What to do? I am a US citizen and I need an account in Canada. I often go there for work, and my business is starting to intersect with Canadian partners. But I heard that opening an account for a foreigner is not easy, especially without resident status. Maybe someone has already gone through this? Which banks are more loyal to Americans? I read that sometimes a passport and foreign address are enough, but in other cases they require a SIN (social insurance number) or at least proof of residenc ?

As an American, it's a little easier for you in Canada than, say, for us Europeans. The countries have close economic ties, so banks are more willing to work with clients from the US. But they will still ask you to prove your connection to Canada (rent, job, business). A friend of mine personally opened an account at a Canadian bank and had to come in person and show his apartment lease agreement. Fortunately, he read the article I sent him in time - can a us citizen open a bank account in canada . Although it's about the US, it explains very well what documents non-residents generally need. A lot of it was the same. So, in Canada, the process is similar: passport + tax number + proof of address. If you prepare everything in advance, you can really get it done in one visit.

I've been through this myself. In fact, you can open an account, but only if you have a real connection - work, business, or at least renting a home. Some banks are accommodating to Americans, since there are agreements between the countries. But keep in mind: without a SIN, the process will be long and often limited in terms of account capabilities.