(CANADA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP FORMATION)
Canada Company
A Canadian Limited Partnership is a reputable, pass-through structure created under provincial law — typically in Ontario or British Columbia — offering G7 credibility with no Canadian tax for non-resident partners with no Canadian-source income. We coordinate direct registered agent relationships, formation inside three to five days, and optional banking or Cook Islands or Nevis Trust pairing, from $2,000.
Specialist jurisdiction
Offshore Companies · Canada Company
North America
Canada
Latitude
00.0000° N
Longitude
000.0000° W
(CANADA COMPANY OVERVIEW)
A reputable, pass-through company structure for international business
A Canadian Limited Partnership is created under provincial partnership legislation, most commonly in Ontario or British Columbia, and registered through a licensed provincial registered agent. Canada is a G7 and OECD member state, not blacklisted anywhere.A non-resident LP with no Canadian-source income and no Canadian business activity is fiscally transparent — not taxed in Canada, and generally with no Canadian filing obligation. Partners report their own share of income at their place of tax residence.For adversarial creditor protection the Canadian LP is not where we point clients. Where that is the main objective, compare the Cook Islands Company and Nevis Company.
Governing law
Provincial partnership legislation (Ontario or British Columbia)
Entity type
Limited Partnership (LP)
Minimum partners
2 — one general partner, one limited partner
Tax status
Fiscally transparent — not a taxable person in Canada if non-resident and non-Canadian-sourced
Formation time
3–5 days from KYC clearance
Treaty eligibility
Not eligible for Canadian tax treaties as a non-resident, non-taxed entity
General summary only. A Canadian LP offers genuine G7 reputation and pass-through taxation for non-resident partners with no Canadian-source income. What suits you turns on the client, the assets and the objectives.
(WHAT IS INCLUDED)
A complete formation service for Canadian LPs
Take a standalone LP, an LP with banking, or the complete Total Protection Package
Flat fees covering every provincial government registration charge and the first-year registered agent cost — nothing hidden, no invoices you didn’t expect.
Canada Limited Partnership
On Application
first-year fees all included · 3–5 days
A standalone Canadian Limited Partnership — a reputable, pass-through structure for international business with genuine G7 credibility.
Certificate of Registration and Limited Partnership Agreement
All provincial government registration fees
First-year registered agent and office
Apostilled corporate documents
LP + Banking
On Application
first-year fees all included · 3–5 days plus 4–10 weeks banking
A Canadian LP bundled with an account at one of our partner institutions — offshore banks, private banks, Swiss banks, investment custodians, and EMI banking partners.
Canada Limited Partnership — registered and operational in full
An offshore bank account at whichever partner institution you prefer
All partnership documents
All government fees plus first-year agent costs
Trust + Company + Banking
$12,000
first-year fees all included · formation timeline coordinated throughout
The full structure. A Cook Islands or Nevis Trust, a Cook Islands or Nevis Company (LLC or IBC), and a bank account — the strongest asset protection combination on offer, built on our two core jurisdictions.
Cook Islands or Nevis Trust — registered and operational in full
Cook Islands or Nevis Company (LLC or IBC) — registered and operational in full
Every trust and company formation document
All government fees plus first-year trustee and agent costs
An offshore bank account at whichever partner institution you prefer
Each package covers drafted formation documents, apostilled copies, and hands-on coordination with licensed Canadian registered agents.
(CANADA COMPANY GUIDE)
Making sense of the Canadian Limited Partnership structure
How does a Canadian Limited Partnership work?
A Canadian LP is created under provincial partnership law and owned by at least two partners — a general partner and one or more limited partners.
Most non-resident LPs are formed in Ontario or British Columbia, registered through a licensed provincial registered agent. The general partner runs the partnership and carries unlimited liability for its obligations; limited partners contribute capital and share in profits without management authority or personal liability beyond their contribution.
The Limited Partnership Agreement sets out each partner's contribution, profit-sharing and management rights. There is no minimum capital requirement, and partners may be individuals or corporate entities from any jurisdiction.
- General partner: runs the LP and carries unlimited personal liability for its obligations.
- Limited partner(s): contribute capital and share profits, with liability limited to their contribution.
- Registered agent: keeps the LP's registration and statutory records in the chosen province.
- LP Agreement: sets out governance, profit-sharing, and partner rights and obligations.
We coordinate the entity formation, the registered agent, the due diligence and the banking.
Discuss your structureWho controls a Canadian LP?
A Canadian LP can be arranged so that you keep full, direct control as general partner.
Most Canadian LPs used for international business have the beneficial owner's own company or entity serving as general partner, so everyday banking, investment and operating decisions stay entirely under your control.
Because the general partner carries unlimited liability for the LP's obligations, many structures use a separate limited liability entity — rather than an individual — as general partner to contain that exposure appropriately.
- General partner authority: covers management, banking, and operational decisions.
- Limited partner rights: cover the profit share and information rights, without management control.
- Liability containment: a corporate general partner can limit personal exposure appropriately.
- Trustee ownership: where a trust holds a partnership interest, adds a jurisdictional barrier without touching daily management.
What can be held in a Canadian LP?
A partnership becomes operational once accepted assets are properly moved in and recorded as partnership property.
Typical uses run to cash and bank deposits, investment portfolios, consulting and service income, and holding interests in other business structures. We coordinate the bank introduction, with each institution reviewing the proposed assets, source of funds and supporting documents.
A Canadian LP is particularly well suited to international consulting, service and trading businesses that want to invoice clients through a reputable, G7-domiciled entity without triggering Canadian tax on non-Canadian-sourced income.
- Cash and deposits: held through approved offshore or Canadian institutional banking arrangements.
- International consulting income: invoiced through a reputable, non-offshore-coded entity.
- Investment portfolios: transferred in-kind, or accepted by the bank or custodian.
- Business interests: brought together under a single, G7-domiciled partnership layer.
Why pair a Canadian LP with a Cook Islands or Nevis Trust?
Canada gives you reputation and pass-through taxation; a Cook Islands or Nevis Trust adds the dedicated creditor-protection statute Canada itself lacks.
A Canadian LP on its own leans on general common law principles for creditor protection. Putting a Cook Islands Trust above the LP's general or limited partnership interest shifts the interest a creditor would need to reach to an independent, licensed trustee working wholly outside US jurisdiction.
Daily control does not change — you carry on running the partnership's banking and business activity exactly as before. What changes is what happens under real legal pressure, when the trust deed's anti-duress provisions tell the trustee to refuse any instruction given under compulsion.
- Practical control preserved: day-to-day management carries on exactly as it did before formation.
- Partnership interest relocated: held by an independent trustee rather than by you personally.
- Dedicated statute added: the trust supplies the purpose-built creditor protection Canada alone lacks.
- Reputation retained: the Canadian entity still carries its G7 credibility.
We coordinate Canadian LPs with Cook Islands and Nevis Trusts as a single engagement.
See the Cook Islands TrustWhat are the limits of Canadian LP protection?
A Canadian LP is a reputable, pass-through structuring vehicle, not a purpose-built creditor-protection statute.
A transfer made once a claim already exists, while a partner is insolvent, or for a bad-faith purpose can be challenged under general common law and provincial partnership principles — there is no criminal burden of proof and no short statutory limitation period of the sort the Cook Islands or Nevis provide.
The general partner's unlimited liability for LP obligations is itself a real exposure that must be managed carefully, usually by using a limited liability entity rather than an individual in that role.
- No dedicated creditor statute: protection rests on general common law, not on purpose-built legislation.
- General partner liability: unlimited exposure for LP obligations unless properly structured.
- No secrecy from authorities: US and home-country tax and reporting duties carry on in full.
- Strongest when paired: a Cook Islands or Nevis Trust adds the statutory protection Canada alone lacks.
When should a Canadian LP be set up?
The strongest planning is done while finances are stable and before any specific dispute or claim exists.
Formation itself is fast — usually three to five days once KYC is cleared — but the protective value of any paired structure rests on setting it up well ahead of any pressure, not in reaction to an active threat.
Opening an offshore bank account generally takes a further four to ten weeks, depending on the institution and the nature of the intended business.
- Plan before pressure: do not wait until a transfer becomes urgent or contested.
- Prepare documentation early: certified passport, proof of address and source-of-funds evidence should be current.
- Choose the general partner carefully: consider using a corporate entity to contain the unlimited liability.
- Consider a trust pairing: if creditor protection, not just reputation, is a priority.
What tax and reporting obligations apply?
Pass-through does not mean unreported — what is owed depends on the partners, the income and the countries involved.
A non-resident LP with no Canadian-source income and no Canadian business activity is not taxed in Canada and generally has no Canadian filing obligation. Partners are responsible for reporting their share of LP income at their own place of tax residence.
US persons with an interest in a Canadian LP typically have US reporting obligations depending on the structure, and an FBAR may apply to offshore accounts held by the LP. These obligations are non-negotiable, and every structure we form is built for full home-country compliance from day one.
- No Canadian filing: for non-resident LPs with no Canadian-source income or activity.
- Partner-level taxation: each partner reports their share of income at their own tax residence.
- FBAR: may apply to offshore bank and financial accounts held by the LP.
- Professional advice: worth obtaining before formation, especially on your home-country obligations.
Who might consider a Canadian LP?
The structure is usually considered by people who want a reputable, non-offshore-coded entity with pass-through taxation.
Likely users include international consultants and service providers, businesses whose counterparties prefer G7-domiciled entities, and investment structures where pass-through, non-taxed status matters more than absolute privacy. The benefits should justify the two-partner requirement and general partner liability considerations.
It is a poorer fit as a standalone structure where dedicated creditor protection is the main objective — pairing with a Cook Islands or Nevis Trust closes that gap directly.
- International consultants: invoicing clients through a reputable, G7-domiciled entity.
- Counterparty-sensitive businesses: where a Caribbean or Pacific entity would raise questions.
- Pass-through investors: wanting non-taxed status without giving up institutional credibility.
- Clients wanting Total Protection: via a Canadian LP paired with a Cook Islands or Nevis Trust.
Before we recommend a structure, we set Canada honestly against the Cook Islands and Nevis.
Book a consultation(WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE OFFSHORE COMPANIES ONLINE)
Canadian LP formation with a cross-jurisdiction perspective
We coordinate Canadian LPs and Cook Islands or Nevis Trusts as one engagement. This is not a referral service — we run the whole formation ourselves and pass on the keenest pricing available.
Direct Canadian registered agent relationships
Ours are direct, licensed Canadian registered agent relationships — no referral middleman — the same team that builds Cook Islands and Nevis structures in 20+ jurisdictions.
First-hand jurisdictional knowledge
Our Canadian structuring specialists know the practical realities of LP formation and banking, not generic offshore formation scripts.
Fixed-fee formation
All government fees plus first-year agent costs are built into the price — nothing hidden, no invoices you didn't expect.
Honest jurisdiction guidance
We set Canada honestly against the Cook Islands and Nevis, so reputational credibility is not mistaken for adversarial creditor defence.
Full compliance from day one
Optional legal and tax advisory keeps you in full home-country compliance — every structure is built to be reported correctly, not concealed.
(WHO SHOULD FORM A CANADIAN LP?)
A natural fit for reputable, pass-through international structuring
A Canadian LP suits international consultants, service providers, and businesses wanting a G7-domiciled, non-taxed entity. For dedicated creditor protection, pair it with a Cook Islands or Nevis Trust.
Reputable structuring and pass-through international business
A Canadian LP appeals most to clients who want a structure that does not read as offshore to banks and counterparties.
International business owners wanting G7 credibility without Canadian taxation
Consultants and service providers invoicing internationally through a reputable entity
Clients whose counterparties are wary of Caribbean or Pacific offshore structures
Investment or holding structures where pass-through, non-taxed status is the priority
When Canada alone isn't the strongest choice
Canada offers genuine reputational and tax-transparency advantages, but it is not built around dedicated creditor-protection statutes.
No dedicated charging-order or creditor-bond statute like the Cook Islands or Nevis
Not eligible for Canadian tax treaty benefits as a non-resident, non-taxed entity
Needs at least two partners, unlike single-member offshore structures
For adversarial creditor claims, a Cook Islands or Nevis structure gives materially stronger protection
For creditor protection specifically, compare the Cook Islands Company and Nevis Company. For reputable, pass-through structuring, Canada is frequently the stronger fit.
(TOTAL PROTECTION PACKAGE)
The Canada Total Protection Package
A company on paper achieves nothing — the structure only works once it is funded and running. We handle the bank introduction, matching your entity profile to institutions actively onboarding Canadian LP entities. Opening an account usually takes four to ten weeks.
- Canada registered agent application handled from start to finish
- Trustee, registration and third-party charges set out line by line in the written quote
- Canada-compliant formation documents drawn up where needed
- Structure registered and ready to take in trustee-approved assets
(CANADA COMPANY EXPERTISE)
Meet our company formation specialists
John Evans
Forbes Business Council Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
More than two decades of experience across offshore banking, asset protection, international companies and trusts.
Melanie Tetuaiteroi
Sales Assistant
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Supports client onboarding, communications, documentation and operational coordination, backed by fiduciary administration experience.
(FORMATION PROCESS)
01
Initial consultation
We talk through your objectives, whether a Canadian LP or a Cook Islands or Nevis structure best suits you, and where you stand for tax at home.
02
Confirm structure and complete KYC
We settle the province and general partner structure, confirm the name is free, and hand you a tailored KYC checklist — certified passport, proof of address and source of funds.
03
Draft, sign, and register
We draw up your Limited Partnership Agreement, file with the provincial registry, and settle all government fees. Formation is done inside three to five days.
04
Receive documents and open banking
You get the full partnership document pack, ready to open a bank account. We carry the bank introduction through to a live, funded offshore account.
(CANADA COMPANY INSIGHTS)
Canada Company Insights
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(ABOUT CANADA COMPANIES)
What is a Canadian company?
The Canadian company structure most commonly used for international business is the Limited Partnership, created under provincial law — typically in Ontario or British Columbia — rather than a single federal offshore statute. Canada is a G7 and OECD member, not blacklisted by any jurisdiction, giving a Canadian entity a level of institutional trust that pure offshore centres cannot replicate.
Why Canada over a Caribbean or Pacific jurisdiction? Reputation and pass-through taxation together. A non-resident LP with no Canadian-source income and no Canadian business activity is fiscally transparent — not taxed in Canada, and generally with no Canadian filing obligation — while still carrying the credibility of a G7-domiciled entity. For international consultants and service businesses whose clients or banks are wary of obviously offshore structures, that mix is hard to find elsewhere.
For adversarial creditor protection the Canadian LP is not where we point clients — it does not carry the charging-order and creditor-bond statutes that make Cook Islands and Nevis companies so effective against live claims. Where Canada excels is reputational credibility: putting a Canadian LP beneath a Cook Islands or Nevis Trust marries G7 standing to genuine statutory asset protection.
(CANADA COMPANY QUESTIONS)
Common questions about Canadian companies
(CONTACT US)
Speak to a specialist. Let’s build your structure.
Book a confidential, no-obligation consultation with a senior member of our team to discuss your objectives and the services we have available.
