Credit card processing and merchant services in Nunavut
Nunavut's communities are reached only by air or sea. Take cards at the counter, by phone and online, and see exactly what each payment costs you.
Card surcharges
Allowed with limitsAllowed on Visa and Mastercard credit cards only, up to the lesser of 2.4% or your cost; no Nunavut ban found.
Sales tax
5% GST only, no territorial tax
Last checked
October 6, 2026
No roads connect Nunavut's communities to each other or to southern Canada. The federal northern development agency says they're accessible only by air or sea. Iqaluit, the capital, had 7,429 residents in the 2021 Census. Across the whole territory, Statistics Canada's business register listed 773 businesses with employees in June 2025, the fewest of any province or territory.
Two practical questions decide how a Nunavut business should take cards. The first is connectivity. In December 2023 the CRTC announced funding to bring high-speed satellite Internet to every Nunavut community for the first time, and card authorizations travel over whatever connection you have. Ask how a terminal connects before you choose one, and test it where you'll actually use it.
The second is distance. When customers in other communities order by phone or email, the virtual terminal lets you enter the card number from a phone order, email an invoice or a payment link, and bill repeat orders automatically.
Licensing and tax are straightforward. The Government of Nunavut says its Business Licence Act applies to all businesses carried on in Nunavut. Sales carry the 5% GST only, since there's no territorial sales tax.
A credit card surcharge is an option here too. Keep it to Visa and Mastercard credit, set it no higher than your cost of acceptance and never above 2.4%, give 30 days' notice, and disclose it before the customer pays. Their debit cards are off limits.
We'll set you up remotely with a dedicated rep, interchange-plus pricing and no cancellation fees. Book a call or start with a free statement review.
What Nunavut merchants should know
Surcharging credit cards in Nunavut
Nunavut follows the national position: FCAC says merchants outside Quebec may add a surcharge to credit card transactions, and we found no territorial ban. Under Visa and Mastercard rules, the surcharge covers their credit cards only, not their debit or prepaid cards, and is capped at the lesser of 2.4% or your average cost of acceptance.
Tell your acquirer 30 days ahead in writing (Mastercard must be told too), post the surcharge where customers enter and where they pay, and print the amount on the receipt.
Sources: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, Merchant surcharges, service and convenience fees, and discounts; Visa Canada, Surcharging FAQ for businesses (PDF); Mastercard Canada, What merchant surcharge rules mean to you in Canada
Nunavut sales carry only the 5% GST
Nunavut has no territorial sales tax. The CRA's rate table shows 5% GST and 0% on the territorial side, so taxable sales carry 5%. Businesses at or under $30,000 in taxable revenue over four consecutive calendar quarters are small suppliers and don't have to register for GST.
Sources: Canada Revenue Agency, Charge and collect the GST/HST: which rate to charge; Canada Revenue Agency, When to register for and start charging the GST/HST
Territorial business licence
The Government of Nunavut says the Business Licence Act applies to all businesses carried on in Nunavut. Check its licensing page for how to apply before you start taking payments.
Cities we cover in Nunavut
Payment services we provide
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Common questions
Do Nunavut businesses need a territorial business licence?
Yes. The Government of Nunavut says the Business Licence Act applies to all businesses carried on in Nunavut, so get your licence before you open your merchant account. Your community may have its own requirements as well.
Is there a territorial sales tax in Nunavut?
No. Nunavut has no territorial sales tax, so taxable sales carry only the 5% GST. A business with $30,000 or less in taxable revenue over four consecutive calendar quarters is a small supplier and doesn't have to register for GST.
How can a Nunavut business take payments from customers in other communities?
Use a virtual terminal for phone and email orders: key in the card, or send an invoice or payment link the customer pays on their own device. Recurring billing handles repeat orders, and our online payments screen website orders with AVS, CVV checks and velocity rules.
Can Nunavut merchants add a credit card surcharge?
Yes, on Visa and Mastercard credit cards, up to the lesser of 2.4% or your cost of acceptance, after 30 days' notice and with disclosure at entry, at checkout and on the receipt. You can't surcharge their debit or prepaid cards, and only your acquirer can apply a fee to Interac Debit.
Other provinces and territories we serve besides Nunavut
Disclaimer: general information, not professional advice
This page is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Rules and rates vary by place and change, so confirm them with the official source and a qualified professional before you act. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
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