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...
Per delegation: each eligible delegation has its own published funding applic...
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. Per delegation: each eligible delegation has its own published funding application period, and you must apply at least 15 business days before the start of your first proposed activity..
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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
- Each target market must be new: in your last complete tax year, sales there were under $100,000 or, if higher, under 10% of your total domestic and international sales. Markets under Canadian sanctions, or where a sister or affiliated company offering the same products is already established, are not eligible
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
- Per delegation: each eligible delegation has its own published funding application period, and you must apply at least 15 business days before the start of your first proposed activity.
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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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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Rejection Pitfalls 6
- SME has not been accepted into an eligible GAC-led delegation (pre-requisite gate)
+5 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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All 6 pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓
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.
- 6 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 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
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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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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 | Per delegation: each... |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| CanExport Innovation | Up to $37,500 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Upcoming — the... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
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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