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CanExport SMEs.

Export Market Development (Global Affairs Canada)

$10,000 – $50,000

50% cost-share for activities that help Canadian SMEs grow in new international markets. Covers multilingual websites, export-ready campaigns, localized e-commerce, and digital advertising targeted abroad.

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Who qualifies

Eligibility checklist.

Your business must meet all of these criteria.

For-profit, incorporated in Canada Federally or provincially registered.
1 – 500 employees Full-time equivalent count at application time.
$100K – $100M annual revenue Revenue in the prior fiscal year.
New target market Activities targeting a market where you have not sold more than $100K or 10% of revenue.
Not eligible

Activities already underway, domestic-only marketing, and ongoing operational costs are not eligible. Applications must be submitted before activities begin.

Eligible services

What's covered.

Our services map to eligible export-development expenses.

Multilingual & international websites Language-switching architecture, localized content, hreflang, regional hosting.
International e-commerce Cross-border checkout, currency, tax, and shipping logic.
Digital marketing abroad Paid search, social, and display campaigns aimed at target-market audiences.
AI translation & localization tooling Custom tooling for content localization and multilingual support.

Process

How to apply.

CanExport is competitive. We help you build a strong application.

  1. 1

    Target-market validation

    We verify the market is truly new and map activities that will score best against CanExport criteria.

  2. 2

    Build the application

    You apply through the CanExport portal. We supply scope, costs, and supporting detail.

  3. 3

    Global Affairs reviews

    Typical review: 60–90 days. Approvals must be in hand before you start eligible activities.

  4. 4

    We build the work

    Localized site, export-ready campaigns, international checkout — delivered against the approved plan.

  5. 5

    Claim 50% reimbursement

    Submit invoices and proof of payment. CanExport reimburses up to 50% of eligible costs.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

What counts as a new target market?

A country or region where you have not generated more than $100K in revenue or more than 10% of annual revenue over the past 24 months.

Can I apply for an activity already underway?

No. Applications must be approved before any eligible expense is incurred. Starting work first disqualifies the activity.

What languages and regions have you shipped?

We have shipped bilingual (EN/FR), trilingual, and multi-region e-commerce — North America, EU, LATAM, and APAC. Hreflang, region-aware routing, and localized checkout are standard.

How long does approval take?

Plan for 60–90 days from submission to decision. Deadlines are announced annually; we track open windows and time your submission.

Cost-share · 50%

Turn export plans into a funded campaign.

Let us map your target market, build the application, and ship the work.

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