Apply
If the Canadian Grain Commission has determined that your grain company must be licensed, you must apply for a grain dealer or primary, process or terminal elevator licence. There is a fee to become a licensed grain company.
Find out if your grain company must be licensed
Before you may apply for a grain company licence, the Canadian Grain Commission must determine if your grain company must be licensed.
If your grain company must be licensed, the Canadian Grain Commission will determine what class of licence you need and notify you.
How to apply
Complete the application form
To apply for a grain company licence, complete the application form for the class of licence you need and submit the required documentation. Inaccurate or missing information may delay issuance of your licence. Submit your completed application form and other documentation to licence@grainscanada.gc.ca.
Submit the required documents for your licence class
The Canadian Grain Commission requires different documentation if your company needs a grain dealer or primary, process or terminal elevator licence.
Things to know:
- Submit your forms and documentation to us as soon as you have each one ready
- You do not need to wait to submit all your forms and documentation at the same time
- Your business name as incorporated or registered must be consistent on all application documents
- Keep a copy of your completed documents for future reference
The Canadian Grain Commission will work with you to help you submit all the information needed to issue your licence.
Forms and documentation can be emailed to licence@grainscanada.gc.ca.
Providing security
Security must be provided to cover all eligible liabilities pursuant to the Canada Grain Act and the Canada Grain Regulations. The amount of security your company must provide will be communicated after the Canadian Grain Commission has received your application form and reviewed your financial statements. Your licence will not be issued until you have provided the required amount of security.
Required application documents
Grain dealer licence
Required application documents for a grain dealer licence
- Application for grain dealer and/or elevator licence form (PDF, 217 kb)
- Articles of Incorporation, including any:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Articles of Continuation
- Articles of Amalgamation
- Articles of Amendment
- Or other documentation used to establish the business entity
- Security must be provided
- Audited year-end financial statements including the signature of a company director
- Draft grain receipt for Canadian Grain Commission authorization following the
prescribed form for grain receipts (PDF, 520 kb) - Draft cash purchase ticket for Canadian Grain Commission authorization following the
prescribed form for cash purchase tickets (PDF, 520 kb)
Once the draft grain receipt and draft cash purchase ticket have been reviewed and approved, the Canadian Grain Commission will request a voided, numbered grain receipt and cash purchase ticket.
Primary elevator licence
Required application documents for a primary elevator licence
- Application for grain dealer and/or elevator licence form (PDF, 217 kb)
- Articles of Incorporation, including any:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Articles of Continuation
- Articles of Amalgamation
- Articles of Amendment
- Or other documentation used to establish the business entity
- Security must be provided
- Audited year-end financial statements including the signature of a company director
- Draft cash purchase ticket for Canadian Grain Commission authorization following the
prescribed form for cash purchase tickets (PDF, 520 kb) - Draft combined primary elevator receipt for Canadian Grain Commission authorization following the
prescribed form for primary elevator receipts (PDF, 520 kb) - Copy of current Device Examination Certificate(s) from Measurement Canada for your elevator’s shipping and receiving weigh scales
- Report of charges to producers (PDF, 34 kb)
Once the draft cash purchase ticket and draft primary elevator receipt have been reviewed and approved, the Canadian Grain Commission will request a voided, numbered cash purchase ticket and primary elevator receipt.
Process elevator licence
Required application documents for a process elevator licence
- Application for grain dealer and/or elevator licence form (PDF, 217 kb)
- Articles of Incorporation, including any:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Articles of Continuation
- Articles of Amalgamation
- Articles of Amendment
- Or other documentation used to establish the business entity
- Security must be provided
- Audited year-end financial statements including the signature of a company director
- Draft grain receipt for Canadian Grain Commission authorization following the
prescribed form for grain receipts (PDF, 520 kb) - Draft cash purchase ticket for Canadian Grain Commission authorization following the
prescribed form for cash purchase tickets (PDF, 520 kb) - Copy of current Device Examination Certificate(s) from Measurement Canada for your elevator’s shipping and receiving weigh scales
- Report of tariffs charged to producers (PDF, 34 kb)
Once the draft grain receipt and draft cash purchase ticket have been reviewed and approved, the Canadian Grain Commission will request a voided, numbered grain receipt and cash purchase ticket.
Terminal elevator licence
Required application documents for a terminal elevator licence
- Application for grain dealer and/or elevator licence form (PDF, 217 kb)
- Articles of Incorporation, including any:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Articles of Continuation
- Articles of Amalgamation
- Articles of Amendment
- Or other documentation used to establish the business entity
- Audited year-end financial statements including the signature of a company director
- Copy of current Device Examination Certificate(s) from Measurement Canada for your elevator’s shipping and receiving weigh scales
- Approved equipment for grain sampling, inspection, weighing, drying and cleaning
After you've applied
The Canadian Grain Commission will be in contact with you during the application process and will work with you to complete your application.
Paying your licence fee
The Canadian Grain Commission will notify you of the amount of your licence fee after receiving your application. The fee is calculated by multiplying the monthly licensing rate by the number of months of the anticipated licence term.
You may pay by electronic funds transfer, cheque, American Express, MasterCard or Visa. Credit card payments can be made over the phone. Credit card payments for licence fees over $5,000 will be processed over multiple transactions. Once a credit card payment is processed, the Canadian Grain Commission destroys all credit card information. Cheques should be made payable to the Receiver General for Canada and mailed to:
Licensing and Security
100-303 Main Street
Winnipeg, MB R3C 3G8
Receiving your licence
Once the Canadian Grain Commission has received payment for your licence fee, your licence will be emailed to you as a PDF. Your company will be listed on this website as a licensed grain company within 3 business days of your licence being issued.
Contact us
For more information about grain company licences and exemptions, contact Licensing and Security.