The FINTRAC MSB Registry is the official public source for checking whether a Canadian money services business or foreign MSB is registered. It lists the business’s legal and operating names, registration number, status, expiry date, and declared services.
FINTRAC does not issue licenses or registration certificates, and registration does not mean that it endorses the business. Before onboarding a counterparty or acquiring an MSB company, check the registry details against the company’s documents.
What the Registry Shows
Every record in the Money Services Business Registry carries the same fields, and all of them are searchable.
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Organization names | The legal name and every operating name the business registered |
| Business address and website | Where the business operates and which site FINTRAC has on file |
| Services offered | The declared money services, such as foreign exchange, money transferring, and virtual currency dealing |
| Registration status and number | The published registration status and the number to match against contracts and correspondence |
| Initial registration and expiry dates | When the business first registered and when the current registration runs out |
| Cessation and revocation dates | The recorded cessation or revocation date, where applicable |
| Jurisdiction, number and date of incorporation | Which corporate entity holds the registration |
| Foreign MSB indicator | Whether the holder is a foreign MSB serving Canada from abroad rather than a Canadian business |
FINTRAC also publishes downloadable spreadsheet and CSV versions on the same page. These allow users to filter and search multiple counterparties in one file.
The Four Registration Statuses
| Status | What it means | What it means for a deal or partnership |
|---|---|---|
| Registered | The business is currently registered | Valid, but check the expiry date and the services listed |
| Expired | The business did not renew within two years | Not registered; it cannot offer money services until it registers again |
| Ceased | The business told FINTRAC it no longer offers money services | The company has reported that it no longer offers the prescribed services; its corporate entity can still exist |
| Revoked | FINTRAC removed the registration | Not registered; FINTRAC revokes when a business is ineligible, does not answer a clarification request within 30 days or does not assist FINTRAC, and when a foreign MSB fails to report a change to its Canadian representative for service |
A past expiry date does not always mean the registration has expired. A business that submitted its renewal before expiry remains registered while FINTRAC processes the application. If the listed expiry date has passed but the status is Registered, request evidence of the renewal filing and any subsequent FINTRAC correspondence. A pending renewal is not confirmation that it will be approved.
FINTRAC lists revoked businesses separately as well, on its revoked registrations page, with the revocation date for each.
What to Check Before a Deal
Registration status alone does not establish whether the company meets the buyer’s or partner’s requirements. Verify the following details before onboarding the business or acquiring the company.
- Match the name and registration number. Check the legal name, operating names, and registration number against contracts, corporate documents, and FINTRAC correspondence. Resolve any differences before relying on the record.
- Check the expiry date and renewal documents. Registrations are valid for two years and must be renewed before expiry. FINTRAC states that most complete applications are processed within three months, while complex applications take longer. If expiry is approaching, ask about the renewal timetable; if a renewal has been submitted, request filing evidence.
- Check the declared services against the business model. If the business plans to deal in virtual currency but the registry lists only foreign exchange and money transferring, investigate the discrepancy. Changes to registration information must be reported to FINTRAC within 30 days. FINTRAC registration does not replace other permissions required for the proposed activities.
- Confirm whether the business is a Canadian MSB or a foreign MSB. A foreign MSB registration belongs to a company outside Canada that directs and provides services to clients in Canada. It does not establish that the business has a Canadian incorporated entity.
- Verify the website and operating names. Check whether the website and brands used by the business match the registry. Ask for update records where the business has recently changed its website or operating name.
- Check claims about registration certificates. FINTRAC does not issue licenses or certificates of registration. Do not rely on a document presented as a FINTRAC-issued certificate; verify the business in the official registry.
- Allow for recent changes. FINTRAC updates the registry monthly, so recent changes are not necessarily reflected immediately. Ask the company for relevant FINTRAC correspondence when checking a recent renewal, update, or status change.
Search FINTRAC’s published penalties for the company’s name, and request examination correspondence and remediation records from the seller. The absence of a published penalty does not establish a complete or satisfactory compliance history.
Other Registers to Check in Canada
The FINTRAC registry covers the federal registration only. Two other registers apply to specific businesses.
- Revenu Québec. A money services business operating in Québec needs a provincial license on top of FINTRAC registration. Revenu Québec's register of money services businesses is searchable by business name, license number or address. The Québec MSB license has its own requirements and renewal cycle.
- Bank of Canada. A payment service provider performing retail payment activities also registers under the Retail Payment Activities Act. The Bank of Canada's registry of payment service providers lists the registered PSPs. RPAA registration is separate from FINTRAC and checked separately.
Buying a Company With an MSB Registration
The registry confirms the company’s published registration status. It does not establish whether the company meets all its ongoing compliance obligations.
In a share acquisition, the registered legal entity remains the same. Its registration is not a separate asset that the buyer can transfer to another company. Assess the company’s compliance history and the registration updates required by the ownership change before completing the acquisition.
The company’s compliance obligations continue after the acquisition. Review the appointment of its compliance officer, written compliance program, effectiveness reviews, transaction reporting, and record retention. Check the applicable retention periods for each record type rather than assuming every document follows the same five-year timetable. Missing policies, overdue reviews, and incomplete reporting are compliance gaps to assess and address in the transaction plan.
Changes to registration information must be reported to FINTRAC within 30 days. Review the proposed ownership and management against FINTRAC’s eligibility requirements, including those applying to owners holding 20% or more and relevant directors and senior officers. A change of ownership does not remove the company’s previous compliance failures or guarantee that it remains eligible for registration.
Companies with active FINTRAC registrations are listed on Dealable24.
FAQ
Is FINTRAC registration a license?
No. FINTRAC registers money services businesses but does not license or endorse them, and it issues no certificates of registration. The public registry is the official public source for checking a business’s registration status. Registration does not establish that the business meets every ongoing compliance obligation.
How often is the FINTRAC MSB Registry updated?
FINTRAC updates the registry monthly. Recent changes are not necessarily reflected immediately. Request relevant FINTRAC correspondence from the business when checking a recent update or status change.
What does an Expired status mean?
The business did not renew its registration within two years and is no longer registered. A business that filed its renewal before the expiry date keeps the Registered status until FINTRAC processes the renewal.
Can I download the full FINTRAC MSB Registry?
Yes. FINTRAC provides downloadable spreadsheet and CSV versions on the registry page, alongside the online search.
Does the FINTRAC registry show Québec licenses?
No. A money services business operating in Québec also needs a license from Revenu Québec, which keeps its own register searchable by business name, license number or address.
Equilex supports MSB registration in Canada, including entity setup, registration applications, and compliance program preparation. The team also reviews existing MSB companies before an acquisition.
