Grant
Federal
Active
CanExport GAC-Led Delegations
Global Affairs Canada — Trade Commissioner Service
Maximum Funding
Up to 50% of eligible mission participation costs — no minimum...
Rolling per delegation schedule — tied to specific GAC-led trade mission windows
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
50%
CanExport GAC-Led Delegations provides Up to 50% of eligible mission participation costs — no minimum funding amount (subject to the $99,999-per-fiscal-year cap across all CanExport programs). Provides cost-share grants covering 50% of eligible expenses (travel and trade show costs) up to $100,000 per SME for participation in specific trade missions and delegations organized by Global Affairs Canada's Trade Commissioner Service. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Provides cost-share grants covering 50% of eligible expenses (travel and trade show costs) up to $100,000 per SME for participation in specific trade missions and delegations organized by Global Affairs Canada's Trade Commissioner Service. Applicants must first be accepted into an eligible GAC-led delegation — the funding supplements confirmed mission participation rather than enabling market exploration.
Eligibility Requirements
- Canadian for-profit SME — an incorporated legal entity, limited liability partnership (LLP), or cooperative in Canada, with an active CRA business number (sole proprietorships and limited partnerships are not eligible)
- Accepted into an eligible GAC-led trade mission or Team Canada delegation — must have a confirmed place in the mission before applying
- Annual Canadian revenue between $100,000 and $100,000,000 in the last complete tax year
- Only expenses essential for participation in the specific delegation are eligible
- Projects must normally be completed within a single Government of Canada fiscal year (April 1 to March 31); in exceptional circumstances projects spanning two fiscal years may be considered
- Between 1 and 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Friendly
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to 50% of eligible mission participation costs — no minimum funding amount (subject to the $99,999-per-fiscal-year cap across all CanExport programs)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Rolling per delegation schedule — tied to specific GAC-led trade mission windows
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Good
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win CanExport GAC-Led Delegations
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
$19 covers this one program. $39/mo covers every program, plus the workspace that walks you through each application.
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipThis is the most streamlined of the five CanExport streams because eligibility is simple: you must already be accepted into a GAC mission.
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See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.
Rejection Pitfalls 5
- SME has not been accepted into an eligible GAC-led delegation (pre-requisite gate)
+4 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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5 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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6 steps
5 docs
Application Steps
1
Identify eligible GAC-led delegations and apply for mission acceptance Contact the Trade Commissioner Service (tradecommissioner.gc.ca) to identify upcoming GAC-led delegations aligned with your target market. Apply to participate in the mission — selection is competitive and based on export readiness and market fit.
Required Documents 5
✓ Proof of acceptance into an eligible GAC-led delegation (confirmation from Trade Commissioner Service)
✓ Articles of incorporation confirming Canadian SME status
Eligible Expenses 3
Ineligible Expenses 7
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Applying for CanExport GAC-Led Delegations? Our Financial Projections Model ($29) covers the cost-share, matching-fund, and cash-flow math reviewers want to see. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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4 partners
Compatible Programs
CanExport SMEs
NRC IRAP
CanExport Innovation
Provincial export development programs (EDC, STEP-BC, etc.)
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Low Risk
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How CanExport GAC-Led Delegations Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CanExport GAC-Led Delegations | Up to 50% of eligible mission... | Easy | Reimbursement | Rolling per delegation... |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| CanExport Innovation | Up to $37,500 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Upcoming — the... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about CanExport GAC-Led Delegations
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How is this different from CanExport SMEs?
CanExport SMEs funds self-directed market development (market research, attending trade shows of your choice). GAC-Led Delegations exclusively funds participation in specific GAC-organized Team Canada missions — you must first be accepted into a mission before applying for this funding.
Can I apply before I'm accepted into a delegation?
No. Acceptance into an eligible GAC-led delegation is a prerequisite. Apply for mission participation through the Trade Commissioner Service first, then apply for this funding once accepted.
What revenue range qualifies?
Annual Canadian revenue of $100,000 to $100,000,000 declared in your last complete tax year. This is verified against your GST 34 return.
What expenses are actually covered?
Only expenses essential for participating in the specific mission: economy class airfare, accommodation at mission rates, ground transportation, and trade show or delegation registration fees directly tied to the GAC-organized event. General business development costs are not eligible.
Can I use both CanExport SMEs and GAC-Led Delegations?
Not for the same expenses. You can potentially use CanExport SMEs for other export activities in the same fiscal year, but the GAC-Led Delegations funding covers mission-specific costs only.
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Full Playbook: CanExport GAC-Led Delegations
6 steps · 5 docs · reviewer insights