RPAA Registration
Retail Payment Activities Act registration with the Bank of Canada
Entering the Canadian PSP market? We navigate the RPAA framework for you and build a detailed application to the Bank of Canada. We recently got one of our clients registered in as little as four months, which is unheard of.
What is the Retail Payment Activities Act?
The RPAA is a federal framework introduced by the Government of Canada to regulate payment service providers. It is enforced by the Bank of Canada and is designed to protect consumers and ensure the stability of the payments system. If you perform retail payment activities, you likely need to register.
What’s included
What’s included in RPAA registration support
Full-service support that gets your business application-ready for the Bank of Canada’s regulatory regime. This isn’t just a form-submission service, we provide strategic guidance for ongoing regulatory expectations.
How it works
A clear, managed process
- 1
Discovery session
We conduct a discovery session to understand your business model, payment activities, and client base.
- 2
Applicability analysis
We analyze your RPAA applicability and begin gathering the required information for the registration package.
- 3
Prepare the file
We prepare and review your full registration file, including all forms and supporting documentation.
- 4
Submit to the Bank of Canada
We submit your RPAA application to the Bank of Canada and handle all communications on your behalf.
- 5
Support the review
We support you through follow-up questions, document clarifications, and regulator engagement during the review.
Why businesses trust us for RPAA registration
The RPAA is new and still evolving. Very few providers fully understand what is required or how the Bank of Canada is applying the rules in practice. We are already supporting businesses through it.
- We recently got one of our clients registered in as little as four months
- We guarantee your application is in-scope and we answer every Bank of Canada question
- Experience supporting MSBs, fintechs, and crypto payment platforms
- Proactive guidance through every step of the process
Top-tier expertise at a fraction of the typical cost.
We combine direct regulator experience, personalized service, and fair, fixed-fee pricing, so you always know what you’re paying for.
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FAQ
RPAA Registration questions, answered
Who needs to register under the RPAA?
Payment service providers that perform retail payment activities, moving or holding end-user funds, e-transfers, card payments, or wallets, generally need to register with the Bank of Canada under the RPAA.
How long does RPAA registration take?
Timelines vary, but we recently got one of our clients registered in as little as four months. We guarantee your application is in-scope and that we answer every Bank of Canada question.
Do I also need FINTRAC registration?
Often yes. Most RPAA registrants also carry FINTRAC MSB obligations. We build one compliance program that covers both regimes.
From the blog
Related reading on rpaa registration
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For payment service providers (PSPs) and money services businesses (MSBs) in Canada, the Retail Payment Activities Act (RPAA) sets the rules of the road. But writing policies is on
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Safeguarding customer money is one of the most important obligations under the Retail Payment Activities Act (RPAA). The Bank of Canada supervises these rules to ensure that end-us
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