting quickly. We help businesses regularise their position rather than compound it.
Does our home program suffice?
Rarely without adaptation. Canadian requirements differ in specifics, and a program built elsewhere will usually need genuine changes.