Business Immigration To Canada
Experienced international business people can support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy. This is why there are ways to immigrate to Canada under Business Immigration.
This section is for information purposes only. You must contact your local immigration office or the CIC website for accurate and updated immigration information.
 Business Immigrants
Business immigrants are expected to own and manage businesses in Canada, or in the case of the investor program, pay CAN$ 400,000 for future investment by the provinces and territories to support their economies and create jobs.
What do business immigrants bring to Canada?
The business programs allow experienced business people to immigrate to Canada and apply their capital, entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of markets and technology within the Canadian economy.
What are the principal differences between investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons?
Investors must make a CAN $400,000 investment but are not subject to monitoring or other regulatory requirements once they arrive in Canada.
Entrepreneurs come to Canada subject to the monitored, regulatory condition that they invest and participate in the management of a business of a given size in Canada that creates at least one additional job for someone other than their immediate family.
Self-employed persons are selected based on their intention and ability to create a job for themselves in cultural or athletic activities or to purchase and manage a farm in Canada, but are not subject to monitoring or other regulatory requirements once they arrive in Canada.
What will I have to do to satisfy CIC that my net worth has been legally obtained?
You will have to satisfy the visa officer that no portion of your net worth was obtained as a result of criminal activity. You should be able to explain material disparities between your net income over the years and your present net worth, and to comply with reasonable requests for documents to back up both your income sources and the components of your net worth.
What type of documents will I be required to submit in support of my application?
In addition to the usual documents in support of any application for immigration to Canada, you will be required to provide documents supporting your past business experience, such as the following:
- financial statements;
- corporate and personal income tax returns;
- tax assessments;
- bank statements;
- business licenses;
- minute books;
- letters of reference; and
- promotional material.
Where can I get application forms?
Application forms for investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons are available on Canada's Immigration site or obtain copies from the visa office near you.
Where do I apply?
Apply in your country of residence, your country of nationality or the country where you have been legally admitted for at least one year.
How long will it take for my application to be processed?
Varies by area and office.
 Immigrant Investor
What are the requirements for qualifying as an investor?
To meet the definition, you must have at least two years of business experience, and demonstrate legally obtained net worth of at least CAN $800,000. You must then obtain a minimum of 35 points in a selection grid designed to determine whether you will be able to become economically established in Canada.
Before a visa is issued, you must make an investment of CAN $400,000 to CIC.
What is the procedure for becoming an investor?
You must apply for immigration to Canada, satisfy a visa officer that you meet the definition of an investor, be awarded at least 35 assessment points and pass the medical and admissibility checks.
You will then be directed, in writing, to make a CAN$400,000 investment to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, after which a visa may be issued to you.
What are the business experience requirements?
You can meet the business experience requirements if you have owned a percentage of a business of a specified size for a minimum of two full years, or if you have managed a minimum of five full-time job equivalents in a business of any size for a minimum of two full years, or a combination of one-year periods in either.
Does the business experience have to be recent?
You can go back as far as five years before the date of your application (and up until a determination is made on your application by a visa officer).
What is meant by “business”?
A business is a commercial enterprise carried on for the purpose of profit. This does not exclude businesses that are not currently generating profits or professional practices, but it does exclude governmental organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and others.
Who is responsible for the investment operations of the program?
CIC administers the cash management aspects of the program by acting as agent for the participating provinces. Each investor must make their CAN$400,000 investment with CIC. Their investment will be returned by CIC after approximately five years and two months.
What documents do I receive after I pay my investment?
You will receive a Zero Interest Promissory Note that is not transferable (you may not sell it), but that may be pledged as collateral for a loan. At the maturity date, you will return the promissory note to CIC for repayment of your $400,000 investment.
Why do you recommend that I make my investment through a CIC-approved facilitator?
CIC has set up administrative procedures with a number of facilitators to assist in the payment and redemption of your $400,000 investment. These services are available to you at no cost (CIC pays their fees). Additionally, facilitators offer a variety of financing options in the event you should want to finance the payment of your investment or to pledge your promissory note as collateral for a loan in the future.
How big is the Immigrant Investor Program?
Including the Quebec program, over $3 billion has been raised since the inception of the Immigrant Investor Program in 1986.
In 2004, the Quebec and federal programs raised $272,000,000 and $718,800,000 respectively from 2,477 principal applicants and their families.
 Where do most immigrant investors come from?
Investors come from all over the world. Currently, the majority of investors are from China, Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong, but there are also substantial numbers of investors applying from the Middle East and elsewhere.
In 2002, the selection criteria for business immigrants were modified in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Why?
While the Immigrant Investor Program was substantially altered on April 1,1999, with respect to the administration of the CAN$ 400,000 investment, the rules governing the selection attributes of the investor, entrepreneur and self-employed programs had remained largely unchanged since their inception.
The Auditor General of Canada, noting that the business definitions were vague and therefore difficult to apply, suggested that the selection criteria be amended to make them clearer to both economic immigrants and the program administrators, and to make it easier to achieve the Program’s objectives.
What changed for investors?
An objective standard for business experience was established.
The net worth requirement of CAN$800,000 remained unchanged; however, the requirement that the net worth be created by the investor’s own activities was removed and replaced by a requirement that the net worth be legally obtained.
Spousal assets are now included when assessing net worth (Quebec calculates its own net worth in accordance with its own laws). The selection grid was altered to provide the flexibility to adjust the weight of the various criteria.
However, the most significant change in the investor and entrepreneur programs was the introduction of more objective measures for business experience. It is generally agreed that business experience is the best predictor of future business success. The definition of business experience has been modified to ensure that only experienced businesspeople can qualify for the business programs.
 Entrepreneur Immigrant
What are the requirements for qualifying as an entrepreneur?
To meet the definition, you must have at least two years of business experience and demonstrate a legally obtained net worth of at least CAN$300,000. You must then obtain a minimum of 35 points in a selection grid designed to determine whether you will be able to become economically established in Canada.
You will be required to indicate in writing that you have the intention and ability to meet given business conditions in Canada. After taking up permanent residence in Canada, you will have three years to meet these conditions.
What is the procedure to become an entrepreneur?
You must apply for immigration to Canada, satisfy a visa officer that you meet the definition of an entrepreneur, be awarded at least 35 assessment points and pass the medical and admissibility checks.
You will also be subject to conditions after you take up permanent residence in Canada.
What are the business experience requirements?
You can meet the business experience requirements if you have owned a percentage of a business of a specified size for a minimum of two full years.
Does the business experience have to be recent?
You can go back as far as five years before the date of your application (and up until a decision is made on your application by a visa officer).
What is meant by “business”?
A business is a commercial enterprise carried on for the purpose of profit. This does not exclude businesses that are not currently generating profits or professional practices, but it does exclude governmental organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and others.
What will I have to do to satisfy CIC that my net worth has been legally obtained?
You will have to satisfy the visa officer that no portion of your net worth was obtained as a result of criminal activity. You should be able to explain material differences between your net income over the years and your present net worth, and to comply with reasonable requests for documents to back up both your income sources and the components of your net worth.
Who do I contact to see about meeting my business conditions in Canada?
You will be given a pamphlet with instructions and contact information for the CIC offices in your province of destination. You will be expected to make contact with the appropriate CIC office within six months of landing to report your address and telephone number and to provide evidence of your efforts to meet your conditions after 18 months.
How big is the Entrepreneur Program?
Over the past five years, approximately 1,000 entrepreneurs (principal applicants) a year have landed in Canada.
Where do most entrepreneurs come from?
Entrepreneurs come from all over the world. Currently, the majority of entrepreneurs are from China, Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong, but there are also large numbers of them applying from the Middle East and elsewhere.
In 202, the selection criteria for business immigrants were modified in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Why?
The Auditor General of Canada, noting that the business definitions were vague and therefore difficult to apply, suggested that the selection criteria be amended to make them clearer to both economic immigrants and the program administrators, and to make it easier to achieve the Program’s objectives.
What changed for entrepreneurs?
An objective standard for business experience was established.
The minimum net worth requirement of CAN$300,000 was introduced.
The selection grid was revised to provide the flexibility to adjust the weight of the various criteria.
Objective, transparent conditions were introduced, and an additional year was granted for their completion.
 Self-Employed Immigrant
What are the requirements for qualifying as a Self-employed Person?
To meet the definition, you must demonstrate that you have at least two years of relevant experience, you have the intention and the ability to be self-employed in Canada, and you have the intention and the ability to make a significant contribution to specified economic activities in Canada.
You must then obtain a minimum of 35 points in a selection grid designed to determine whether you will be able to become economically established in Canada.
What is the procedure for becoming a self-employed person?
You must apply for immigration to Canada, satisfy a visa officer that you meet the definition of a self-employed person, be awarded at least 35 assessment points and pass the medical and admissibility checks.
What constitutes relevant experience?
Relevant experience is limited to:
- self-employment in cultural activities or athletics;
- participation at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics; or
- farm management experience.
Does the relevant experience have to be recent?
You can go back as far as five years before the date of your application (and up until a decision is made on your application by a visa officer).
What is meant by “cultural activities”?
We refer here to occupations generally considered to be part of Canada’s artistic and cultural diversity. Examples include, but are not limited to, authors and writers, creative and performing artists, musicians, painters, sculptors and other visual artists, technical support and occupations in motion pictures, creative designers, craftspeople, etc. More examples may be found on the National Occupational Classification Web site.
What are specified economic activities?
You must have the intention and ability to be self-employed in Canada in cultural or athletic activities, or to purchase and manage a farm.
What is meant by a “significant contribution”?
There is no formal definition of what constitutes a “significant contribution.” The intention of the requirement is to give visa officers the ability to use their judgment and allow them to recognize that a contribution to athletics or the arts, even at less than a national standard, may still be of significant benefit at the local level.
For example, a music teacher with reasonable qualifications will be in a better position to make a significant contribution if destined to a small town rather than a big city.
Please note that you must have contributed to economic activities “in Canada.” While this does not preclude activities outside of Canada, there must exist a significant contribution in Canada for Canada.
Are there any reporting requirements once I am landed in Canada?
No.
Are there any net worth requirements?
Unlike the investor and entrepreneur programs, there are no regulated minimum net worth requirements. However, you will have to satisfy a visa officer that you have sufficient capital to settle yourself and your family in Canada and to finance the specified economic activities that your selection was based on.
How big is the Self-Employed Persons Program?
Over the past five years, approximately 600 self-employed persons (principal applicants) a year have landed in Canada.
Is there information available on how to set up my business once I am in Canada?
Many provinces provide valuable information and services to assist business immigrants in setting up and successfully operating businesses in Canada. You may wish to visit the following site for more information: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/business/bi-provinces.html.
For more information, you may write to the following e-mail address: Nat-Business-Immigration@cic.gc.ca
Gracefully Duplicated from the Immigration Canada Website |