Routes open in Canada
| Route | Max credits | Who qualifies | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Activate Founders | $1,000 | Self-funded, no institutional funding, live website | Apply online in the Activate console |
| Activate via a Provider | Up to $100,000 | Backed by an accelerator, VC or incubator in the Activate network | Get an organization ID from your provider |
| TD Bank Activate offer | $1,000 for 1 year | Seed to Series A startups that are new TD Business Banking customers; stacks up to the Activate maximum. Appears open. Confirmed. | Through AWS's local team |
| Innovation Place (Saskatchewan) | Up to $5,000 + Business Support | Startups in the Innovation Place network. Running since 2022; current status unknown. | Through AWS's local team |
| Local accelerator or VC | Varies | Accepted into a local program | Apply to the program; credits follow |
| Our partner match | Same as AWS | Any stage; we suggest the best route | Use the credit check on this page |
Amounts are the maximums AWS advertises; approval is never guaranteed. Source: AWS Activate terms
Who qualifies from Canada
- Your company is usually under 10 years old and hasn't had Activate credits before.
- You have a live company website, and you sign up with an email on that domain.
- For the $100,000 tier, you're backed by an Activate Provider and haven't raised a Series B yet.
- Company in Canada: apply with it directly. Company abroad (for example a US Delaware company): apply with whichever entity owns the AWS account. No company yet: start with Founders once your website is live.
Region, latency and data rules
- Data protection law
- PIPEDA (+ Quebec Law 25)
- Must data stay in-country?
- No general rule; some provinces restrict public-sector data
- Regulator
- OPC)
What your credits buy here
A typical early-stage stack (a few small servers, a managed database, storage and traffic) costs about $600/month in ca-central-1, or about $630 with 5% GST/HST paid in cash.
$1,000
1.7
months
$5,000
8.3
months
$25,000
42
months
$100,000
99
months
Estimates. Credits usually expire after 12 to 24 months, so large amounts rarely last their full length.
Startups like you
Startups from Canada named in AWS program cohorts:
AWS Generative AI Accelerator · up to $1M
Basetwo AI
Amounts are the program's maximum, not what each company received.
Local accelerators
Accelerators, incubators and startup programs in Canada worth asking about AWS credits.
Creative Destruction Lab
Toronto · Program
Ask the provider
MaRS
Toronto · Innovation hub
Ask the provider
Communitech
Waterloo · Hub
Ask the provider
Velocity
Waterloo · University incubator
Ask the provider
Check with each program that it's a current Activate Provider before you rely on it.
Notable local investors and funds
Investors, accelerators and government funds active in Canada. If one backs you, ask whether they can give you an Activate Provider code.
Grants, non-dilutive funding and R&D tax credits
Money you can stack on top of AWS credits in Canada.
- Program
SR&ED (CRA)
35% refundable enhanced credit for CCPCs on up to $6M of spend (raised from $3M for tax years starting after 15 Dec 2024; enacted via Bill C-15). Capital spend is 40% refundable [1].
- Program
NRC IRAP
Non-repayable funding for staff and contractors on innovation projects, with advisor support [2].
- Visa
Provincial credits stack on top, for example Ontario OITC and Quebec R&D/e-business credits [3]. Startup Visa program for founders [4].
Setting up a local company
- Common startup entity
- Corporation (federal CBCA or provincial, e.g. Ontario)
- Minimum share capital
- Paid-in minimum capital required for a domestic LLC: No; for a foreign-owned LLC: No (World Bank B-READY 2025)
- Time and cost to register
- Domestic LLC: 5 days, CAD 500; foreign-owned LLC: 25 days, CAD 550 (B-READY 2025, expert median)
- Online registration
- Fully electronic registration: Yes (B-READY 2025)
Capital and registration figures are from the World Bank (Doing Business 2020 / B-READY 2025). Check the registry for current rules.
What's different in Canada
- Billing entity
- Amazon Web Services Canada, Inc.
- Currency
- CAD, USD
- Tax AWS adds
- GST/HST (+QST/PST by province). Not covered by credits.
- Payments and verification
- Most international Visa and Mastercard cards work. Make sure foreign and online payments are switched on before you sign up.
Credits don't cover taxes. Source: AWS Promotional Credit terms
Paying the AWS bill from Canada
- Use a card that allows international recurring payments, or a multi-currency business card.
- Enter your VAT or tax number in the AWS console so tax is handled correctly.
- Credits don't cover tax, so a small cash charge can appear even while credits last.
Startup scene
23
unicorns
Global Eggs ($8B), Dapper Labs ($7.6B), 1Password ($6.8B), Hopper ($5B), Clio ($5B)
Startup sectors
Main economic sectors
Unicorn data: CB Insights, as of 2 October 2026. Sectors: CIA World Factbook.
Startup visa
Start-up Visa Program
Key requirements: Closed to new applicants; only holders of a valid 2025 commitment certificate could apply by 30 Jun 2026
AWS events and community in Canada
Sources for Canada (14)
- 1. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/scientific-research-experimental-development-tax-incentive-program/sred-claim/investmenttax-credit.html
- 2. https://nrc.canada.ca/en/support-technology-innovation
- 3. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/scientific-research-experimental-development-tax-incentive-program.html
- 4. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/start-visa.html
- 5. https://docs.aws.amazon.com/global-infrastructure/latest/regions/aws-regions.html
- 6. https://aws.amazon.com/legal/aws-contracting-party/
- 7. https://repost.aws/knowledge-center/accepted-payment-methods
- 8. https://repost.aws/knowledge-center/supported-aws-currencies
- 9. https://aws.amazon.com/tax-help/canada/
- 10. https://aws.amazon.com/awscredits/
- 11. https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/45-1/bill/C-36/first-reading
- 12. https://www.cai.gouv.qc.ca/
- 13. https://aws.amazon.com/events/summits/toronto/
- 14. https://aws.amazon.com/events/community-day/
Research current as of 2 October 2026. Not legal or tax advice.
Questions
Is AWS Activate available in Canada?
Yes. AWS takes sign-ups from Canada, and the AWS Activate terms don't exclude it.
How much in AWS credits can a startup in Canada get?
Self-funded teams usually start with $1,000 from Activate Founders. Teams backed by an Activate Provider can get up to $200,000.
Do I need a company registered in Canada?
No. You can apply with a Canada company, a company registered abroad (for example a US Delaware company), or as an early team with a live website. Use the entity that owns the AWS account.
Do AWS credits cover GST/HST in Canada?
No. Credits don't cover taxes, so any GST/HST (5%) is charged to your card.
What's the closest AWS region to Canada?
ca-central-1 in Montreal, inside the country. Typical latency is under 20 ms from the main cities.
Can I apply without an accelerator or VC?
Yes. Activate Founders is open to self-funded startups. A partner can also point you to other routes.
Will using a partner change how much I get?
No. The credits come from AWS on the same terms. A partner just helps you find the right route and prepare the application.
Find your best route from Canada
Answer four questions and we'll match you with a partner who knows Canada. Free, and the credits are the same as going direct.
Cloud Credits is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Amazon Web Services. AWS and AWS Activate are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Data last checked 2 October 2026; check AWS for current terms.