Canada
Company Formation in Quebec
Gouvernement du Québec — Registraire des entreprises (REQ)
Overview
Quebec is Canada's second-largest economy ($500+ billion CAD GDP) and the cultural and technological hub of French-speaking North America. Montreal is a globally renowned metropolis for artificial intelligence (Mila – Quebec AI Institute, founded by Yoshua Bengio), video game development (Ubisoft Montreal, Warner Bros. Games), aerospace engineering (Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada, CAE), and life sciences. Incorporating under the Business Corporations Act of Quebec (Loi sur les sociétés par actions) offers distinct strategic advantages: Quebec has **never imposed a Canadian resident director requirement**, meaning 100% of directors and shareholders can be foreign nationals. Businesses operating in Quebec must comply with the Charter of the French Language (Bill 96), which requires businesses to have a French version of their commercial name and conduct local consumer communications in French. Quebec offers some of the most aggressive R&D and digital media tax credits in the world, including refundable tax credits for multimedia titles and specialized AI research.
Why Choose Quebec
Montreal is the world's leading center for deep learning and AI research (Mila Institute)
No Canadian resident director requirement — 100% foreign directors and shareholders permitted
World capital for video game production, VFX, and interactive multimedia development
World-renowned aerospace cluster ranking alongside Toulouse and Seattle
Aggressive Quebec tax credits: up to 37.5% refundable multimedia production credit
Direct trade access to European Francophone markets and the North American continent
Bilingual workforce with high university graduation rates (McGill, Université de Montréal)
Complete incorporation and remote corporate banking support handled by bilingual legal experts
Business Entity Types
| Entity | Ownership | Directors | Capital | Tax | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec Corporation | 100% | 1 (no Canadian residency required) | None | 11.5% Quebec CIT + 15% federal CIT (26.5% combined general rate) | AI development, video game studios, aerospace engineering, biotech, multimedia |
| Extra-Provincial Registration | 100% | 1 | None | Taxed on Quebec permanent establishment income | Foreign or federal corporations opening offices or hiring developers in Montreal |
Step-by-Step Formation Process
REQ Name Search & Bill 96 Compliance
1 daySearch Registraire des entreprises du Québec and verify French naming rules.
Filing Articles of Constitution
2–4 business daysSubmit Statuts de constitution electronically with the Registraire des entreprises.
NEQ & CRA Business Number Issuance
1–2 daysReceive 10-digit Numéro d'entreprise du Québec (NEQ) and federal CRA Business Number.
Revenu Québec Tax Registration
1–2 daysRegister for Quebec Sales Tax (QST) and provincial corporate tax accounts.
Commercial Bank Account Opening
3–7 business daysEstablish corporate multi-currency CAD/USD accounts with Canadian institutions.
Costs & Fees
| Government / License Fee | CAD 375+ |
| Our Service Fee | USD 1,200 – 2,800 |
| Annual Renewal | CAD 95+ |
Fees are indicative and may vary based on business activity, entity type, and additional approvals required. Contact us for a precise custom quote.
Get Custom QuoteBanking
Montreal is home to National Bank of Canada (headquarters) and major corporate banking centers for all Big Six Canadian banks, offering extensive international trade and multimedia financing.
Recommended Banks
Tax Overview
Quebec offers world-renowned tax credits: the Multimedia Title Tax Credit (up to 37.5% refundable on labor), the E-Business Development Tax Credit (CDAE, 30% tax credit on IT salaries), and top-up provincial R&D credits.