Business And Investor Immigration
FREE ONLINE ASSESSMENT
Business & Investor Immigration
Canada is one of the best places to start and own a business. The country offers low taxes, a strong economy, low startup costs and exceptional quality of life. There are many options for business owners and investors to stay in Canada.
There are three different categories for business immigration:
The startup visa program focuses on the immigration of highly qualified entrepreneurs how have the skills necessary to start and maintain a successful business. These immigrations must prove their ability to create Canadian jobs and be competitive in the national and global market.
What are the requirements?
- Designated Organization Affirmation:
If you are interested in starting a new business in Canada, the first step is to obtain an affirmation from one of the designated organizations recognized by the Canadian government. Once affirmed by one of these organizations, you may qualify to immigrate to Canada on a start-up visa with a confirmation letter.
- Ownership Requirements:
Up to five individuals can apply for a start-up visa program as owners of a single business. Each candidate must hold no less than 10 percent ownership of the company. In addition, these five individuals must own a majority of the business.
- Language Requirements:
Immigration applicants must pass a dialect test from an approved English or French association. This test includes listening, reading, writing and speaking sections. Each applicant must meet the base level of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in order to be considered.
- Financial Requirements:
The Canadian government does not provide monetary assistance for new companies. Given this, the Canadian government requires documentation displaying your ability to financially support yourself and your new venture.
Self-Employed Program
In an effort to increase job offerings, the Canadian government has created a program that offers permanent residency to skilled entrepreneurs interested in starting their own Canadian-based ventures. The Canadian government will evaluate self-employment applications based on your age, job experience, and language capabilities. Each of these criteria will be used to provide a score. The base score for consideration is 35 out of 100. The immigration office may require proof of previous work experience that relates to the venture you are looking to start. Furthermore, athletes seeking to become top rated professionals in their respective sports are encouraged to apply to this program.
Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program (IIVC)
The IIVC program was designed to attract global investors who have strategic experience and job skills that will boost the Canadian economy via Capital Investment. The program is currently closed but will likely open again in the future. If you are interested in learning more about this program, please contact a member of our team. It is important to note the requirements associated with the IIVC program. These include the following:
- Personal Net-Worth Requirements:
In order to be considered for the IIVC program applicants must have $10 million CDN in total person assets.
- Venture Capital Requirements:
In addition to the net worth requirements, the IIVC program requires you to engage in investments activities equal to $2 million dollars CDN over the course of 15 years. These investments must be considered “venture-capital” investments which do not have insurance policies similar to retirement accounts.
- Language Requirements:
In order to be accepted for this program it is mandatory that you pass a language test. This test can be taken in English or French. The test that you take must abide by the requirements set for in the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5. The CLB requires testing in speaking, cognition, reading and writing.
- Education:
In it mandatory for applicants to complete a degree of education that is equivalent to the Canadian post-secondary degree, diploma or certificate of at least one year. Your education tenure can be validated by an original Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a CIC-designated organization.
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program was announced by the Canadian Government to aid skilled immigrant workers and international graduates looking to live permanently in Canada. This program only applies to Canadian provinces located on the Atlantic coast. These provinces include the following:
There are three separate programs you can apply to live and work permanently in Atlantic Canada. We have listed these programs below:
Each of these programs has specific requirements which include the following:
