Canada business immigration programs are designed to attract and retain qualified business and managerial talent that will contribute to the growth of the Canadian economy.

Federal Programs

Federal Entrepreneur Program

Requirements:

1. 1. The applicant’s intended destination is anywhere in Canada, except Quebec (see Quebec Entrepreneur Program);
   2. The applicant must have a minimum net worth of $300,000 CAD, that has been legally obtained;
   3. The applicant must have sufficient business experience. This can be demonstrated by having previously managed and owned a qualified business;
   4. The applicant, or his accompanying family members, must not be found inadmissible for medical or security reasons.

Currently, this Program is closed!

Federal Investor Program

Requirements:

Investors must meet the following requirements to qualify for this Canadian immigration investor program:

1. The investor must not intend to live in Quebec (see Quebec Investor Program if Quebec is your desired destination);
2. The investor must be able to demonstrate that he or she has the necessary business experience. This can be done by having owned and operated a qualifying business or by managing a staff of at least 5 employees;
3. The investor must have a minimum net worth of $1,600,000 CAD (such money must have been legally obtained); and
4. The investor must make a $800,000 CAD investment to the Government of Canada (which will be returned to the investor 5 years later, without interest).
5. The investor (and family members) are not found inadmissible on grounds such as health and security.

The Investment

The $800,000 CAD investment to be made by the investor will be administered by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada will return the $800,000 investment approximately five years and three months after payment, without interest. The investment is guaranteed by the Canadian provinces, which will use the investment to create jobs and help grow the economy.

Currently, this Program is closed!

Start-Up Visa Program

Eligibility Requirements Start-Up Visa:

Letter of Support and Commitment Certificate

Applicants must receive a letter of support from a designated organization. In order to receive a letter of support, the applicant must convince a designated organization to invest in their proposed business.  The organization will also have to provide a Commitment Certificate directly to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, summarizing the details of the commitment made with the applicant.

Investment Requirement

Applicants must secure an investment of at least $200,000 CAD if the investment is from a designated venture capital fund or a secure a minimum of $75,000 CAD if the investment is from a designated angel investor group. Applicants are not required to invest any of their own money for this Canadian immigration program.

Language Requirement

The applicant must be able to communicate and work in English and/or French. Applicants must provide language test results from an approved agency, and must meet the minimum level of CLB 5 in either English or French.

Sufficient Settlement Funds

The applicant must have sufficient settlements funds to support themselves and their family once they immigrate to Canada. The amount of money required depends on the number of family members that will be accompanying the applicant.

Security and Medical Clearances

As with all Canadian immigration programs, the applicant and accompanying family members must undergo a security clearance and a medical examination to determine whether they pose a security threat or have a health condition that would place an excessive burden on the Canadian health care system.

Quebec Programs

Quebec Investor Program

Eligibility Requirements:

• • must have a net asset worth of at least $1,600,000 CAN obtained legally. This amount may include the assets of the applicant’s spouse if the spouse will be accompanying the applicant, however, the amount excludes any money received as a donation during the six months before the application was submitted and filed.
  • must have 2 years of experience in the management of a business, within the past fives years since the application is submitted. Management experience must have been in:

3. a legal farming, industrial or commercial business.
4. a legal professional business provided that the business had at least two full-time employees, excluding the applicant’s position; or
5. an international agency or government department or agency;

• must intend to settle in Quebec and sign an agreement stating that the applicant will invest $800,000 CAD with a financial intermediary which is authorized to participate in the Quebec Investor Program.

Quebec Entrepreneur Program

Eligibility Requirements:

• • the applicant must have net assets of at least $300,000 CAD, which have been legally obtained. This amount may include the assets of the applicant’s spouse provided that the spouse will be accompanying the applicant.
  • The applicant must at least have two years of management experience running a business acquired within the past years from the day the application is submitted. The experience must have been in a business that was both legal and profitable (agricultural, industrial or commercial) and the applicant must have been managing the business alone or with their spouse while controlling at least 25% of the business’ capital equity.
  • “Business” is defined as a business involved in agricultural, industrial or commercial activities.
  • “Experience running a business”. The applicant must meet the definition of management experience, by demonstrating that they were responsible and assumed full-time duties for all major aspects of running the business  (such as management and control of materials, financial and human resources). Experience from apprenticeships does not count.
  • “Full-time”. The applicant must meet the definition of “full-time”, by demonstrating that they devoted all their working time to management.
  • The applicant must intend on living and starting the proposed business in the province of Quebec.

Provincial Programs

• Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream
• British Columbia Business Immigration Component
• New Brunswick Business Applicants
• Ontario Business Investor Stream + Individual Investor Stream
• Prince Edward Island Business Impact Category
• Yukon Business Program
• Northwest Territory Entrepreneur Stream