How Do You Register a Charity in Montreal?

TL;DR: A Montreal nonprofit becomes a registered charity by filing the Application to Register a Charity online through the CRA's My Business Account — not by mail. Once CRA-registered, it's automatically deemed registered in Quebec for tax purposes, but it still needs separate extra-provincial (REQ) registration if incorporated federally, an annual Revenu Québec return, and compliance with the Charter of the French Language's Bill 96 requirements.

What Does It Actually Take to Register a Charity in Montreal?

Montreal founders face a two-layer process most guides flatten into one: a federal charitable registration step, and a Quebec-specific corporate and tax-compliance layer that federal-only guides skip entirely. Here's what each step actually requires — and where a Montreal charity's obligations diverge from a charity registering anywhere else in Canada.

Step 1: Incorporate — Federally or Provincially

You don't have to incorporate before applying for charitable status, but nearly every charity does, since it limits directors' personal liability and satisfies most funders. Montreal founders have two real options for not-for-profit incorporation:

• Federal incorporation under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act: filed online with Corporations Canada, costs around $200, and lets you operate under the same name across Canada. If you incorporate federally, you'll later need to register extra-provincially in Quebec (Step 3).
• Provincial incorporation under the Quebec Business Corporations Act: filed with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec (REQ) directly, with your head office ("siège social") in Quebec. This skips extra-provincial registration entirely but limits you to operating primarily within Quebec.

Most guides only mention the federal route. If your charity will operate solely in Montreal or Quebec, provincial incorporation is often simpler.

Step 2: Apply to the CRA for Charitable Registration

A charitable purpose must fall under one of the categories long recognized in Canadian charity law under ITA s. 149.1(1): relieving poverty, advancing education, advancing religion, or other purposes beneficial to the community. To become a registered charity:

• Get a Business Number (BN) and charity account (RR) through CRA's Business Registration Online, if you don't already have one.
• Complete the Application to Register a Charity — the CRA's current charitable registration application.
• Submit the application online through My Business Account (MyBA). There is no mail-in step; MyBA is the only channel CRA offers for this application.
• Provide governing documents, a detailed description of activities, and your directors' information.

Processing can still take several months. Once approved, you'll receive a charitable registration number and can begin issuing official donation receipts.

Step 3: Extra-Provincial Registration With the REQ (Federal Incorporations Only)

If you incorporated federally, you must separately register as an extra-provincial entity with the REQ before operating in Quebec. This is a corporate registry filing — it establishes your legal right to do business in the province — and is entirely separate from your charitable tax status. You'll need your federal incorporation certificate and a French translation of your governing documents.

Step 4: Quebec Tax Registration — What Actually Happens Automatically

This is the step most guides get wrong. Since January 1, 2016, once the CRA registers your charity, you are automatically deemed registered in Quebec for tax and receipting purposes — you do not need to separately apply to Revenu Québec in the ordinary case. Revenu Québec retains the right to refuse, cancel, or modify that status, but there's no standalone application to file to trigger it.

What is required every year: if your charity carries on activities in Quebec or receives donations from Quebec residents, you must file the annual Information Return for Registered Charities and Other Donees with Revenu Québec — separately from your federal annual return. Missing this deadline, or filing more than six months late, can lead to revocation of your Quebec-recognized status.

Step 5: Meet Quebec's French-Language Requirements

The Charter of the French Language, as amended by Bill 96, sets requirements for public-facing communications, and the final implementation phase took effect June 1, 2025. Depending on your size and activities, this can include French-language priority on your website and public materials, and — for organizations with 25 or more employees — mandatory francization registration with the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF). Confirm current requirements against your organization's size before finalizing communications materials.

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Practical Example

A group of Montreal residents wants to register "Montreal Green Gardens Association" as a charity teaching urban agriculture to underprivileged communities. They incorporate provincially with the REQ (since they'll operate only in Montreal), apply to the CRA using the Application to Register a Charity through MyBA, and once registered are automatically recognized in Quebec — but still file their Quebec annual return alongside their federal one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to register with Revenu Québec separately from the CRA? 

No — since 2016, CRA registration automatically deems your charity registered in Quebec. You do still need to file an annual return with Revenu Québec if you operate in Quebec.

What's the difference between REQ registration and CRA charity registration? 

REQ registration is a corporate registry filing that lets your organization legally operate in Quebec. CRA registration is what makes you a charity able to issue tax receipts. They're separate processes, not sequential steps in the same regime.

Can I incorporate provincially in Quebec instead of federally? 

Yes — under the Quebec Business Corporations Act, if your head office and operations are based in Quebec. This avoids the extra-provincial registration step.

Do Bill 96 French-language rules apply to a small Montreal charity? 

Charter of the French Language requirements apply broadly to public communications; the francization/OQLF registration obligation specifically applies once you have 25 or more employees.

How long does CRA charity registration actually take, and how do I apply? 

Processing can take several months. You apply using the Application to Register a Charity, submitted entirely online through My Business Account — there's no mail-in option.

What annual filings does a Montreal charity need to make? 

Both the federal annual charity return (to CRA) and, if you operate in Quebec, the annual information return (to Revenu Québec).

Need help navigating Quebec's dual compliance layer? Book a free consultation with our charity law team.

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