Canada Company Formation
A British Columbia company for founders who live outside Canada. BC needs no Canadian-resident director, and the whole process is done remotely.
Start Your BC Company
Why a British Columbia company
A Canadian company lets you contract with Canadian customers, hire in Canada and bank there. Where you incorporate matters for founders abroad: a federal company needs at least a quarter of its directors to be resident Canadians, but a British Columbia company has no residency rule at all. One director, living anywhere, is enough.
We form BC companies. If you will also do business in another province, the company may need to register there too; we’ll tell you before you start.
What’s Included
- Name Request (or a numbered company, which needs none) and incorporation with BC Registries
- Certificate of Incorporation, Notice of Articles and Articles
- Registered office and records office address in British Columbia, provided by our BC partner
- Transparency register set up for the company
- Digital company documents in your client portal
Requirements
- At least one director: an individual, 18 or over, living anywhere
- Passport and proof of address for each director and shareholder
- A proposed name, or a numbered “B.C. Ltd.” company
Timeline & Fees
- Name approval: currently about 6 business days (priority service available)
- Government fees: $350 to incorporate, $30 for a Name Request
- A CRA Business Number is issued automatically on incorporation
Tax
- Federal corporate tax 15% plus BC 12% (general rates)
- The lower small-business rate is only for Canadian-controlled companies, so a company controlled by non-residents pays the general rates
- GST/HST registration once taxable sales pass $30,000 over four quarters
Every Year
- Annual report to BC Registries within two months of the anniversary ($43.39)
- T2 corporate tax return within six months of the year end, even if no tax is due
- Transparency register kept up to date (not public)
Before You Decide
- Your home country may tax a company you control abroad
- Check with your adviser where you live
- Step by step: our guide to incorporating in Canada as a non-resident
- Comparing places? Read best country to incorporate
Checked October 2026 against BC Registries (processing times, Business Number, transparency register), the Business Corporations Act, and the CRA (tax rates, GST/HST for non-residents). General information, not tax advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a non-resident incorporate a company in Canada?
Yes. A British Columbia company needs at least one director but has no residency requirement, so you can own and run it from abroad. A federal company is different: at least 25% of its directors must be resident Canadians.
Why British Columbia rather than a federal company?
Mainly the director rule. A federal company needs resident Canadian directors, which a founder abroad usually doesn’t have. A BC company doesn’t, and it can still do business across Canada, registering in another province where it carries on business there.
How long does it take?
Name approval currently takes about six business days, with a paid priority option; a numbered company needs no name approval. Incorporation follows once the name is approved and the documents are signed. The bank account usually takes longer than the company.
What does it cost in government fees?
$350 to incorporate and $30 for a Name Request, then $43.39 for each annual report. Our fee for formation and the BC office address (provided by our BC partner) comes on top; ask us for a quote.
What tax does a non-resident-owned BC company pay?
The general rates: 15% federal plus 12% BC on taxable income. The lower small-business rate is only available to Canadian-controlled private corporations, which a company controlled by non-residents is not. Your home country may also tax the profit, so check with your adviser.
Does a BC company need to register for GST/HST?
Once its taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, yes. Below that it is a small supplier and can register voluntarily.
Is the ownership of a BC company public?
Not at the moment. BC companies must keep a transparency register of individuals with significant control (25% or more), but the public can’t see it. BC has announced a public registry that is not yet in force.
Do I need to visit Canada?
No. Incorporation is done online, and the CRA Business Number is issued automatically.
Can you help open a Canadian business bank account?
Yes. We prepare the application with you and introduce you to banks and payment platforms that accept non-resident-owned companies. The provider decides; we make the case properly.
Start your BC company
One director living anywhere, formed remotely, with the BC office address and tax numbers handled alongside.
Get started