Frequently Asked Questions – CanExport SMEs
CanExport SMEs provides up to $50,000 to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) registered in Canada to help develop export opportunities for their products and services in new international markets. Consult our detailed Applicant’s guide to find out how the funding works, which activities we cover and how to build a project step-by-step.
Important: CanExport SMEs is a competitive program with limited funding. Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis untill all funds are allocated.
Potential applicants
In light of COVID-19, is it still possible to submit an application?
Yes, CanExport SMEs is now accepting new applications for projects starting on fiscal year 2022-2023, i.e. after April 1, 2022.
We support the following 5 categories of non-travel activities:
- Market research, feasibility studies, identification of key contacts and b2b facilitation
- Legal, tax and business advice
- Intellectual property protection, certification and adaptation of contracts
- Translation, adaptation and creation of marketing tools
- Interpretation services
For travel related activities, applicants are responsible of ensuring that the planned destination travel advisory risk levels allow for travel activities to take place, before submitting an application. Applicants are encouraged to make informed decisions to minimize risks and protect their health and that of their employees. Please refer the Government of Canada Travel Advisories for the most recent information.
CanExport SMEs reserves the right to deny travel funding requests for any reason, at our sole and absolute discretion.
Does CanExport SMEs support travel-related expenses related to COVID-19 restrictions?
No. Any travel-dependent expenses related to COVID-19 are ineligible.
These ineligible expenses include:
- any travel expenses that are inconsistent with Canada’s official travel advisories and those of destination countries in effect at the time of assessment;
- quarantine, accommodation, per diem, relocation and/or incidental costs resulting from travel disruptions; and
- medical, products, laboratory, documentations, and/or administration fees associated with COVID-19 requirements (i.e. vaccinations, PCR tests, rapid antigen tests, vaccination certification documentation, etc.).
This is not a comprehensive list of ineligible expenses; please refer to the Applicant guide for more details.
I was approved for a project with travel. I am no longer comfortable travelling. Can I get an extension to my project?
While we strive to provide flexibility to recipients, we will not consider extension requests at this juncture. Instead, we invite you to consider reallocating funds to other approved non-travel activities in your existing funding agreement. If that is not possible, unused funds are to be returned so that other Canadian SMEs can benefit from them.
The bulk of my application involves travels and in-person participation at trade shows. Now that travel restrictions for Canadians have been partially lifted, can I include travel related–expenses in my application?
Yes, CanExport SMEs has resumed funding of travel related activities for projects starting on fiscal year 2022-2023, i.e. after April 1, 2022.
However, applicants are responsible of ensuring that the planned destination travel advisory risk levels allow for travel activities to take place, before submitting an application. Applicants are encouraged to make informed decisions to minimize risks and protect their health and that of their employees. Please refer the Government of Canada Travel Advisories for the most recent information.
CanExport SMEs reserves the right to deny travel funding requests for any reason, at our sole and absolute discretion.
CanExport will also continue supporting non-travel activities and encourage SMEs to virtually participate to international trade events, meetings and conferences.
Why did CanExport SMEs update its cost sharing formula to 50:50?
Due to growing popularity, CanExport SMEs has experienced a major increase in demand for financial assistance. The updated cost sharing formula will allow the program to support a larger number of Canadian businesses in their exporting efforts to new foreign markets.
Preparing an application
I am having technical issues with the application site or have forgotten my password. Who should I contact?
If you are having technical problems or need help resetting your password, contact NRC-IRAP (NRC.CanExport-Help-Aide-CanExport.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca).
When can I expect a decision?
We encourage you to submit a completed application at least 60 business days before the first proposed activity’s start date. Applicants whose activities are scheduled to begin in less than 60 business days risk being refused funding for those activities.
If we approve your project, the start date of the funding agreement (the date that your expenses are eligible) will be the date that you submitted your project unless:
- you applied between after December 15 of the current fiscal year and March 31; or
- the program runs out of funds for the current government fiscal year.
In those two instances, the start date will be April 1 of the following government fiscal year.
Because the program is competitive, we cannot guarantee neither the availability of funds nor the start dates of each agreement. The program does not reimburse expenses incurred prior to a project’s start date. There will be no exceptions.
Current funding recipients
Do I need to save receipts for my project?
Yes, you must keep proofs of payment, proof of travel and receipts* for 5 years after completion of your project in case of an audit. We encourage recipients to segregate CanExport project costs from normal operation costs in record-keeping to provide traceability of CanExport expenses.
* Recipients given a per diem for approved travel are not required to keep receipts for meals and incidentals. They must, however, keep proof of travel (example: airline tickets, hotel receipts, etc.) and a record of activities for the corresponding days.
Trade shows and other events approved as part of my CanExport SMEs project have been cancelled because of COVID-19. What should I do about costs already incurred?
If you have incurred costs for approved activities, CanExport SMEs will reimburse 50% of costs that cannot be refunded. The usual claim procedures apply. You will not be penalised for unused funding because of COVID-19 related cancellations.
Trade shows and other events approved as part of my CanExport SMEs project have been cancelled because of COVID-19. Can I use my funding for activities in other markets?
No, you may only use CanExport SMEs funding for the approved activity categories and approved target markets listed in your CanExport SMEs funding agreement. To add or change target markets, please request to close the project and submit a new application with an updated export business case. You will not be penalised for unused funding because of COVID-19 related cancellations.
My trade show was cancelled and the organizers offered me a credit for future events. Can I still claim this expense as part of my active CanExport SMEs' project?
Yes. A credit is not a cash refund, therefore you may claim the expense. Note that credits used for future events cannot subsequently be submitted for reimbursement as part of a new application.
How do I close my project?
Closing a project requires submitting a final report and all outstanding claims. NRC IRAP manages the process: to request templates and submit documents, write to NRC.CanExport.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
Processing time for final claims is approximately 30 business days. Once NRC IRAP officially closes the project, you are free to submit a new project for consideration to the CanExport SMEs program.
