CanExport SMEs pays back up to half of the cost of trying to sell into a new international market. It covers things like trade show trips, market research and legal advice abroad. It's closed for 2026-27, but it's worth knowing about before the next intake.
Amount
$10,000 to $50,000 per project, up to 50% of eligible costs (total project value $20,000 to $100,000)
Status
Closed for nowAll applications for the 2026-27 intake have been processed. No date for the next intake is posted yet.
Type
Cost-share reimbursement (up to 50%)
Run by
Canadian Trade Commissioner Service
Where
All of Canada
Checked on
Nov 13, 2026
Who it's for
For-profit businesses legally set up in Canada: incorporated, an LLP or a co-operative
An active CRA business number
3 to 500 full-time equivalent employees
$300,000 to $100 million in Canadian revenue in your last fiscal year
Planning to enter a new international market where you have little or no sales
Not for
Non-profit organizations
Businesses with fewer than 3 or more than 500 employees
Costs from before you apply, GST, salaries and commissions
Capital assets, office supplies and overhead
Virtual events, giveaways and branding or labelling costs
Recreational cannabis, tobacco, vaping and unabated fossil fuel projects
What it covers
Travel to meet contacts or attend events in the target market
Costs of taking part in in-person trade events
Adapting marketing materials, and interpretation
Contracts and supplier diversity certification
Consultants for business, tax or legal advice, or market research
Protecting intellectual property in the target market
How to apply
Watch the official page for the next intake.
Go through the 'Find out if you qualify' checklist and the applicant's guide.
Apply through the official 'How to apply' page when an intake opens.
Good to know
It's a reimbursement. You pay the costs first and claim them back; nothing is paid in advance.
Your 50% share has to be money, not in-kind.
One active CanExport SMEs project at a time, and no more than $99,999 a year across all CanExport programs.
For 2026-27, about $31 million was available, with about $3.1 million set aside for projects aimed at the U.S.
The checklist says a project aimed at both the United States and overseas markets doesn't fit the market rules.
Funding is limited and isn't guaranteed.
Questions
Can a business with 1 or 2 employees apply?
No. The qualifying checklist says businesses with fewer than 3 or more than 500 full-time equivalent employees are not eligible.
When does it open again?
The official page says information about future intakes will be posted when it's available. No date is given yet.
Does CanExport pay up front?
No. It reimburses eligible costs after you've paid them, so you need to be able to cover the project costs first.
Liquidity help up to $2 million for up to 12 months (non-repayable, up to 50% of costs). Pivot projects up to $1 million non-repayable (up to 50%), or over $1 million repayable (up to 75%). Up to $3 million non-repayable and $20 million in total.
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)All of Ontario
Up to $99,999 for individual Indigenous entrepreneurs; up to $250,000 for eligible Indigenous community businesses
Indigenous Services Canada, administered by the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) through Indigenous Financial Institutions and Métis Capital CorporationsAll of Canada
