REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Q- Why is registration required?

A- The Defence Production Act (DPA) stipulates that in order to lawfully examine, possess or transfer controlled goods and/or technology in Canada, you must register with the Controlled Goods Directorate (CGD) or be excluded or exempt from registration. To be excluded from registration, you must be employed, elected or appointed by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government. Employees of a federal Crown corporation, members of a visiting force as defined in section 2 of the Visiting Forces Act and public officers as defined in subsection 117.07(2) of the Criminal Code, are also excluded from registration with the CGD. To be exempt from registration, you must be a United States government official, or an employee of a business in the United States that is registered with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). You may also be eligible for exemption from registration if you're a visitor to Canada or a temporary worker.

Furthermore, it is a precondition to the issuance of export permits for controlled goods and/or technology by the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Registration with the CGD is also required to take advantage of the Canadian Exemptions (section 126.5 of the U.S. ITAR).

Q- Who is eligible to apply for registration?

A- Individuals are eligible to register with the CGD provided they consent to a security assessment and are ordinarily resident in Canada as either a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Businesses are eligible to register with the CGD provided they are incorporated or authorized by federal, provincial or territorial law to carry on business in Canada.

Q- Who must register?

A- Sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations and other business enterprises in Canada who need to examine, possess or transfer controlled goods and/or technology to another person in Canada.

Q- Is there a registration fee?

A- Registration is free of charge, although there may be internal costs for complying with the Defence Production Act.

Q- How do I register?

A- An Application for Registration must be completed and submitted to the CGD, along with a Security Assessment Application for each proposed Designated Official. This application package can be submitted via facsimile or mail to CGD.

Q- What constitutes acceptable evidence as to the legal status of a business?

A- Corporations:

Q- How long will it take to process an Application for Registration?

A- Once you submit your Application for Registration, it will be assigned to an Operational Analyst for processing, and the Designated Official Security Assessment Application(s) will be assessed.

Please note that the Authorized Individual that signed the Application for Registration will be contacted to verify certain information.

Complete files can take between four and six weeks to process, and once a file is approved, the Authorized Individual will receive a Certificate of Registration.

Q- How will I be informed that my company's Application for Registration has been approved?

A- An Application for Registration is approved when the CGD issues a Certificate of Registration. The CGD asks that you wait four weeks before inquiring about the status of your registration.

Once the CGD has processed your Application Registration and it has been approved, CGD will mail you a Certificate of Registration that sets out:

Q- Where can I find information on the Registered Person status of business enterprises in Canada?

A- Registered persons are found in a searchable database in this website: Registration Search. You may search on the full or partial company name.

Q- What is the period of validity for Registration?

A- Registration is valid for a period not exceeding five years from the date of approval.

Q- Is the Certificate of Registration assignable?

A- No, the registration of a 'person' is not assignable.

Q- Is registration in Canada's CGD required to be eligible to receive bid solicitation documents from the U.S.?

A- In certain instances, you need to be registered with the CGD to be eligible to receive bid solicitation documents from the U.S. If the documents contain controlled goods and/or controlled technology of U.S. origin then the intended Canadian recipient needs to be registered under the CGD.

Q- Are there exemptions from Registration under the CGD?

A- Yes, there are three categories.

1. An individual from the U.S. is exempt from registration if he or she is a director, an officer or an employee of a person registered to access controlled goods and/or controlled technology under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Title 22, Parts 120-130 of the Code of Federal Regulations (United States), subject to providing to the Registered Person in Canada:

   1. Evidence of the individual's status as a director, an officer or an employee of the person registered under the ITAR; and,
   2. Evidence of the registration of the individual's employer under the ITAR.
2. Canadian business enterprises registered in the CGD may need to hire temporary workers or host visitors from other countries who will require access to controlled goods and/or controlled technology in the Registered Person's possession. In order for the Registered Person to permit the examination of a controlled good and/or controlled technology in its possession by either a temporary worker or a visitor, approval must be obtained from the CGD. The Registered Person must submit an Application for Exemption form on their behalf to the CGD.
3. Members of the following classes of persons who act in good faith in the course of their duties and employment are exempt from registration:
   1. Public officers as defined in subsection 117.07(2) of the Criminal Code;
   2. Elected or appointed officials of the federal or a provincial government; and
   3. Members of a visiting force as defined in section 2 of the Visiting Forces Act.
   

Q- Is a Certificate of Exemption from Registration assignable?

A- No, a Certificate of Exemption from Registration is not assignable.