Eligibility

To qualify for the international business activity (IBA) program, the corporation or foreign bank authorized to carry on business in Canada must meet certain requirements and must conduct an international business in B.C.

International business

An international business includes the following types of businesses:

• international financial business
• international film distribution business
• international patent business

A foreign bank authorized to carry on business in Canada is eligible only for international financial business activities.

Each type of international business has specific eligibility requirements.

The government has proposed to expand the definition of international business to include the following types of businesses:

• international digital media distribution business,
• international carbon trading and certification business, and 
• international clean technology business. 

Details of effective dates, qualifying businesses and technologies, qualifying international transactions and any required certification process will be provided when available. 

IB specialists

A corporation or foreign bank authorized to carry on business in Canada that is registered or has applied for registration under the IBA program may apply to register an individual as an IB specialist. Registration of an IB specialist allows the IB specialist to apply for a refund under the IBA program.

Learn about registering for the IBA program.