McDonald's first expansion outside the United States occurred in 1967, when the company opened its first Canadian restaurant.
The location opened in Richmond, British Columbia, on June 1, 1967. This date is an important milestone in McDonald’s branding history because it marked the beginning of the company’s international rollout. The recognizable restaurant identity could now be experienced by customers outside the United States.
International growth became a defining part of the McDonald’s brand. The company used common visual elements, operating procedures, and core products to create consistency, while later allowing regional menus and marketing to reflect local tastes.
The year 1971 is a frequent source of confusion because McDonald’s entered several European markets that year, including the Netherlands and Germany. Those openings followed the Canadian launch by four years, so 1967 is the correct year for the first international expansion.