Canadian KYB depends on whether a company is federally or provincially incorporated. Corporations Canada handles federal incorporation, while each province — Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, and others — runs its own registry. Beneficial-ownership transparency is improving, led by the federal ISED register, but provincial coverage is inconsistent, so onboarding has to determine the incorporation level first.
Business verification (KYB)
First Mile Labs resolves a Canadian company to its federal or provincial register and retrieves the corporate record — status, incorporation date, registered office, and directors. Federal entities increasingly expose beneficial-ownership information through the ISED register; provincial coverage varies, so the platform supplements with document-based verification and flags where ownership cannot be confirmed.
Identity verification (IDV)
Canadian directors and beneficial owners are verified using the Canadian passport or a provincial driver's license or photo ID card, with document authentication, liveness, and face-match. Provincial licence formats are validated individually, and permanent residents are verified via the PR card.
Sanctions, PEP & adverse media (AML)
Canadian entities and individuals are screened against the OSFI/SEMA consolidated sanctions list, OFAC, UN, and further watchlists, with PEP and adverse-media checks running continuously and feeding the shared risk model.
From our compliance team
Canada's federal-versus-provincial split is the practical trap. A company incorporated in British Columbia will not appear in Corporations Canada, and provincial registries differ sharply in what they disclose about ownership. We always establish the incorporation level first and calibrate how much weight to put on the registry versus document-based verification accordingly.
Canada onboarding — FAQ
Where are Canadian companies registered?
Either federally via Corporations Canada or provincially through each province's own registry. First Mile Labs determines the incorporation level first, then retrieves the corporate record from the correct register.
Is Canadian beneficial ownership available?
Increasingly at the federal level through the ISED register, but provincial coverage is uneven. The platform uses registry ownership data where it exists and supplements with document-based verification, flagging gaps.
How are Canadian individuals verified?
Via the Canadian passport or a provincial driver's license or photo ID, each authenticated and face-matched. Permanent residents can be verified using the PR card.
Coverage in other markets
Onboarding customers in Canada?
Book a demo and we'll walk you through a full Canada case — registry, identity, screening, and decision.
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