Foreign MSB Registration with FINTRAC
Serving Canadian clients from abroad triggers Canadian obligations. If you direct money services at persons in Canada, you must register with FINTRAC as a foreign MSB, and we handle the entire process.
You Do Not Need an Office in Canada
Foreign MSB registration is triggered by directing services at persons or entities located in Canada, not by having any premises here at all. Marketing to Canadians, accepting Canadian clients, or advertising through Canadian channels can all bring you within scope, wherever your business is actually based.
The Same Obligations as a Domestic MSB
Registration is only the beginning. As a foreign MSB you must maintain a full compliance program, appoint a qualified compliance officer, complete a documented risk assessment, keep prescribed records, and submit suspicious transaction and other reports to FINTRAC exactly as a Canadian business would. We build all of it for you.
Scope Assessment
We determine whether your activities amount to directing services at persons in Canada.
FMSB Registration
We prepare and file your foreign MSB registration through the FINTRAC portal.
Compliance Program
We build the PCMLTFA program, policies, and risk assessment FINTRAC requires from you.
Ongoing Reporting
We manage your reporting, record-keeping, and two-year renewal obligations from abroad.
Ready to Simplify Your Compliance?
Foreign Businesses We Register
We register international remittance operators, currency exchanges, cryptocurrency platforms, payment businesses, and fintechs serving Canadian customers from outside Canada. Every registration reflects the services you actually direct at Canadian clients.
We support banks with program design, oversight, & regulatory examination readiness.
We help credit unions meet obligations proportionate to their membership and scale.
We handle registration, renewals, reporting, & controls FINTRAC expects from you.
We cover Bank of Canada registration alongside your anti money laundering obligations.
We establish what your wallet activity triggers, then build only what applies.
We build compliance around what your product does, before volumes and questions arrive.
We register virtual currency dealers and build the reporting their activity demands.
We support financial institutions across registration, program build, and reporting duties.
Why Foreign MSBs Choose Us
Scope Clarity
We tell you plainly whether you are in scope, so you neither register unnecessarily nor operate unlawfully in Canada.
Banking Access
Canadian banks and payment partners check the register, and an unregistered foreign MSB rarely gets an account approved.
Remote Delivery
We run your Canadian compliance obligations for you, so you meet them fully without establishing a presence here.
Serving Foreign MSBs Worldwide
We register foreign money services businesses from anywhere in the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Gulf, and Asia, wherever they direct services at Canadian clients.
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 international businesses ask most about registering as a foreign money services business with FINTRAC in Canada.
When must a foreign business register?
When it has no place of business in Canada but directs money services at persons or entities located in Canada.
What counts as directing services here?
Indicators include marketing to Canadians, using Canadian domains or phone numbers, accepting Canadian clients, and serving them in Canadian dollars.
Do we need a Canadian office?
No. Foreign MSB registration exists precisely for businesses without a Canadian place of business, so no local premises or entity is required.
Are our obligations the same?
Yes. Foreign MSBs must maintain a compliance program, appoint a compliance officer, keep records, and report to FINTRAC just as domestic MSBs do.
What if we do not register?
Operating unregistered is an offence, and Canadian banks and payment partners routinely check the register before approving any account or partnership.