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Non-residentSwitzerland → Canada

Start a Canadian company from Switzerland

No travel, no Canadian partner, no business visa. Pick a jurisdiction without a residency rule (Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia), sign from Geneva or Lausanne, and get your certificate in days.

Start from SwitzerlandMeet in European hours
  • Support 9 am – 6 pm Central European Time
  • Pay in Swiss francs or Canadian dollars
  • E-signature
Photo 4:3 · Lausanne office with lake view, laptop open; no flag

The non-resident path, in five steps

Same as the Canadian path, plus three things: a registered office, an agent for service and banking support.

  1. Choose the jurisdictionQuebec, Ontario or B.C.: no residency rule. The simulator compares fees, timing and language.You · 3 min
  2. Fill in the fileName, directors, shares. Swiss passport or ID card accepted.You · 8 min
  3. Office and agentOur registered office and agent for service are added to the articles automatically.Included
  4. Sign and fileE-sign from your phone. Filed with the registry the same day, Montreal hours.Registry · 1–3 d
  5. Bank and taxBank file prepared, video meeting in European hours. GST/QST registrations requested.[n] days

Residency rules by jurisdiction

The deciding factor for a founder in Switzerland. Federal requires 25% Canadian-resident directors; Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia require none.

JurisdictionDirector residencyRegistry feeTimingLanguageFor a founder in Switzerland
QuebecNo requirement$3972 business daysFrench nameMost common choice: francophone, no residency, office in Montreal.
OntarioNo requirement$300Immediate online; 15 business days by mailEnglish or FrenchFastest; relevant if your clients are in Toronto or outside Quebec.
British ColumbiaNo requirement$350[to verify]EnglishGateway to the Pacific; name reservation first.
Canada (federal)25% Canadian residents$2001 business day (online)English or FrenchOnly with at least one Canadian-resident director.
AlbertaNo requirement$291.75[to verify]EnglishResidency rule [to verify]; we suggest the first three.
Table verified on [date] · Sources: Corporations Canada, REQ, Ontario Business Registry, BC Registries · Reviewed by David Roy, lawyer
Dedicated plan

Non-resident: everything distance complicates, included

A Canadian company needs an office in Canada, an agent to receive official documents and a local bank account. We provide all three, plus the full corporate record.

  • 12-month registered office in Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver, mail scanned within 24 h.
  • Agent for service to receive registry notices, formal demands and tax mail.
  • Assisted account opening with [n] partner banks and neobanks accepting non-resident directors.
  • Support in European hours , chat and video.

Registered office

The registry requires a civic address in the province of incorporation. Our Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver address goes on your articles; mail is scanned to your dashboard within 24 h. Renewable after 12 months at [amount]/yr.

This isn’t tax domicile: see “Tax”.

Bank account

The longest step for a non-resident. Big banks often want an in-person visit; business neobanks open remotely with the certificate, articles and ID. We prepare the file and book the meeting.

Observed timing: [n] to [n] days depending on the bank.

Switzerland–Canada tax

A company incorporated in Canada is Canadian-resident for tax, unless it’s effectively managed from abroad: the Switzerland–Canada tax treaty [reference to verify] settles dual residency. Dividends paid abroad: [xx]% withholding under the treaty.

Confirm with tax advisers on both sides. Incorpo.ca gives no tax advice.

Questions from founders in Switzerland

Reviewed by David Roy, lawyer, and Sophie Lemieux, CPA. Cross-border tax points are flagged to verify.

Do I need a Canadian partner?
No, in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. You can be sole director, officer and shareholder. Only federal requires 25% Canadian-resident directors.
Do I need a visa or work permit?
Not to incorporate and own the company. Yes to physically work in Canada for it: that’s immigration, separate from incorporation.
Will my company be taxed in Canada or abroad?
In Canada by default, as a Canadian-incorporated company. If it’s effectively managed abroad, the Switzerland–Canada tax treaty [reference to verify] prevents double taxation. Confirm with advisers in both countries.
Can I open a bank account without coming to Canada?
Yes with some business neobanks and [n] partners; big banks often want a visit. We prepare the file and book a video meeting.
Which ID is accepted?
Swiss passport or ID card, plus proof of address under three months old. Online ID check, no travel.
How do I pay from Switzerland?
Card in Swiss francs or Canadian dollars, or international transfer. The total shows in both currencies at review; today’s rate applies.
What happens to the registered office after 12 months?
Renew at [amount]/yr, or switch to your own Canadian address via an amendment. We remind you 60 days before.

Your Canadian company, signed from Switzerland

$699 + registry fees at cost. Office, agent and banking included. Support in European hours.

Start from SwitzerlandBook 20 min on video, European timeAlso: from France, from Belgium