Answers
It depends on the funder and the file. A Canadian business with a Canadian bank account and revenue can be reviewed even if an owner lives abroad, but identity verification, guarantees and enforcement are harder, so options are narrower. A Canadian-resident owner or director on the application helps.
✓ Checking what you qualify for does not affect your credit score.
It depends on the funder and the file. A Canadian business with a Canadian bank account and revenue can be reviewed even if an owner lives abroad, but identity verification, guarantees and enforcement are harder, so options are narrower. A Canadian-resident owner or director on the application helps.
Key facts
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Funders need to verify who they are dealing with, assess credit and be able to enforce a personal guarantee. Canadian credit files, identification and courts make that straightforward for residents. For an owner abroad, those steps are harder, which narrows the options.
Many Canadian businesses with an owner abroad are structured as a Canadian corporation with a resident director, a Canadian business bank account and a local manager who runs day-to-day operations. That structure makes identity verification, signing and day-to-day banking straightforward. If the foreign owner holds the shares through a holding company, be ready to show the ownership chain so the funder knows who ultimately owns the business.
If your question is about your own file rather than the general rule, the fastest route to a specific answer is a review. Send a signed application and your last four months of business bank statements, mention this question in a note, and the response will address it directly. You can also call (305) 384-8391 and ask before applying; there is no cost to ask.
The strongest files are Canadian corporations with a Canadian business bank account that has carried the revenue for at least a year, a director or co-owner who lives in Canada and can sign the agreement and any guarantee, and clean books that match the deposits. Foreign owners with a local operating partner are reviewed far more easily than a sole owner abroad.
If no Canadian resident is involved, expect the review to ask for extra identity documents and to offer a smaller amount. Preparing a short ownership chart and proof of who runs day-to-day operations in Canada saves time.
Reviewed by the Merchant Fund Express team on October 12, 2026. Official pages checked as of that date.
The business must be Canadian and banking in Canada. Owner residency is reviewed case by case.
No, but it may affect the amount and pricing.
Government-issued identification for each owner and signer.
Educational information only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice.
Same-day decision. Applying takes a few minutes and will not affect your credit score.
