CanExport SMEs

The costs of expanding into international markets can be expensive. For many Canadian small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), these expenses can slow down or prevent global expansion plans altogether.

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As funding is limited, the program is highly competitive. Only applicants who can clearly demonstrate their meaningful economic tie with Canada and present a clear plan to export Canadian goods and services are likely to succeed.

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If your business is determined to gain momentum in international markets this year, the CanExport SMEs intake is officially open. In this blog post, we’ll go over how you can strategically prepare your application, strengthen your export plan, and improve your chances.

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What is CanExport?

CanExport SMEs is a federal program that supports eligible Canadian businesses that are expanding internationally by sharing 50% of the costs of international business development activities. It aims to reduce risk and ultimately support export diversification.

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How much funding can I get?

For every project, applicants can request a minimum of $10,000 and up to $50,000 in funding.

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As the program operates in a cost-sharing structure, only 50% will be covered by CanExport and the remaining half will be funded by the applicants. This means that, to be eligible, the total project cost should range between $20,000 and $100,000.

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Who is eligible for CanExport SMEs?

To be eligible for the program, your business must:

• Be established in Canada, for-profit, and is an incorporated legal entity, limited liability partnership, or cooperative;
• Have an active Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number;
• Have between three (3) to five hundred (500) full-time employees; and
• Have between $300,000 and $100 million in annual revenue declared in Canada during its last complete tax reporting year.

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What expenses and activities can be funded?

CanExport covers eight (8) categories of eligible expenses. In all cases, it is vital that the activity undertaken can be linked to a new and eligible target market.

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The following are a high-level list of eligible costs:

1. Travel for meetings or events with key contacts
2. Participation in trade events (non-travel related)
3. Adaptation of marketing tools for target markets
4. Interpretation services
5. Contractual agreements and supplier diversity certification
6. Consultants - business, tax, and legal advice
7. Consultants - market research, feasibility studies, identification of key contacts, business-to-business (B2B) facilitation
8. Intellectual property (IP) protection

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For a more detailed assessment of whether your specific project and expenses qualify, we recommend getting personalized guidance. Use our CanExport Eligibility Checker to find out more.

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How long is the processing time for CanExport SMEs?

Decisions will be made within 60 to 90 days from when a program is submitted.

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What’s new for CanExport SMEs in 2026-27

Since last year, the program has undergone some changes to align with the shifts in the global trade environment. It is important to know these changes before applying to better understand and align your application with the current criteria and priorities.

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A summary of what changed:

• Businesses now need at least 3 full-time employees (but not more than 500) and $300,000 in revenue to qualify for the program.
• The program no longer supports companies in the agriculture, agri-food (including alcohol and spirits) and agri-products sectors, including fish and seafood. Ag tech and food tech sectors continue to be eligible.
• Projects in the defence sector may be prioritized in line with the Government's forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy.
• Diversifying to non-U.S. markets will be given greater emphasis.
• Sub-market segmentation for Brazil, China, India, and the U.S. has been removed. In the current intake, each country now counts as one target market.

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For a more in-depth look at the changes, we recommend visiting the CanExport SMEs 2026-2027 Applicant’s Guide.

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How to increase your chances of approval for the CanExport SMEs program

Last year, only around 40% of those who applied for the program actually got funding. With how competitive the program is, it is generally recommended that you start your application with a strategy on how you can best demonstrate your business’s readiness for international growth.

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Here are a few quick tips to make sure you’re on the right track:

• Clearly demonstrate export readiness, including internal capacity, prior experience, and strategic rationale.
• Identify specific target markets and explain why they are a strong fit for your product or service.
• Link every proposed activity directly to a target market and measurable export outcomes.
• Ensure all activities align with a coherent international business development strategy.
• Provide detailed, specific descriptions of activities, timelines, and expected results.
• Present realistic, well-justified budgets and show understanding of eligible costs.
• Support your application with market research, data, and evidence of execution capacity.
• Avoid vague statements, incomplete information, or disconnected activities.
• Review the Applicant’s Guide carefully and prepare early to avoid rushed submissions.

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