by If you are seeing this article, it means that you are looking to immigrate to Canada to start up a business and you are looking for how you could get the Canada investor immigration visa.
Well, you are lucky to be seeing this post as we are going to show you how you can immigrate to Canada as an investor by getting the Canada investor immigration visa.
It is no news that Canada is one of the easiest countries to start up a business and this is as a result of the abundance of natural resources in the country, having an immensely skilled labour force and also a stable government.
So if you are want to immigrate to Canada to start up a business, there are some investor and entrepreneur visa options for you and also the Start-up Visa Program and specific programs in the Provincial Nominee Program.
So without further ado, let’s tell you how you could get a Canada investor immigration visa.
What Are Canada Investor Immigration Visa Programs?
The thing is that there are a lot of immigration programs in Canada that are tailored to foreign entrepreneurs, investors and companies which make applicants eligible for permanent residency in the country.
With this, there is no single Canada investor program but there are a lot of options for investor immigration.
The investment immigration options in Canada can be categorized into the federal and provincial programs.
Who Is Eligible For A Canada Investor Immigration Visa?
Canada is offering opportunities to foreigners who want to do business in Canada. Every year, thousands of ambitious business people come to Canada to start up or expand their business.
The purpose for the Business Immigration Program is to increase investment and employment rate in the Great White North through the migration of people who have the ability to establish or invest successfully in a business in the country.
Canada Investor Immigration Visa Programs
Like we mentioned earlier that the Canada investment immigration options are categorized into the federal and provincial programs.
1. The Federal Investor Immigration Programs
Here are the business immigration programs at the federal level in Canada:
- Start-up Visa Program
- Entrepreneur Visa
- Self-Employed Persons
i. Start-up Visa Program
This is a general Business Immigration or investor visa option that allows you to immigrate to Canada as long as you will be starting a business in the country.
For you to be eligible for the program, you and your business must meet a set of requirements. Your business must be innovative, create jobs for Canadians and permanent residents, and must also be able to compete internationally.
Requirements For The Start-up Visa
- You must have a qualifying business
- You must demonstrate intermediate knowledge in both English and French (CLB5)
- You must get a letter of support from a designated institution
- Once a designated organization supports your business: Each foreign national must hold at least 10% of voting rights in the startup. Foreign nationals and their designated organization must jointly have more than 50% of the total voting rights in the business.
- You must have sufficient funds to settle in Canada.
ii. Entrepreneur Program
This program is for entrepreneurs that want to immigrate to Canada and this is because entrepreneurs are seen to create employment opportunities and contribute to the economy of Canada.
Requirements For The Entrepreneur Program
- To qualify for the entrepreneur program, you must:
- Establish, purchase or make substantial investment in a business in Canada within 2 years of landing in Canada which will result in a significant contribution to the economy.
- Engage in active and ongoing participation in the management of the business.
- Engage in active and ongoing participation in the management of the business
- Employ at least one Canadian citizen or permanent resident other than the entrepreneur and his relatives.
- Entrepreneurs are required to report to immigration officials their progress on regular basis within two year period.
iii. Self-Employed Persons Program
This program is designed to attract people who intend and are able to become self-employed in Canada. Self-employed persons who intend to live in Quebec are not eligible for this program and should apply under the Quebec Self-Employed Program.
Requirements For The Self-Employed Persons Program
- You must have relevant experience of at least 2 years in the last 5 years.
- You must be willing and able to be self-employed in Canada
- You must meet the program’s selection criteria (minimum 35 points)
- You must meet medical, security and other conditions.
Provincial Nominee Program Entrepreneur And Investor Visa Options
The PNP allows provinces and territories in Canada to invite applicants to come and live in the provinces if they have the right skills and work experience needed by the provinces.
Most of the PNPs in Canada has at least one entrepreneur or investor visa category dedicated to people who want and would like to expand or start-up their own business in Canada.
Here are the provinces in Canada that has a Provincial Nominee Program. The Provincial Nominee Program of these provinces also has entrepreneur or investor visa streams.
| Province/ Territory | Provincial Nomination Program | Entrepreneur or Investor Stream |
| Alberta | Alberta Advantage Immigration Program | Self Employed Farmer Stream. |
| British Columbia | British Columbia Provincial Nominee Progam | Entrepreneur Immigration StreamRegional Pilot Program |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Provincial Nominee Prorgam | Entrepreneur PathwayFarm Investor Pathway |
| New Brunswick | New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Stream | Entrepreneurial Stream Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream |
| Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Nominee Program | Nova Scotia EntrepreneurNova Scotia International Graduate |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program | International Entrepreneur International Graduate Entrepreneur stream |
| Northwest Territories | Northwest Territories Nominee Program | Business Stream |
| Ontario | Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program | Ontario Corporate StreamOntario Entrepreneur Stream |
| Prince Edward Island | Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program | Prince Edward Island Work Permit |
| Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program | Saskatchewan Entrepreneur CategorySaskatchewan Farm Owner and Operator CategorySaskatchewan Farm Owners and Operators – Young Farmer Stream |
| Yukon | Yukon Nominee Program | Yukon Business Nominee Program |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I immigrate to Canada by investment?
Yes, you can. There are a lot of Canada investor immigration visa options that you can choose from.
2. How can I get commitment from a designated organization
You will have to contact the designated organizations and see how you can get their support. Each of these organizations has their requirements that you must meet. Once you have gotten them to agree with you, they will send you a letter of support.
3. Can I receive support from multiple organizations?
Yes, you can receive support from more than one designated organizations this can be called syndication although only one letter of support will be provided to the Canadian government from a designated organization.
4. What is the minimum investment needed to apply through the started-up visa program?
The minimum investment of CA$ 200,000 is needed if the investment comes from a designated Canadian venture capital fund.
5. If I immigrate through the Start-up Visa Program, What will happen if my business fails?
The Canadian government understands that not all business will turn out to thrive and so if you immigrated to Canada through the Start-up Visa program, the program is designed to share the risk between the public and private sectors.
Your permanent residency status in Canada will not be affected if your business fails.
Final Note
Canada is looking to bring in newcomers to the country who have entrepreneurial experience and the innovation to start, manage and buy a business in the country and so if you are a foreign investor, entrepreneur or self-employed, this is your chance to immigrate to Canada as an investor.
We have taken time to talk about the Canada investor immigration visa options for you through which you can immigrate to Canada so you can go ahead to apply for any of the programs if you meet the eligibility requirements.
You can go through a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) to help you with your application for any of the Canada’s investor immigration visa programs as they will advise you on the visa option that is best for you and how you can go about your application.
Reference
visaplace.com – canada investor visa: canada investment and business immigration
sobirovs.com – canada investor visa
canadianvisa.org – start-up & investor visa program
